Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology

Xiqi.

The Ax Immortal held a sharp axe, gazing at the towering peaks of Qi Mountain. The axe emitted a dragon's roar, mana surged, and his aura climbed infinitely higher.

As Emperor Yi's trusted aide, the Ax Immortal played a significant role in preserving the dynasty of Yinn Shang.

With one axe, he severed an untold number of vassal states' dragon veins.

Eastern Yi, Western Rong, Beidi, Southern Barbarians—during the waning years of Yinn Shang's divine mandate, the Ax Immortal's existence extended it by at least a millennium.

As the Ax Immortal prepared to sever Qi Mountain's earth energy, an elderly man with snow-white hair blocked his path.

"Hold," said the newcomer, who was none other than King Wen.

King Wen looked at the steel-masked man before him and spoke, "Weizi Qi, eldest son of Emperor Yi, elder brother of Emperor Xinn—do not disguise yourself. I can see through it."

"Oh? You intend to stop me?"

The Ax Immortal's voice was low and deliberate.

"Yes, I want you to stop. Moreover, I want you to help me oppose Chaoge."

"Why?"

Weizi Qi listened to this bizarre proposition, momentarily forgetting to act.

"In the 585th year of Emperor Yi's reign, he was preparing to name a crown prince. Initially, he intended to choose you. But the royal historian argued vehemently, claiming that the son of the legitimate wife was still alive, and thus a commoner's son could not be crowned king. Eventually, Zishou was selected."

"So you're suggesting that, because your father supported me back then, I owe you a favor? That's insufficient."

"Indeed, it's insufficient. How about a favor to spare your life?"

King Wen recounted events of the past.

After the crown prince was decided, the Three Dukes unanimously believed that the eldest son might cause unrest. Therefore, they suggested executing the eldest son before the coronation to ensure the dynasty's stability. Otherwise, problems would inevitably arise.

The eldest son's children were also to be imprisoned, forbidden from receiving land or titles, lest future disputes arise between the children of the crown prince and those of his elder brother.

Yinn Shang had faced similar turmoil in earlier years.

But Xibo resolutely disagreed, arguing that it was grossly unfair to Weizi Qi, who bore no intention of competing for power but was to be killed over dynastic issues.

This gave Emperor Yi an excuse to imprison Xibo to his death, accusing him of interfering in royal affairs.

Upon hearing this, Weizi Qi ceased his attack.

He'd previously heard rumors and had been apprehensive, yet Emperor Yi suddenly acted as if nothing were amiss.

Weizi Qi had thought his father was acting out of familial affection and had been grateful ever since, never realizing that the true reason was Xibo's intervention.

Reflecting now, he truly owed him a life.

"The overthrow of Shang by State Zhou is destined. Heaven no longer favors Shang, and Zishou's myriad atrocities have provoked divine wrath and popular grievance—its fall is inevitable. Yinn Shang has served the realm well; you should consolidate its remnants. I fear the outraged Zhou people will not spare them."

The Ax Immortal pondered deeply before eventually nodding in agreement: "Fine."

Thus unfolded the breaking of Chaoge.

With Chaoge City breached, King Wu took control of all Chaoge's affairs and restored order.

However, the furious Zhou people still massacred many Shang nobles and desecrated countless burial sites of Shang aristocracy, where their sacrificed ancestors lay interred.

The chaos persisted for quite some time, forcing King Wu to intervene and halt it.

This battle led all under Heaven to establish a shared consensus—human sacrifice must be abolished, large-scale rituals of human sacrifice must end, brutal punishments must be eliminated, and a written legal code must replace the king's whims in matters of life and death.

From then on, King Wu divided the vassal states, filling empty positions with members of the Imperial Family and granting titles to some remnants of Shang, including Weizi Qi, who became the first King of Song Country, and Jiangg Ziya, who became the King of Qi Country.

Song Lin ascended to become the new God.

Afterward, Song Lin became the sole God—subsequent emperors ascended to the heavens as Star Lords rather than Gods upon their deaths.

And of course, the unification of Shenzhou did not mark the end; in this wilderness era, ninety percent of the land remained unclaimed and required countless laborers for development.

"This process may take one or two centuries. Under conditions of peace, the population could multiply several hundredfold," Ji Dan said to the immortals.

"No problem, go ahead and execute it. If there's any difficulty, let me know," Song Lin replied.

After all, he still had plenty of time.

The flow of time between the real world and this realm was thirty to one, so waiting a hundred years was feasible.

Moreover, his true body had crossed over this time—though risky, any Taoist Realm cultivated here could be brought back to reality.

"Besides, we still have allies, don't we?" Song Lin added.

"Allies?"

The group was puzzled.

Song Lin glanced at Marquis Shenwu, signaling him to explain.

"Here's the situation: the Yinn Shang Heavenly Court is unaware of matters in the mortal world. I have long been the liaison, and we plan to deceive Emperor Yi, persuading him to use various means to aid the development of the Eastern King's Heavenly Court."

Upon hearing this, the group couldn't help but marvel at the ruthlessness of the scheme.

To kill the body and break the spirit.

If Emperor Yi knew the truth, he might die of rage.

But Song Lin was not concerned about Emperor Yi withdrawing his investments.

The effort would be futile—for when one has poured blood and treasure into a project, and someone declares that only the final fraction remains to complete it, few would abandon it at that juncture.

Much like a mountaineer, if one is only a few steps from the summit, no matter how exhausted, one will grit one's teeth and push forward.

Song Lin wanted Emperor Yi to realize that he was far from the summit, with many steps still ahead, and each stride revealing further fractional advances.

By the time Emperor Yi finally understood the need to cut his losses, it would already be too late.

The First Year of King Wu.

Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—the Three Realms—were divided, each governed separately.

The mortal court distanced itself from all witchcraft and bizarre arts.

Song Lin siphoned a portion of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi to Qi Mountain Heavenly Court, thinning the mortal world's supply of Essence Qi, rendering it incapable of birthing powerful beings.

Of course, Song Lin did not sever their paths entirely.

Most powerful beings migrated to Qi Mountain Heavenly Court; those left in the mortal world were predominantly ordinary mortals. Stragglers occasionally arose but were swiftly ushered up the mountain.

In truth, most of this world's strong figures relied heavily on witchcraft and ghostly arts—mortals suddenly gaining power were often linked to demons and ghosts.

Song Lin did not shut the mortal world off entirely.

The Heavenly Court descended annually to guide mortals, while regional City Gods kept an eye out for chosen candidates.

Errors were rare; if they did occur, it was heaven's decree to deny such individuals cultivation.

Thus, for most people, their path was not obstructed but inherently unattainable.

"Wushan Heavenly Court, Qi Mountain Heavenly Court, along with the real-world Kunlun Heavenly Court—three Small Thousand Worlds. In the future, when surpassing the Small Thousand, the Heavenly Court's influence does not have to start from scratch."

A head start over others.

According to Marquis Shenwu, most who surpass the Small Thousand World are conscripted by powerful Medium Thousand Heavenly Courts.

Song Lin was determined not to be conscripted.

The Second Year of King Wu.

King Wen devised a method using the Five Mountains Ceremony to connect with the Heavenly Court—a process requiring the emperor's personal involvement rather than human lives.

Thus, the Sealing and Sacrifice Ceremony came into existence.

At Taishan, Marquis Shenwu cast a tortoise shell into the whirlpool's center.

Emperor Yi's Heavenly Court.

"My lord, good news! Emperor Xinn has captured West Zhou and is currently perfecting the Heavenly Court. The king says he does not plan to claim imperial titles after death but rather aims to achieve immortality in the flesh."

"Very well. Let him achieve it himself and surpass the Small Thousand to join us here. Send him the rituals for worshipping mountains and rivers, stars and clouds, along with the location of this world and the method for drawing Innate Ancestor Qi."

Emperor Yi was delighted.

Truly his worthy son.

The Twentieth Year of King Wu.

A new Sealing and Sacrifice Ceremony commenced.

"Bring forth jade, tripods, medicine, and star formations to send below."

The Twenty-fifth Year of King Wu.

"My lord, Emperor Xinn is just one step away. Chaoge Heavenly Court requires an Exotic Treasure to suppress mountains and rivers and harness their power to transcend worlds."

"Very well. Lend them Yuu Emperor's Nine Cauldrons. Once they ascend, they can return them."

On Hou Yi's side.

With Emperor Yi's continuous support, their pressure drastically reduced.

"Where are the men? Where have they gone?"

Hou Yi was perplexed.

Why had those generals vanished?