Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 99 Cicada Transformation Returns to Life

Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Cicada Transformation Returns to Life

The vast Eastern Sea roared with turbulent waves.

Song Lin and Ying Zheng flew over the sea surface.

"Why did you change your name? Your appearance has also changed," Song Lin asked.

Moreover, Ying Zheng’s current body didn’t seem to be his original one.

"It’s a long story. As a disciple during the Eastern Han dynasty, I cultivated the seven beads of heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, brain, and eyes. Later, the seven beads merged into one, making me the Underground Master."

An Underground Master signifies eternal existence without the need for Taiyin Refining, though one cannot leave Lishan. It’s a state coveted by many cultivators.

But what sort of person was Ying Zheng?

Even as Emperor, he aimed to be the most formidable one; naturally, he wouldn’t settle for being a mere Underground Master.

And so, he painstakingly developed a method of Cicada Transformation and Rejuvenation over many years.

This method required the forging of a treasure sword. The sword had to be smelted on the seventh month Gengshen day and quenched on the eighth month Xinyou day. Its dimensions were three feet nine inches long, one inch four fen wide, and three fen and a half thick.

The quenching water wasn’t ordinary water—it was dew collected on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, mixed with Pill Mountain Soul (realgar), Liudan White Paste (lead powder), North Emperor Pearl (saltpetre) powder.

The resulting treasure sword was named the Zhengyang Sword, which was used for corpse dissolution once more.

In the past, corpse dissolution involved transitioning from yang to yin, whereas the Cicada Transformation Method reversed the process, transitioning from yin to yang.

Upon successful cultivation, Ying Zheng’s Divine Soul reincarnated, reborn into a military family during the Eastern Han and regained his memories after years of cultivation.

Out of habit, he began calling himself Zhengyang.

Later, when the Buddhist Sect crossed eastward, the people of Lishan were executed as an intimidation tactic. Ying Zheng went to assist, but was heavily injured and forced to flee, since the Buddhist Sect was too powerful.

"The Fangxian Dao members who traveled with me to the Eastern Sea were dispersed by the waves," he said.

The following days were spent confined to Taodu Mountain.

"Alright, I’ll call you Zhengyang from now on then."

Given Ying Zheng’s infamous reputation, since he’d forsaken his past, it made sense to use this new name.

"Grandmaster, how did you know I was here?"

Zhengyang expressed his doubts.

"Does your clothing have a handprint on it?" Song Lin glanced at the faint handprint on Zhengyang’s back and chuckled.

With that, he pulled a golden statue from the Qiankun Cloth Bag. It was half the height of a person, limbless, and floated in midair.

Resentment King awkwardly smiled: "Lord Ying Zheng, greetings!"

Zhengyang immediately recognized him.

"Is this not...?"

"This person’s handprint has a tracking ability. Once we find Tangg Valley, I’ll lead you to the descendants of Fangxian Dao," Song Lin said.

He then indicated for the person in question to reveal the whereabouts of Fangxian Dao’s members.

"Lord, they’re located in the direction you’re heading," Resentment King replied.

On that day, the Buddha Dragon Arhat chased Fangxian Dao to Taodu Mountain but was scared away by two Gate Gods. Since then, they never ventured out to pursue Fangxian Dao and officially declared that the evil sect had been exterminated.

"Perfect, it’s along the way," Song Lin remarked.

The two continued flying toward the Extreme East.

Along the journey, Song Lin gained a general understanding of the world’s hierarchy of realms.

The Buddhist Sect divided its stages into four fruit positions: Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami, and Arahant.

The latter two positions were further categorized into Small Mahayana and Large Mahayana.

These corresponded to the four cultivation realms: fetal breath, Qi Refinement, Divine Establishment, and Core Formation.

Taoism similarly had stages: Qi Cultivation, Refining Body, Manifestation of Saint, and Longevity Celestial.

"During Emperor Wu of Han’s time, ancient inherited techniques surfaced, solidifying many of the cultivation rules," Song Lin explained.

"We usually use the terminology of Qi Refinement, Divine Establishment, and Core Formation, as designated by you, Grandmaster."

Both Ying Zheng and Song Lin were in the Manifestation Saint Realm, equivalent to the Divine Establishment Period for training the Divine Soul.

Only by tempering one’s Primordial Spirit to the point it could leave the body and emerge independently could one be considered to have achieved the dharma image stage.

"I see," Song Lin muttered, gaining a clearer understanding of his own position.

In this world, he was considered mid-tier powerful—not the strongest. Above him lay those in the Core Formation Realm, such as Heavenly Humans and Small Mahayana Arahants.

Once they reached Tangg Valley, they could proceed with the next step: Spirit Refining.

"Divine Establishment? Isn’t that commonly used by the Demon Sect?" Resentment King murmured in confusion.

"Demon Sect? Shut your mouth," Song Lin snapped.

Song Lin’s expression twisted slightly—had the reputation of their Taoist orthodoxy degenerated to this extent?

After flying for an indeterminate span, suddenly, the sound of explosions and cries of agony ahead reached their ears.

"Halt!"

Song Lin raised a hand to stop the group. Their flight slowed, and together, they descended gradually.

Through the Taiyin Golden Pupil, they could vaguely discern two groups of figures dressed in distinct uniforms.

Those flying in the air were monks, draped in kasayas and wielding Zen Sticks, prayer beads, and Magic Artifacts.

They were engaged in combat with high-crowned Taoists on the ground.

The monks’ Magic Artifacts were formidable; a copper bowl the size of a house deflected incoming fire snakes, water dragons, ghostly heads, and other spells from all directions.

Even flying swords couldn’t penetrate its defense.

Boom!

The leading monk launched a red bead the size of a bowl. freewēbnoveℓ.com

The red bead transformed into a fire dragon, fiercely slamming into the leading female Taoist.

"Hmph!" The female Taoist grunted as her figure was sent flying backward, crashing into over a dozen trees before finally stopping.

"Amitabha Buddha, lay down your arms and achieve enlightenment as a Buddha!"

The elderly monk leading the group clasped his hands together.

His kasaya, adorned with various gemstones, immediately established his higher status compared to the others.

"I didn’t expect a high monk from Pudu Zen Temple to personally intervene. This humble Taoist is truly honored!" the female Taoist quipped, supported by her disciples as she stood.

The remaining twenty-some disciples formed a protective formation around her.

"Wei Taoist Master! You lead the Demon Sect Fangxian Dao, sowing chaos across the world and defying the tide of fate. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will hunt you down and destroy you!"

"Demon Sect? So just because I don’t stand with you, I’m part of the Demon Sect? I think you’re the real Demon Sect!" the female Taoist, known as Wei Taoist Master, countered sharply.

Then, she turned to the sole Taoist among the monks and sneered, "And you, beast! Do you think allying with bald monks will save you? Just wait for them to betray and abandon you!"

That Taoist, aged and worn, sighed heavily and said, "Wei Sect Master, you’re too stubborn. The high monks of Pudu Zen Temple only wish for peace across the realm. Misunderstandings between both sides run too deep. Perhaps you could sit down and have a discussion with Master Du Ku."

"Pah!"

"Hmph! Foolhardy and ignorant! The world cannot bend to the whims of the Demon Sect!"

Master Du Ku snorted coldly.

Swoosh!

Master Du Ku extended his right palm, conjuring a colossal golden handprint spanning dozens of meters.

Boom!

The handprint slammed down with unrelenting force.

The Fangxian Dao members were powerless to resist, helplessly watching the handprint descend.

"Hold it!"

Swish!

A sharp blast tore through the air.

Flaming flying swords streaked through the skies, accompanied by two fire dragons, two water dragons, and multiple bolts of lightning.

Crash!

The colossal handprint shattered instantly.

Unnoticed until now, a figure had appeared behind the monks.

This figure stood beneath a red umbrella, shaded by a red-robed maiden holding it for him, as though materializing out of thin air.

"Grandmaster? This is bad!" Master Du Ku’s expression abruptly changed. A bolt of lightning swiftly struck his chest.

Blood and flesh splattered over his chest as Master Du Ku faltered, tumbling downward.

"High monk!"

"Zen master!"

The monks cried out in unison, but before they could react, countless Rampant Soldiers surrounded them.

Elsewhere, at the spot Master Du Ku fell, a man appeared.

"Do you recognize me?" Zhengyang asked with a faint smile, his Spirit Sword humming ominously beside him.

"Demon Emperor Ying Zheng?!"

Master Du Ku was horrified, recognizing Ying Zheng from ancient texts he’d studied.

This man had been insatiable, attempting to rule the world and even opposing the spread of Buddhism. He was besieged by the holy monks of Tianzhu and ultimately perished.

Wasn’t he long dead? How was he still alive?

"Demon Emperor? I like this title!"

With a mere thought, Zhengyang sent his Spirit Sword flying, its dazzling brilliance spanning a thousand meters.

Slash!

The flying sword pierced straight through the Master’s skull.

Master Du Ku breathed his last.

Meanwhile, Erlang God and the Seven Saints slaughtered the remaining monks.

With the last body falling to the ground, all the monks had been annihilated.

Below, the female Taoist saw Song Lin and Zhengyang arriving. Overwhelmed with emotion, she knelt instantly.

"Greetings to Ghost Valley Ancestor and Emperor Shi!"

Upon hearing her words, Fangxian Dao’s other members also knelt in shock, realizing this was a visit from their revered Grandmaster.

Recalling the legends, it was said Ghost Valley Ancestor possessed the power to command ghosts and gods—abilities unparalleled across the realm.

"Rise! You’ve all worked hard."

"Thank you, Grandmaster!"

The female Taoist introduced herself as Wei Zixu, the ninth-generation Fangxian Dao Sect Leader.

She recounted the events of recent years.

"So that explains it..." Song Lin murmured, suddenly enlightened, with all his doubts resolved.

Many factors contributed to the expansion of the Buddhist Sect.

The root cause lay in how the Han dynasty exalted Confucianism above all, marginalizing philosophies like the Yellow Emperor School. These schools allied together to resist Confucianism.

To oppose Confucianism was to oppose the authorities; coupled with Taoism’s philosophy of carefree inaction being deemed passive, they were condemned as the Demon Sect.

The rise of Buddhism was fueled by the rulers and Confucians’ preference for its ideology, as well as its formidable power to counter the Demon Sect.

Thus, successive rulers embraced Buddhist Law—not out of true belief, but to set an example for society.

Deemed the Demon Sect, the Taoists retreated to overseas regions and remote mountains.

"Grandmaster, have you descended this time to lead Taoism’s revival?"

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