Chapter 497: Chapter 436: Sensing Yang Qi, Magic Vein Unites with Origin
The great sun rose above the sea.
The dazzling sunlight blinded the eyes, and when one regained clarity, a three-thousand-zhang dharma image stood towering above the world.
The dharma image was majestic, holding a golden lamp in its hand.
Boom!
Song Lin and Taipo clashed fists, and the shockwaves rippled outward, sending towering waves across the sea.
Crack! The sound of bones shattering reverberated.
"Ah!!!"
Taipo let out a cry of pain.
The agony stemmed not only from the broken bones but also from the destructive golden light.
The golden light coated him, forming golden flames that didn’t burn like ordinary fire. Instead, it was like countless blades or a cosmic grindstone, pulverizing his flesh into dust.
Being the closest to Song Lin, he bore ninety percent of the golden light’s intensity.
A gentle breeze blew by, and a horrifying scene unfolded.
Taipo, appearing like a fragile sand sculpture by the shore, crumbled into powder with a light touch, vanishing between heaven and earth.
"Second Brother!!"
The demons stared in shock, and Taihuo’s eyes filled with rage and grief.
"Kill him! Kill him!!"
Under Taihuo’s command, two hundred Dragon Giants marched forward like moving mountains, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
"Not enough!"
As the giants approached from all directions, Song Lin closed his eyes, contemplating the golden lamp in his hands and envisioning himself as Innate Yang Qi.
During his recent seclusion, Song Lin had finally sensed a trace of the Dao of Innate Yang Qi.
The Primordial Spirit Stage involved a step-by-step comprehension of the Great Dao, culminating in Harmonization.
After sensing the Dao, applying it to one’s own spells exponentially enhanced their power.
The two hundred Dragon Giants moved closer to Song Lin, and the cultivators from the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect could no longer see him.
Everyone held their breath.
Buzz!
Then, an even more astonishing sight took place.
Golden beams pierced through the bodies of the Dragon Giants. The beams ignited golden flames that spread outward, attaching themselves to demons and ghosts within a thousand li radius with Song Lin at the center.
The Pure Yang Golden Fire, embodying righteousness and unyielding yang energy, burned the demons into powder. The closer they were to the center and the weaker their cultivation, the greater the damage they suffered.
They turned to ash, their limbs crippled, or their flesh torn apart.
Almost every demon bore injuries.
Taihuo and the Giant Turtle Demon Monarch remained unscathed, but the shockwaves inevitably took a toll on them.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master’s Three Corpses Primordial Spirit seized the opportunity to launch an offensive, causing the two considerable hardships.
This move sent shockwaves through both divine and demonic forces, leaving allies and enemies alike in awe.
Especially the sect masters of the Mystical Sect and Yuanfu Sect, who now realized that they had antagonized someone they should never have crossed.
Heavenly Master Taihua felt immense satisfaction, inwardly admiring his own judgment.
Song Lin’s precise control over this technique was uncanny, targeting demons while sparing the Human Clan. This single display alone was enough to showcase his terrifying capabilities.
It was, in essence, the ultimate weapon for obliterating weaker adversaries.
"The Donghua Heavenly Master has joined the battle! Everyone, attack together!"
The cultivators shook off their shock and immediately began to slaughter the remaining demons.
After delivering his mind-boggling move and taking down over a thousand demons, Song Lin remained motionless, releasing a small purple Cloud Seal instead.
The seal transformed into a palm-sized skeleton, cast in purple-gold and equipped with horns.
The skeletal puppet landed on the shell-backed humanoid demon of the Core Formation Realm.
"What is this?"
The Turtle Demon looked at the object on his shoulder, puzzled, and reflexively swatted it away.
"Ah!!"
Pain shot through the Turtle Demon’s palm. As he looked down, he found that the tiny fist of the purple-gold skeleton had punctured his hand.
Worse still, he felt his blood being drained into a bottomless abyss.
Within moments, the Turtle Demon was reduced to a dried-up corpse.
The purple-gold skeleton moved on to its next target.
In the chaos of the battlefield, no one noticed this scene. The purple-gold skeleton grew larger and soon became the size of an average human.
With much of the battlefield now freed, Heavenly Master Taihua, Zhonghuang Zi, Shoucheng, Lingce, and others rushed to aid the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master.
"Haha, Taihuo, looks like you’re out of tricks now!"
The Three Corpses Primordial Spirit taunted.
With Song Lin’s entry, the course of the battle had changed entirely.
Seeing the tables turning, Taihuo roared:
"Stop! Let’s talk!"
"Oh? Is there any point in continuing this conversation?"
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master feigned ignorance.
Surrounded by hostile gazes, Taihuo felt an absence of confidence. Even if he managed to break through the encirclement, most of his clan would be left behind, making him a figurehead without power if he returned.
"No more negotiations. Name your terms; I’ll agree to anything."
Seeing that the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master was somewhat tempted, Song Lin furrowed his brow and transmitted a message privately:
"Celestial Master, there’s no need to negotiate terms. If all of us join forces, we can surely take down this demon."
Once subdued, they could decide whether to kill or enslave him. There was no reason to compromise.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master shook his head subtly, ignoring Song Lin’s advice, and turned to Taihuo instead.
"This issue arose because of your audacious demands. My intent is merely to mete out a small punishment. Do you concede?"
Taihuo’s face shifted between shades of blue and white before he sighed heavily: "I admit defeat."
"Very well, take your subordinates and leave. No negotiations, but you are forbidden from invading again in the future."
These words surprised not only Song Lin but Taihuo as well.
No compensation? Simply letting him go?
Though Taihuo suspected a trap, since the offer was already made, both he and the Giant Turtle Demon Monarch agreed immediately.
"In my lifetime, I will dare not offend again."
Soon, the Demon Clan withdrew with their remnants. This battle had left them severely wounded, ensuring peace along the seas for the coming decades.
Throughout, Song Lin did not voice objections and maintained a neutral demeanor, casually chatting with Taihua afterward.
A portion of the forces stayed back to guard the area, while the rest retreated to the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect.
The Nine-Layered World of the Spirit Treasure Sect.
At the victory feast, luminaries from all corners gathered.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master raised his cup high.
"To this victory!"
"May Taoist energy endure forever!"
Everyone raised their cups and drank in unison.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master raised his cup again: "To the fallen!"
With that, he poured the wine onto the ground, and the others followed his lead.
He raised his cup a third time to honor Song Lin, who contributed the most to the battle.
Song Lin’s renown skyrocketed overnight. He had only used two moves that day, yet they cemented his fame within the Taoist Alliance.
It was evident to all that Song Lin had entered the Dao, sensing the Great Dao itself, which granted him such formidable power.
At the Primordial Spirit Stage, the competition lay in the depth and quality of one’s Dao comprehension. A cultivator who grasped the Great Dao was significantly stronger than one who hadn’t.
This was why, even at the same stage, Heavenly Masters were often far more powerful than ordinary cultivators.
After the battle, it was time to distribute rewards. While the rewards were not overly generous, the Spirit Treasure Sect took responsibility for the compensation of the fallen and some of the material losses.
According to tradition, Taoist sects were obligated to participate in such battles without necessarily expecting payment—it was simply a matter of course.
Before long, the celebrants began to disperse.
"Song Lin, stay behind."
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master suddenly spoke.
Soon, only Song Lin and the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master remained in the hall.
"Are you curious as to why I let the demons go without demanding a single cent?"
"A little."
Song Lin could already guess the reasons to some extent.
"I don’t wish to expend our resources on the East Sea. Even if we extinguished the demons here, wouldn’t others just take their place in the near-coastal regions?"
"Furthermore, can the Taoist Alliance manage to administer and control all overseas territories occupied by the two clans?"
"Attempting to enslave the Demon Clan would only drive them to fight to the death. Even if the Taoist Sect wins, it would come at the cost of damaging our own primordial energy."
For these reasons, no lands were ceded, nor compensation demanded.
The Demon Clan’s unruly nature made it unlikely they would comply with tribute payments. In their worldview, instead of spending wealth appeasing a ’weak’ Human Clan, they would rather use that wealth to hire foreign experts for reinforcements.
As things stand now, it’s the optimal outcome.
First, the demons have suffered a significant setback. Even if they plan to seek revenge, they would need to recover for decades, if not centuries. Second, their remaining strength is not so depleted that it would allow other demon tribes to devour them entirely. For the sake of preserving their territories, they dare not act rashly again.
In summary, striking a balance prevents them from rebuilding too quickly while avoiding their desperate retaliation.
"The survival of the Taoist Alliance does not hinge on the east but rather the west. For thousands of years, we’ve coexisted with the Demon Clan in this manner, and a few more decades won’t make much difference."
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master appreciated Song Lin’s low-profile demeanor and formidable cultivation. Having rendered outstanding contributions during this battle, Song Lin earned an explanation—a courtesy not extended to just anyone.
"Do you have any insights?"
"I have been enlightened." Song Lin bowed slightly, speaking earnestly.
The art of compromise had been played to perfection.
This was a survival strategy cultivated over millennia of humanity’s relative weakness. Song Lin chose not to critique it.
After all, this battle had elevated his reputation, while the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master bore the brunt of any diminished prestige.
With the conclusion of this battle, it was unlikely anyone would dare provoke the Donghua Taoist Sect again.
"As long as you understand."
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master was satisfied.
"I take my leave."
Song Lin rose and departed.
He did not entirely agree with the Spirit Treasure Sect’s approach.
Though the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master’s arguments appeared justifiable, they were ultimately steeped in self-interest.
The ideal solution would have been to enslave both clans thoroughly. Capturing their key leaders alive, however, was a task more challenging than outright killing them.
Ultimately, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master was unwilling to waste excessive manpower and resources.
From the outset, his goal was not the annihilation of the enemy but to secure advantageous terms. Song Lin’s sudden emergence had brought him an unexpected victory, so he refrained from pressing further demands.
Were it up to Song Lin, he might have preferred to gamble on an all-out effort to subjugate both clans.
The chances were high, given his myriad techniques.
As Song Lin left the Nine-Layered World, Heavenly Master Taihua awaited him outside.
"Taoist!"
"Taoist Taihua!"
The two exchanged greetings.
"We’re headed in the same direction. Care to travel together?"
Song Lin extended the invitation.
"It would be impolite to refuse."
In the carriage, Song Lin expressed his gratitude to Taihua: "Thank you, Taoist, for not abandoning me."
"Don’t say that. Helping each other in difficult times is only right. As the situation grows more perilous, we must stand united."
"Well said, Taoist."
"I do, however, have a question for you. May I ask?"
"Please, go ahead."
"The Donghua Taoist Sect possesses Taoist Soldiers. I observed that many of them, after falling, were summoned again instantly. Does this involve some kind of Secret Technique?"
"Indeed. This Secret Technique not only allows the immediate summoning of Taoist Soldiers using mana, but it also significantly reduces the material requirements."
Taihua’s eyes gleamed. "Could I trade spells with you for it?"
"Certainly."
Song Lin agreed, trading the method for crafting the Taiji Thunder Seal in exchange for several pill recipes and alchemy techniques from the Yuzhen Sect.
The Donghua Sect’s methods were Righteous Skills, and spreading them could also help secure more allies.
Song Lin harbored ambitions of becoming a Taoist Alliance Celestial Master one day and even establishing a Small Heavenly Court to ensure the Human Clan would no longer endure such humiliation.
During their journey, the two discussed various strategies for managing Taoist sects, analyzing the contemporary political landscape, joint training exercises for their sects’ cultivators, and the organization of magic meetings and other collaborative efforts.
Impressed by Song Lin’s strength, Taihua wished to form a deeper alliance.
"In no more than three years—perhaps within just one—the world will face irreparable fragmentation, and the era of heroes will begin!"
Taihua predicted.
The western demons had begun large-scale invasions and refused any negotiations. Meanwhile, Heavenly Master Qingchen’s control over Wu Country was weakening. Soon, the time would come for everyone to demonstrate their abilities.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master was well aware of this looming chaos and thus refrained from expending too much effort overseas.
After securing the Dragon Head Master Seal and achieving Harmonization, the world would be his for the taking.
Song Lin etched these words into his heart.
Returning to his sect, there was no urgency to open up new realms just yet.
There were still many matters to address, including delving deeper into resources obtained from previous worlds.
Song Lin also needed to personally nurture the Taoist sect’s divisions, underworld deities, and emerging talents from time to time.
Three days later, Shi Yinhua paid him a visit.
"Heavenly Master, a significant number of disciples have recently achieved breakthroughs, and many talismans are waiting to be distributed. Across the forest clans, water masters, mountain masters, and city gods, numerous prodigies have emerged, along with several new theories."
"Shall we convene an All-Vein Conference in your name to formally recognize these rising stars, distribute talismans, and designate representatives for the meeting of Taoist methods?"
Song Lin pondered for a moment and then said, "Very well."
Having been in seclusion so long, it was a good opportunity to meet the newcomers and assess their potential.
By now, disciples had already reached the fourth generation.
The first-generation disciples included Shi Yinhua, Wang Ziyue, Guu Yuchan, Qingyu, and others.
The second-generation disciples consisted of Luu Yunsheng, Chen Hua, Xiangling, and Lu Qian—faces he still remembered.
Beyond that, he was less familiar with the third and fourth generations, especially those new recruits from the forest clans.