Skulls and bones scattered everywhere, resentnt surged into the sky.
Even though it was broad daylight, the entire sky appeared dim and cheerless, enveloped in a somber deathly pall.
Below, Taoists and Taoist disciples used carts to transport corpses outside the city to be burned, to prevent plagues or the birth of fierce ghosts.
Lin Yang, the plump man, led twelve Taoist disciples in arranging purification rituals to release the departed spirits, every household draped in mourning garb.
This calamity resulted in over 9,000 injuries and deaths, revealing the devastating impact of the skilled combatants involved.
On top of the city wall stood Song Lin, pondering how to disclose the calamity to the outside world.
If the perpetrators were revealed to be jungle Taoists, what would the common folk think?
After all, Xuanke Temple was under jungle jurisdiction, and this might undeniably damage its credibility.
Or perhaps, feign ignorance and attribute it to demons instead. If the truth surfaced later, it still could be wielded as leverage.
With this thought, Song Lin decided on the latter approach.
Shi Yinhua and Wang Ziyue led Taoist soldiers throughout the city, hunting down the wandering ghost infants and placing them into the dharma altar.
These ghost infants in the dharma altar would be enshrined, scriptures recited intermittently to dissolve their resentnt.
Once the resentnt dissipated, the ghost infants would naturally vanish without leaving any trace.
So ghost infants with exceptional aptitude would regain consciousness and evolve into revered ghosts and gods, sustained by incense offerings and yearning for longevity.
In the future, a new vein of ghost cultivation would erge.
However, this vein of cultivation held limited prospects and was destined to remain under the patronage of the Divine dium immortals, at most providing a few powerful aids to Taoist disciples.
One thing was certain: the leadership of i Mountain Jungle was bound to be monopolized by Xuanke Temple.
anwhile, news from the other seven Taoist temples ca trickling in—all of them reported safety and only minor personnel losses.
At this mont, Chaozhen Taoist arrived with the Three Capitals and Eight Deacons in tow.
The group approached Song Lin and bowed deeply.
"Many thanks, Master Song, for sparing our lives," Chaozhen Taoist said.
"No need to be polite."
Song Lin scanned the people behind him.
The number remained decent—likely around ten at the Divine Establishnt stage, though many Qi Refinent practitioners reportedly perished, estimated at fifty or sixty.
"Do you plan to return, or?"
"Not returning; just consider dead,"
Chaozhen Taoist responded with a bitter smile—what purpose did it serve to go back? Guarding so many remnants would rely invite another massacre.
"Very well, you may stay here from now on,"
Song Lin replied nonchalantly.
As for titles and riches, they were out of the question.
If they wished to join his ranks, they’d have to integrate wholly and dismantle their original structures.
"Chen Cheng might not have died," Chaozhen spoke suddenly with an air of secrecy.
"I know."
Song Lin realized he had shattered only this man’s dharma body earlier; his physical form hadn’t been found.
However, with the Evil Baby Ghost King utterly destroyed, this man’s condition resembled that of a cripple.
This suited Song Lin perfectly—a single death of soone in the Core Formation realm was too troubleso, especially as inquiries by the Taoist School would trigger endless disputes, giving Fire Cloud leverage against him.
"Would Fire Cloud seek revenge?" Chaozhen Taoist asked, sowhat apprehensive.
"No."
Death and incapacitation were different matters.
Another dead Core Formation practitioner, regardless of whether Song Lin had Zhi Xin intervene, would be a difficult situation to resolve.
If the individual were rely incapacitated, Fire Cloud would need to explain why Chen Cheng had trespassed into his territory to kill, particularly given the ten different temple masters he had replaced this past month.
Such actions would only ignite even more trouble for Fire Cloud.
...
Within the depths of i Mountain Jungle.
Zhao Wuji lay pale-faced on a bed, a horrific wound splitting across his chest.
The wound oozed blood continuously, and upon closer inspection, countless tiny whirlwinds could be seen swirling within the gash.
This was the Sword Qi of the Wind Sword.
Zhao Wuji had managed a narrow escape but sustained severe injuries as a result.
Crash!
Sparks suddenly flared, withdrawing into themselves—a pitch-black secret chamber erged, revealing an old Taoist with flaming red hair and eyebrows.
"Taoist Master!" Zhao Wuji gasped through the searing agony, his forehead drenched with sweat.
Fire Cloud pressed a hand firmly on his shoulder, advising him against movent, before slamming his palm onto the wound.
"Ahhh!!"
Zhao Wuji nearly slipped into unconsciousness from the sheer pain.
Flas seared the injury, purging the Sword Qi as scabs began to form.
The effect proved promising, yet the ensuing agony was beyond asure.
Soon, the bleeding ceased.
"Thank you, Master Taoist! Please deliver justice for !"
Zhao Wuji pleaded with tear-streaked desperation.
Seven Core Formation Ghost Generals—
Initially led by the Ghost King and Rampant Soldiers, then supplented with more Ghost Kings following the Divine General’s eting, collectively refining them into seven Core Formation Ghost Generals.
Though reluctant to admit it, Zhao Wuji indeed provoked Song Lin.
The Ghost Generals were forged, he was brimming with confidence seeking revenge on Song Lin, but unexpectedly, disaster struck.
"What happened exactly?" Fire Cloud asked impassively.
"He..." Fire Cloud stirred mories of terrifying intensity within Zhao Wuji.
A golden giant, like a statue of divinity.
With a light grasp, the spirits of all seven Ghost Generals were utterly obliterated.
Despite being in the Early Core Formation stage, how could they have been so fragile?
Zhao Wuji recounted the incident in vivid detail.
Fire Cloud brooded in silent contemplation.
It appeared this entity had incapacitated Chen Cheng and almost slain Zhao Wuji.
Could Song Lin’s summoned Divine General truly possess the combat capacity of Perfect Core Formation?
"Impossible!"
Fire Cloud refused to believe it.
He had thoroughly investigated Song Lin’s lineage, as well as every destination he’d visited over the years.
No trace of any ancient immortal heritage was detected, nor any residual aura of ancient immortals steeped in spiritual energy.
Apart from Mingxing Peak, almost everywhere had been combed in painstaking detail.
Despite Song Lin’s recent breakthrough to Core Formation Middle Stage, there was no conceivable way for him to crush Zhao Wuji.
The sole plausible explanation was Zhi Xin.
Zhi Xin must have secretly accepted Song Lin as his disciple.
Upon this realization, Fire Cloud grew increasingly wary.
Petty machinations were now futile.
Those without significant backing could be maligned at will.
For a figure like Song Lin, with formidable support, one must find a fatal weakness.
"Song Lin... Zhi Xin..." Fire Cloud sneered coldly, recognizing the alliance was robust.
Were it not for concern over Zhi Xin, Song Lin would have faced death a thousand tis over by now.
"I’ll let you live a little longer," Fire Cloud muttered with an icy grin.
He wasn’t in a hurry.
So long as Song Lin remained tied to i Mountain Jungle, he was like fish on the chopping block.
With this in mind, Fire Cloud penned a letter to Zhengsi.
...
"Five Ghosts Temple, eight Taoists, thirty-five Taoist disciples, 701 civilians dead."
"Mountain Demon Temple, four Taoists, eighteen Taoist disciples..."
"Yunze Temple, six Taoists, thirty-six Taoist disciples..."
"Qi Eating Temple, no casualties!"
"Sword Peak Temple, two Taoists..."
Except for Guu Yuchan and Yan Jiuge’s respective temples, the casualties at the other four temples were significant.
The seven temple masters convened—Guu Yuchan and Yan Jiuge, the newly promoted temple masters, were present.
Seeing the united assembly, Chaozhen Taoist couldn’t help feeling deeply moved, his thoughts concealed as he silently observed them.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!!"
"Zhao Wuji, that despicable old scoundrel!"
The other temple masters were infuriated.
Not only had their interests been stolen, but their disciples were slaughtered as well.
If dissatisfaction with Fire Cloud had lingered before, then now, it had evolved into sheer hatred.
Their fury boiled over like a raging tempest, desperately seeking vengeance.
"Quiet!" Song Lin commanded, surveying the room with an authoritative air. "Only the weak are trampled upon. Dedicate yourselves earnestly to cultivating your veins, and revenge will naturally follow in due ti."
Empty platitudes were easy to utter.
Song Lin was well aware of the slump in morale among his peers.
With fifteen temple masters displaced, the odds of winning electoral success seed increasingly slim.
The unity and honor forged during the collective campaign against Yin Mountain rendered this informal coalition unstable and precarious.
Song Lin had to consider ways to reinvigorate the team’s spirits—at the very least, they needed confidence in him.
Perhaps he should emulate Fire Cloud?
Forget it... That route would make him no different from Fire Cloud.
"Temple Master, good news!!"
At that mont, a Taoist disciple rushed in, holding a thick ledger.
"You’ve ranked again in the Upper Taoist eting Elent!"
"Upper Taoist eting Elent? Didn’t he already rank once before?"
Chaozhen Taoist exclaid in shock.
"Apologies, this is his second ti," the disciple clarified.
Song Lin smiled, relieved—he had been troubled over how to inspire confidence in the others, and now the opportunity had presented itself.
"What a monstrous talent!!" Chaozhen Taoist thought to himself, overwheld.
For an ordinary person, ranking even once was unattainable in their lifeti; this man managed it twice in a single year.
Was there no limit?
Suddenly, Chaozhen Taoist’s expression shifted dramatically, as though an idea had struck him. He slapped the table fiercely, drawing everyone’s attention.
"What’s wrong?" Song Lin asked, bewildered by the sudden burst of enthusiasm—it wasn’t even his ranking; why was Chaozhen so impassioned?
"I’ve figured it out!" With fervent eyes fixed on Song Lin, Chaozhen exclaid, "Temple Master, let’s establish our own sect!"
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