Chapter 415: Chapter 357: Joining the Struggle for Succession, A New World
"Cultivators live long lives, progressing slowly; mortals have short lives, seizing every moment."
Zhengxin carefully mulled over this statement, while Song Lin seemed to gain some insight.
Mei Hua, on the other hand, looked at the mortal beside her in astonishment.
Who would have thought that a seventy-something old man could come up with such profound words? It seems that there is no shortage of remarkable individuals even among mortals.
"The Master’s words are truly wise."
Song Lin suddenly came to a realization. Perhaps he had lived too long and detached himself from the way mortals think.
For people like them, with lifespans spanning centuries, ten or twenty years pass in the blink of an eye, but for mortals, a single youth fades too quickly.
Some matters simply cannot be delayed.
"The Donghua Alliance will not forget the Master’s kindness. Whatever you need, feel free to ask—even if it’s longevity, I will do my utmost to achieve it."
"Longevity? Unfortunately, I lack the talent for that." Yangg Qiandao politely declined.
Song Lin briefly described the Taiyin Refining Method.
"We’ll see what fate holds in the future."
Soon, Yangg Qiandao led his disciples to join the Prince Ying’s faction.
The situation took a turn for the better.
Unknowingly, half a year had passed.
The once-isolated King Ying gradually built a team, and with Yangg Qiandao’s advocacy, the Yinghua School began to spread.
Though not yet a prominent doctrine, it quietly gained attention among scholars and officials from poor families.
Those who approved saw Wu Yi as a wise ruler rare in a century, while those who disapproved viewed him as a disruptive force to the imperial court.
In any case, King Ying, once an unremarkable commoner prince, started gaining recognition.
Moreover, King Ying’s reputation as a scholar prevented those who sought to impeach him from finding any faults with his influence in local matters.
What they didn’t know was that, with help from the Donghua Jungle, King Ying had secretly recruited an army of 200,000 local soldiers trained to Forbidden Army standards, fully dedicated to rigorous training.
Of course, their growing prominence also drew unwanted attention to their activities.
The Spirit Treasure Sect.
A man resembling Wu Yi but with an even more arrogant demeanor took in a subordinate’s report.
Beside him stood a stunning woman adorned in imperial robes.
"Wu Yi has firmly rooted himself in Yinghua, reportedly with the strong backing of the Donghua Taoist."
"The Donghua Taoist? What on earth is that?" The Eighth Prince, Wu Lang, asked in confusion. He then looked toward the woman and said, "Mother, do you know who the Donghua Taoist is?"
This woman, who appeared younger than the Eighth Prince, was his biological mother. She was once the Spirit Treasure Sect’s leader, but for the sake of the Taoist Alliance’s grand plan, she married the Emperor. Possessing the powerful cultivation of Heavenly Tribulation, she was a great asset to her son’s fight for the throne.
Her name was Nan Jing.
"The Donghua Taoist? Could it be that so-called Shadow Heavenly Master?"
The eunuch beside her suddenly seemed reminded of something.
At his prompting, the woman also recalled Song Lin’s identity.
"Ah, so that’s who it is—the so-called Shadow Heavenly Master. Does he really think he’s a true Heavenly Master? How dare he support that bastard’s son?"
Nan Jing sneered.
"It’s only because Tianhe has become an old, useless fool that this boy has risen to fame."
"With merely a Wind Tribulation under his belt, he dares to call himself the Shadow Heavenly Master."
"Have we sent warnings?"
Nan Jing inquired.
"We have, but the leader of Donghua burned it in front of me, completely disregarding your command."
"Hmph, how bold. As someone under the Spirit Treasure Dao’s jurisdiction, he dares to act without considering the bigger picture."
At that, the group immediately decided to confront the Shadow Heavenly Master in person.
Whoosh!
A streak of tunneling light shot toward the Donghua Jungle.
The first stop was the Holy Might Taoist School.
However, the Tianhe Heavenly Master was in seclusion and unavailable, as he was determined to address the recurring issues with the two Ghost Kings nearly going out of control.
Yunhai was recovering from injuries, and the Yin King ignored external affairs.
Only Chuu Yuying was available to receive them.
"Welcome, honored guests, to my humble abode,"
Chuu Yuying personally came out to greet them.
"Taoist Chuu, it has been a long time," Nan Jing said with a faint dimpled smile.
"Greetings, Master."
"Oh? Is the Eighth Prince here as well?"
It was only then that Chuu Yuying noticed the Eighth Prince.
Were it not for his attire, Chuu Yuying might have mistaken him for an ordinary mortal.
After some pleasantries, Chuu Yuying suddenly asked:
"May I ask what brings the two of you here?"
"Someone from your Taoist School has disrupted my plans and refuses to follow my orders. Not adhering to my commands means disrespecting the Heavenly Master’s will. Thus, I’ve come to see what this person has to say."
Nan Jing’s tone was overbearing.
"Oh? Who might it be? Perhaps I can help mediate. Let’s not harm our harmony,"
Chuu Yuying frowned slightly, showing a trace of displeasure.
On the one hand, she thought Nan Jing was overstepping her authority; on the other, she felt that the individual blocking the sect’s grand plan was indeed troublesome for causing issues at such a critical junction.
"Are you sure you dare intervene?"
Nan Jing smirked.
"Please, enlighten me."
"Song Lin!"
As suspected, after Nan Jing uttered the name, Chuu Yuying’s expression stiffened.
"I truly cannot interfere, but I can give you some advice: under no circumstances should you provoke Song Lin."
"How coincidental, I was planning to do just that."
With that, Nan Jing waved her sleeve, and a streak of tunneling light propelled the group further into the Donghua Jungle.
Chuu Yuying sighed, then followed behind them.
This time, she didn’t plan to persuade Song Lin for the sake of some grand scheme.
Instead, she intended to plead for leniency on behalf of the mother and son.
Once Song Lin loses his temper, not even Heavenly Masters can suppress him.
"Why are some people so determined to test the Shadow Heavenly Master?"
Chuu Yuying shook her head helplessly.
Before long, the group arrived at the Donghua Jungle.
"Song Lin, come out and face me!"
Nan Jing bellowed.
Crash!
Countless streaks of tunneling light shot out from beneath the jungle.
Leading them was none other than Song Lin.
"And you are?"
"Nan Jing of the Spirit Treasure Sect, Concubine of Dawu. Why have you repeatedly aided that little bastard? Consider this your last warning: expel Wu Yi immediately and sever all ties with him, or bear the consequences."
Nan Jing pointed toward Wu Yi, who stood some distance away.
Wu Yi’s birth mother was no ordinary person—she had been a gifted cultivator during her lifetime, constantly outmatching Nan Jing, who eventually found an opportunity to kill her.
For years, Nan Jing had sought a chance to eliminate this thorn in her side, and Wu Yi leaving the palace was her best opportunity—until Song Lin unexpectedly intervened.
Upon hearing such crude words, Song Lin furrowed his brow and spoke:
"First, there are no bastards here; second, this is no place for vulgar speech; and third—"
Song Lin’s gaze grew sharp as he declared, "Get out!"
"Out!!"
The entire Donghua faction shouted in unison.
"Very well..."
Nan Jing’s expression twisted as her pupils turned golden. Above the skies, ten talismanic spirits appeared.
"Wind," "Fire," "Thunder"...
Boom!
Song Lin’s speed surpassed hers. With a single breath, seventy-two avatars materialized.
The Five Mountains True Form Map suppressed the talismanic spirits above.
Seventy-two streaks of sword light descended in unison.
A barrage of divine skills, including Zhengxin’s Divine Intent Brightness and Yuanbo’s Eight Ghosts Divine Abilities, filled the sky with dazzling, chaotic colors.
When the smoke cleared, Nan Jing’s true body was revealed.
Her face was pale and golden, blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, and her trembling body was on the verge of collapse.
The Eighth Prince slumped on a cloud while Song Lin’s treasure sword pressed against Nan Jing’s neck.
"Taoist, stay your hand! This person must not be killed!"
Chuu Yuying arrived just in time, offering pleading words.
Song Lin responded coldly, "Why should she not be killed? Isn’t this a succession battle? Are casualties not to be expected? Do Heavenly Masters have the right to intervene? Or do you have some grand thesis on the bigger picture?"
The barrage of questions left Chuu Yuying speechless.
Nan Jing, stripped of her earlier arrogance, now realized that Song Lin might genuinely kill her.
Of course, Song Lin ultimately spared her, wearing a faint but chilling smile as he said:
"Now can we have a proper conversation?"
Nan Jing remained silent, which seemed to indicate her assent.
"First off, I have no interest in the succession battle. I only wish to serve the future Emperor. If we cannot be friends, why must we be enemies?"
"Are you saying..." Nan Jing asked in shock.
"What, don’t you think I’m a suitable ally?"
Soon after, the Eighth Prince’s faction gained an additional ally in the Thirty-Second Prince.
Past grievances were set aside.
Going forward, the Eighth Prince’s camp was united.
As allies, it was only reasonable for the leader to advocate for Wu Yi and secure his interests within the court.
Furthermore, Wu Yi’s recent breakthrough into Divine Establishment rendered him ineligible for the succession battle—his strength no longer posed a threat to the throne.
King Ying’s faction flourished with increasing momentum.
Song Lin, meanwhile, prepared to embark on a new journey.
...
(Please vote for this Chapter! My vacation is almost over. Starting today, there will be at least 8,000 words daily.)