Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology

"What should we do next? How should the Donghua Alliance proceed?"

In the World in the Pot, senior members gathered to discuss. Zhengxin asked Song Lin.

"The future political situation may become even worse. We lack legitimacy. Even if we aim to fight for supremacy, we need the title of Heavenly Master."

The Zhonghuang Zi identified the crux of the issue.

Currently, Donghua Jungle's position was extremely awkward. On the one hand, they were part of the Holy Might Taoist School. On the other hand, they did not obey Tianhe.

While they had the title of Shadow Heavenly Master, it was ultimately not legitimate.

Reason and sentiment both dictated that they wouldn't be recognized.

A legitimate identity was key, both internally and externally, as it provided moral justification.

Without it, they would never be able to remain openly and righteously in the world.

Even the land they occupied was not rightfully theirs in name.

If chaos engulfed the world one day, Holy Might or other outside forces could lay claim to their territory.

Listening attentively to everyone's opinions, Song Lin fell into deep thought.

"The plan moving forward... First, lie low and grow stronger. Manage our territory well, protect the living beings, every blade of grass and tree within it. Forget about conquering the world for now; prioritize our people first."

If conquering the world meant subjecting living beings to greater suffering, then what meaning would such conquest have?

With this in mind, Song Lin further strengthened his resolve.

Sitting upright with an awe-inspiring presence, he fixated his sharp gaze on the group.

The others, in turn, grew serious under his gaze.

"Today, I will discuss something crucial to Donghua Alliance's future strategy."

"First, fortify our territory—build high walls, store plentiful resources. Second, avoid meaningless battles, and always assess actions within the context of collective benefit and moral righteousness. Third, diligently cultivate and hone your skills."

Meaningless battles referred to fights that brought no benefit or negatively affected the alliance's ethical consciousness.

We cannot raid others simply because they are wealthy. If we did, how would we be any different from Tianhe and his ilk?

Expansion must be grounded in justice—either for survival or against truly evil foes, such as those among the Six Heavenly Old Qi, whose extermination would save countless lives.

Only these kinds of battles hold significance and can solidify our collective ideology.

Otherwise, even minor indulgences or negligence could sow the seeds of future calamities.

"Understood!"

Song Lin's words instantly inspired clarity and determination in those lingering in confusion.

Neither seeking conflict nor avoiding it; both seeking and avoiding conflict.

Action must follow moral principles; speech must be backed by evidence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the great transformation of a millennium. The future is undoubtedly ours."

Song Lin declared with a smile.

The celestial energy pervades the heavens; my Dao flourishes more with each passing day.

"As for the position of Heavenly Master, we'll wait and see in five years."

The title of Heavenly Master required two prerequisites: the talisman and the Grand Seal.

The Grand Seal embodies the Great Dao, which is the key distinction between Heavenly Masters and ordinary Primordial Spirits.

The talisman, combined with the Grand Seal, grants authority over all matters within the Taoist School.

Indeed, the internal affairs of the Taoist School, and even the rivers and earth energy controlled by the Donghua Alliance, are subject to Tianhe's authority.

If Tianhe wished, he could revoke the control of the Four Mansions at any time.

He could even disrupt the earth's energy and unleash disasters.

However, Tianhe refrained from acting because the Taoist Alliance held his powers in check.

The Taoist Alliance consolidates these powers and distributes them among the Twelve General Mansion Masters, who manage allocation on its behalf.

The Heavenly Master holds only the authority of the Commanding Mansion Master, without powers to revoke.

But in the event of turmoil, Tianhe would undoubtedly stir trouble, leaving them in an even weaker position.

Hence, the role of Heavenly Master was not just a title; it carried real authority as well.

This further underscored the importance of obtaining the title. Only as Heavenly Master could one legitimately expand, otherwise even conquered lands would remain unusable.

"For now, with Zhonghuang Zi, a Primordial Spirit, we have gained some measures of self-defense. Of course, as the situation deteriorates, we cannot remain idle. The devil Tianhe must be eradicated; simultaneously, we must guard against unethical expansion from other Taoist schools."

"Understood!"

Afterward, Song Lin entered secluded cultivation once more.

Awaiting the great battle five years from now.

At the very least, he must overcome the Heavenly Tribulation.

Holy Might Forest.

The Eight Ghost Kings grew increasingly sinister and menacing. Tianhe appeared increasingly aged and terrifying—his hair was snow-white, his nails elongated and blackened, his pupils enlarged and unnervingly dark, emanating a black aura.

Suspended before Tianhe were two envelopes.

One came from his subordinates, the other from the Taoist Alliance.

"Xuanzong seeks to dominate alone? Haha, interesting. No wonder demonic energy has been so thick lately."

Tianhe, having finished reading the message from his subordinates, seemed significantly more content.

Chaos in the world?

Isn't this the perfect opportunity for my rise?

Qingchen's ambitions were laid bare.

Not only to dominate alone but to mimic the mortal dynasties by swallowing up the Six Alliances to establish an incomparably powerful force.

For future generations, it may be a glorious history—the beginning of the Human Clan's prosperity.

But to the members of the Six Alliances, this would be nothing short of sabotaging their ancestral legacy. How could they allow it to be destroyed by their own hands?

Although they could not best Qingchen, demons and devils might prove formidable enough. Thus, they began secretly forming alliances to oppose Xuanzong externally and prevent it from swallowing them whole.

The second envelope came from the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master.

The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master ordered all Heavenly Masters to send more Taoists to assemble the Six Palaces army. Simultaneously, he secretly granted them special authority to enhance their strength at all costs without concern for punishment from the Taoist Alliance.

"Special authority?"

Tianhe was pleasantly surprised. Wouldn't using humans for refining skills now be unnecessary to hide?

What a cause for celebration!

"Haha, I almost forgot. Since the title of Dragon Head Master is no longer valid, doesn't that mean Song Lin is now useless?"

Tianhe suddenly realized this.

Because Song Lin bore the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Master's title, Tianhe had refrained from targeting him.

But the shifting tides changed everything now.

With the succession dispute canceled, Song Lin had little remaining value. Given the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Master's disposition, abandoning Song Lin would come easily.

Perhaps, to the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master, his importance exceeded Song Lin's.

As for the duel, Tianhe had no interest in attending.

Secretly consuming resources was far more efficient.

With this thought, Tianhe immediately set out.

However, he acted prudently this time, avoiding an immediate confrontation with the Heavenly Master. Instead, he sought out the chancellor Azure Dragon of the Central General Record Palace, Bai Mei of the Spirit Treasure Forest, and Ao Qing of the Jiuhe Origin Flow Prefecture.

Through these intermediaries, Tianhe appealed for the duel's cancellation and requested implicit approval for his actions from the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master.

Three days later.

With the indirect influence of Azure Dragon, Bai Mei, and Aoguang.

Tianhe finally met the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master.

"The duel?" The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master's eyebrows furrowed into a deep crease before he recalled the matter.

Indeed, there had been such an affair.

"What do you propose?" The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master inquired.

"Cancel the duel. Would the Celestial Master permit me to swallow the Donghua Alliance? Now, more than ever, we must unite to overcome this crisis. Song Lin is but a rotten apple spoiling the harmony..."

The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master deliberated momentarily before nodding in agreement.

"Do as you please, but I will not intervene on your behalf."

Song Lin, it appeared, had little use left for him.

Currently, Tianhe's strength was far superior, his value undoubtedly higher than the "Thunder Tribulation" Song Lin.

Though Song Lin possessed remarkable talent, becoming a Heavenly Master likely required another century.

A century?

A hundred years from now, both the Taoist Alliance and Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect would likely be extinct.

Thus, Song Lin was abandoned.

Half a day later, Song Lin received news from the Taoist Alliance.

"The duel is canceled."

After consulting with Zhengxin, Song Lin quickly deduced the situation.

"This Spirit Treasure Celestial Master is nothing more than a fickle villain! Hah, utterly shameless! Surely he's sold us out again."

Zhengxin scoffed coldly.

"No matter. As long as the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master refrains from intervening, we had never relied on him to act anyway. Stick to our prior strategy: protect our small territory and await my breakthrough."

"Agreed!"

After Zhengxin departed, Song Lin mulled over matters for a long while.

With the turbulent times ahead, both internal threats and external pressures loomed. Achieving the role of Heavenly Master had become urgent.

Otherwise, in the upcoming battles, they would remain entirely passive, led by others like lambs to the slaughter.

Song Lin resolved to open another realm.

Returning to the World in the Pot, Song Lin began preparing to create a new world.