Aside from this maliciously scheming Saint Heir, there were nurous streaks of tunneling light swaggeringly flying into the domain of the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect.
Spirit Treasure Sect’s Small Cave Heaven.
At the dharma altar in the middle of the lake, a yellow-robed Taoist with a face as fair as white jade sat cross-legged on a ditation cushion. He wore an Eight Diagram Lotus Crown, his age indeterminate.
Auspicious clouds enveloped him, and the essence of Dao suffused the air.
Occasionally, mysterious characters surfaced in the void.
This figure was none other than the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master, also known as Elder Tianji, the foremost expert of the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect.
At this ti, the Sacrificial Wine approached to report the arrival of the Demon Clan.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master nodded slightly and said softly:
"Very well, proceed as usual. Let the Heavenly Eagle Clan’s Demon Lord wait in the main hall."
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master pondered to himself.
"Heavenly Master, the Demon Clan has killed many. Should we warn them with a show of strength?"
The Sacrificial Wine probed.
"No need, they wouldn’t dare cross the line too much."
"But the people are outraged."
"Outraged? Once the agreent is finalized and the Demon Clan withdraws, they’ll be back on their knees, singing praises of our righteousness."
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master sneered coldly.
Having lived for thousands upon tens of thousands of years, what storms and turmoil had he not seen?
The mory of the common folk was worthless; no matter how poorly treated, they would forget in a few years. Should they not forget, a small favor could easily erase it.
Besides, without knowing the full truth, they could only follow the Taoist School’s narrative.
Soon, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master erged from seclusion and proceeded to the main hall to et the leader of the Heavenly Eagle Clan, the Demon Lord.
Everyone felt as though they were betraying their country’s honor.
But how could they understand the strength of the Demon Clan?
The Demon Lord’s cultivation was roughly on par with his own, and there were at least twenty such experts on the Evil Islands.
Moreover, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master himself was rely one of the seven Celestial Masters of Wu Country’s Taoist Alliance.
Just the Evil Islands alone boasted over twenty Taoist Alliance Celestial Master-level experts, not to ntion the other three Demon Countries.
The Human Clan lived amidst narrow spaces, and every thod of handling affairs had its reasons.
After all, there was precedent—two parties had once reached consensus.
Three thousand kilograms of Spirit Pills, and a total of five thousand tons of various dicinal materials, valued at an astronomical ten billion dharma coins; in addition, twenty thousand living people, including one thousand pairs of boys and girls, were traded—values that could not be quantified.
Although these numbers seed substantial, they were trivial for the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect’s Taoist Alliance, which presided over over four hundred million people.
Offering these lives for peace was actually an acceptable exchange.
The Taoist Alliance presiding over the Mortal World had reduced outbreaks of plague and famine, resulting in an exploding population every year.
Simply put, if the Taoist Alliance turned a blind eye, ten tis more people would die of starvation annually compared to this paltry twenty thousand.
After all, Wu Country was a superstate nearing three billion population.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master considered himself ritorious: trading the lives of a few to grant survival to the vast majority along the coast was an excellent bargain.
But most people failed to understand his well-intentioned heart.
Spirit Treasure subconsciously ignored the dire fate awaiting these twenty thousand robust individuals.
"The five Taoist Sects will evenly divide the spoils: 900 kilograms of pills, 900 tons of materials, 30,000 people, and 1,000 pairs of boys and girls each."
The slightly larger remainder would be borne by the Spirit Treasure Dao.
Such was the responsibility of a Celestial Master of the Taoist Alliance.
Once distributed, each Heavenly Master received their orders and held ergency etings overnight.
All Hall Masters and above, as well as high-ranking Taoists, assembled in Xuanyu City.
Xuanyu City, a Heavenly Master’s Dojo guarded by eight Ghost Kings.
The Master of each departnt of the Heaven and Earth Xuan Sect’s five palaces, including the Taiji Left and Right Ministers, the Departnt Directors, fourteen Jungle Taoists, four Grandmasters, thirteen Mages, and every Hall Master, stood before the enormous plaza.
Facing the main hall positioned in the center of the plaza.
Song Lin was also among them, but he stood not as a Taoist but as a Mage, stationed behind the i Hua Grandmaster and an elderly green-haired, green-eyed Taoist with flowing white beard that reached his chest.
Surveying the surroundings, he realized he had been placed in the second echelon.
The first echelon consisted of Yunhai, the Green-haired Taoist, Zhi Xin, i Hua, and the two Grandmasters tasked as Taiji Left and Right Ministers—six individuals in total.
The second echelon comprised top experts, Magistrates, Wu Qingxuan, several unfamiliar Taoists, Chuu Yuying, Tianjie, Earth Evil, and three other magistrate-robed individuals.
As a Mage, his rank was slightly below Magistrates but slightly above Departnt Directors.
Logically, he should have been positioned at the forefront of the third echelon.
Yet, due to the Taoist’s hierarchical structure, a Mage would rank just one level below a Grandmaster, positioning Song Lin alongside figures like Chuu Yuying.
Clearly better situated than the Taoists relegated to the rear.
At that mont, the Green-haired Taoist turned to Song Lin and said:
"You must be the Donghua Master? A pleasure to et you."
"I wouldn’t dare claim. May I ask, Senior, who you are?"
Song Lin inquired.
This individual, second only to Yunhai in prominence, was evidently no minor character.
"I am Yin King, Demon-controlling Grandmaster, and Jungle Taoist of the Holy Might Forest."
The Green-haired Taoist introduced himself.
"An honor to et you."
Song Lin responded politely.
So, this man was the Jungle Taoist of the Holy Might Forest—no wonder his stature was so impressive.
Equivalent to the Capital Governor of a mortal dynasty, far surpassing ordinary Taoists.
Before long, the Holy Might Heavenly Master appeared.
Dispensing with unnecessary words, he distributed the tasks.
"... Donghua Forest, responsible for 20 kilograms of pills, 3,000 mortals, and 100 pairs of boys and girls."
"Understood!"
Though unwilling, Song Lin stoically complied.
The forest bore more burden in terms of population but was spared material sacrifices.
Song Lin examined those around him.
Many appeared calm, their emotions unreadable; a majority bore neutral expressions. Yet, so looked visibly upset, their dissatisfaction nearly engraved on their faces.
The Holy Might Heavenly Master pretended not to notice; after all, such matters were inherently disgraceful, and depriving others even of their dissent would indeed prove tyrannical.
Before long, the doors of the Heavenly Master Hall shut tight.
However, rather than dispersing, the crowd was intercepted by Yunhai.
Song Lin realized soone was about to play the opposite role.
"Let this matter not be disclosed; violators will face charges of exposing Taoist secrets. Furthermore, the envoy this ti is the Saint Son of the Elephant Clan. Do not offend him idly. The Demon Clan is as wild as beasts; if they kill so mortals, so be it. No need to flaunt your might unnecessarily."
"Understood."
Yunhai’s gaze flitted over a certain individual intentionally or otherwise.
"eting adjourned. Tianjie and Lingfu, stay behind."
As the congregation dispersed, Yunhai addressed the remaining two:
"You two are to accompany the envoy. While we cannot allow them free rein, consider it oversight."
Having said this, Tianjie imdiately saluted.
The two had, in fact, discussed this beforehand.
Under Tianjie’s guidance, the Elephant Clan would be led toward Donghua Forest, where conflict would be orchestrated between the factions.
Regardless of whether the result was mutual hardship or the elimination of one party, Song Lin was destined to pay a heavy price.
...
Purple Cloud Peak.
Amidst the mist and fog, a poised yet solitary and orchid-like beauty faced a ga of weiqi.
Snap!
A white piece landed—Dragon Slain!
...
Within an obscure and shadowy dinsion.
Pitch-black as an abyss, flourishing with Demonic Qi.
Several dozen silhouettes moved within the dark mass of demonic haze, their cloaks black and masking even facial features.
These figures encircled two slender presences at the center.
"Observe the situation near Xiangling for now; do not reveal yourselves recklessly. Avoid falling victim to their ’lure the snake out of its hole’ tactic."
"But that person bears the complete Divine Demon Map, perfectly matching the legend."
"It could be a ploy by Holy Might."
"In any case, maintain our watch."
The assembly fell into quiet contemplation.
The two figures in the middle were precisely the Thunder Tribulation Masters Xiangling had described.
Although they had encountered significant troubles earlier, recent developnts had resolved most issues.
Having spotted soone wielding an intact Divine Demon Technique, the group chose instead to bide their ti in hiding.
They were not like Xiangling, prone to impulsiveness.
Such matters, involving the rise and fall of Taoist orthodoxy, demanded utmost caution.
The Supre Elder, who was already on the cusp of the Primordial Spirit Realm, was more anxious than anyone else.
If the technique could be completed, it would an ascending to beco a true master of the Primordial Spirit Realm.
Even when confronted by Holy Might’s Primordial Spirit Peak experts, he would hold considerable strength.
...
Donghua Forest.
Song Lin returned and convened the Three Capitals and Five Masters to discuss the matter.
"This is outrageous! How are we supposed to explain this away?" Shi Yinhua expressed dissatisfaction.
Surprisingly, even the Taoist School proved no different in such practices.
"The Taoist School has advised against publicizing it. We can handle it privately. As for the 3,000 mortals, we can round up convicted criminals, death row inmates, detained fraudsters, quacks, and so on—those should suffice. If that’s still not enough, we can raid another batch of bandits elsewhere."
Xiao Xuan, who recently succeeded Mu Ke as Scripture Master, suggested. As for Mu Ke, his remaining lifespan was minimal, and he had gone to the Taiyin Refining Shape Temple for retirent. Decades later, perhaps he might revive—or maybe never again.
Presently, among the Five Masters, only Five Ghosts and Yun Lian remained uncultivated to Core Formation.
"And the boys and girls? Will we quietly abduct them? How would that make us any different from the Zhengsi? How could we live with ourselves?"
Shi Yinhua questioned.
The Three Refuges, Three Laws, and Nine Precepts expressly forbade such practices.
Should they choose this path, the Evil Exorcism Altar enforcers would decapitate them on the spot.
Even if a Taoist turned a blind eye, permitting such violations, how would laws and order be upheld in the future?
"Why not rebel? We possess supre cultivation techniques and vast places to go!"
Gu Yuchan spoke with an icy tone.
"Rebel to what end? Will you join the Demons, then?"
As tensions rose, Song Lin remained in silent contemplation, seemingly preoccupied.
After a long while, he finally spoke, deciding.
"Here’s the plan: I’ll negotiate with the Qin Five Qi, asking them to bear the population burden for Donghua. In exchange, Donghua Forest will cover the full quota of pills."
For other forests, these few thousand mortals were far less valuable than 10 kilograms of pills.
If Song Lin put out the word, others would scramble to transfer these individuals for him.
"Brilliant!"
Xiao Xuan praised.
Other mbers reluctantly agreed, though this solution was far from ideal.
"Rest assured; it’s not set in stone yet. Leave it to ."
Song Lin remarked with a smile.
Twenty kilograms of pills couldn’t be gathered randomly; by then, nurous individuals would surely co knocking.
Offering them at cost would at least garner goodwill.
Following the eting’s adjournnt, Song Lin sought out Zhi Xin.
After so casual conversation, Song Lin learned that this type of incident occurred roughly every decade, sotis every twenty years.
No matter the interval, the Demon Clan’s extortion would inevitably resu, occasionally from differing factions.
"In reality, the Demon Clan’s demands are far more extensive than what’s explicitly stated. Along their path, they may engage in murder and pillaging, with the fatalities tallying up to fivefold what’s recorded officially."
Zhi Xin’s face carried a solemn weight.
Afterward, Song Lin settled temporarily in the mountain.
Zhi Xin used divination techniques to guide his alchemical efforts, significantly improving his success rate.
Indeed, mysticism seed indispensable, proving invaluable even in alchemy.
During this ti, Zhi Xin also shared insights into the training developnts of other personnel under the Evil Exorcism Altar’s command.
The seven from the Hidden Pulse were tasked with leading seventy selected individuals to a secluded overseas island for secret cultivation, tempering their minds to an unbreakable point—turning them into a formidable blade.
anwhile, all remained undisturbed at the Ghost Market.
After a few days of exchange, Song Lin returned to the forest.
As the others amassed resources, the Elephant Clan drew near, leaving destruction in their wake.
The Seven Treasures Building Ship, carved from white jade, floated in mid-air. The Elephant Clan’s Saint Son, dressed like a nobleman, stood on the deck.
"How dull, Daoist Tianjie. Not even a single interesting place to explore among you Humans. There aren’t even many decent people."
The Saint Son was none other than the beggar who had slaughtered in the fishing village.
"I know of a place where many good people reside. Even their Taoists are exceptionally virtuous." Tianjie whispered.
"Where might that be?"
"Donghua Forest!"
...
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