Returning to the Taoist Temple.
Song Lin handed the items over to Tongshou Taoist, only to be inford that the candidate for the dharma altar disciple had yet to be chosen and that he should wait a while longer.
"Understood. Just notify if there’s anything," Song Lin replied with a smile and then returned to the Hidden Sword Manor.
It was nothing more than planting his own people to ensure the Yin Yang Altar was firmly under his control.
However, Song Lin no longer cared about such things.
With a new channel for transactions, he had no need to concern himself with such petty benefits.
Now was a good ti to appear incorruptible, avoiding the temple master’s future reckoning.
Even though he was part of the Ziyuan faction, with its many mbers reaching into nearly half of the higher ranks, it was impossible to wipe everyone out.
Soone like Tongshou, deeply entangled in benefits, was bound to et his end.
As long as he maneuvered in ti and relied on his reputation as a genius, everything should remain under control.
Back at the Hidden Sword Manor.
Song Lin took out a transmission jade talisman, an aged piece of sheep-fat white jade. This artifact, capable of killing even Divine Establishnts, had sohow chosen him instead.
Was it based on talent? Or potential?
Clearly, this organization was not simple.
Song Lin held the jade talisman, and with a thought of his divine mind—
Swish!
The scene before him shifted, and he again found himself in the mysterious grand hall.
Apart from the Water God and Fire God, there were now several unfamiliar figures present.
They looked at Song Lin with curiosity but remained silent.
Song Lin approached the bulletin board, picked up the hanging brush, and began writing on the blank jade plate beside it.
"Seeking pill recipes or pills for Qi Refinent. Willing to exchange Taoist Skills."
Song Lin then penned a description of spells obtained from other worlds of stories, including the Flying Head Skill, Corpse Dissolution Technique, Fire Escape Technique, Vomiting Miasma Skill, and Swallowing Gold and Cloud Mother thod—skills he himself hadn’t learned.
He had no use for these techniques. They likely didn’t exist in the current reality or only had similar variants, but they should at least be worth the value of a Qi Refinent pill recipe.
"Taoist, I have a Qi Refinent pill recipe."
No sooner had he posted his request than a woman’s voice ca from behind him.
Song Lin turned to look and saw a tall, slender woman dressed in white, wearing a fox mask.
"Fine. All these skills are yours. How do we trade?"
"Seal them in the jade box, then let the Water and Fire Gods use the Six Nymphs Skill for authentication."
The woman’s jade-like fingers tapped on the jade box beside her.
The two followed the rules and exchanged items accordingly.
"I am Xuan Lady. If you need more pill recipes in the future, just post a notice."
"Eastern King!"
Song Lin returned to reality.
The exchanged spells were also recorded in the jade talisman. By injecting mana, words floated into the void.
The pill was nad the Tiger Suppressing Solidification Pill, designed to fortify ridians, making them more adaptable to absorbing foreign energies and accelerating progress.
The pill was classified as a top-grade spiritual pill.
The ingredients were less exotic than expected. The key lay in the crafting technique.
"Chao Chong!"
Song Lin summoned Chao Chong.
"What are your orders, my lord?"
"Gather large quantities of Jingtian, Xuejian, Dragon Hollyhock, and Xu Changqing... as much as possible. I need them for alchemy."
"Understood."
Having completed these tasks, Song Lin returned to the Altar Temple World.
...
Nine years in the Altar Temple World.
Six counties under his domain.
In each county and region, there was an East Mountain Temple.
In so areas, it wasn’t called East Mountain Temple but instead bore nas like Wulang God, Hunting God, or God of Wanquan.
After taking over six counties, Song Lin devoured nurous ghosts and gods, acquiring many divine positions.
From minor roles like blessing for childbirth and healing to major responsibilities such as ensuring favorable weather—they all fell under his jurisdiction.
At the summit of East Mountain, Song Lin’s primordial spirit stood suspended in the void, gazing upon the six-county territory.
So ancestor spirits patrolled day and night in shifts, leading Rampant Soldiers.
These belonged to the Day and Night Altar, tasked with patrolling the land and recording actions.
Those who committed excessive evil had their deeds logged in the Good and Evil Altar’s ledger, awaiting punishnt by either ghosts and gods or mortal authorities.
The Good and Evil Altar was structured similarly to the City God System; accumulating enough virtue would result in a title as a local Land God or City God, enjoying the incense offerings from believers.
With Chen Yixin at the helm, the six counties thrived.
"Thirteen thousand people. Still far from the hundred thousand needed for a School Position," Song Lin remarked.
Currently holding a Departntal Position in the underworld, Song Lin governed over ten-thousand-plus souls. Above that was the School Position, requiring a population of a hundred thousand.
A Capital Position required ten million, equivalent to controlling two or more states as a vassal.
Further up, a General Position required a minimum population of fifty million.
"Xi Fang!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a shadowy cloud descended.
Xi Fang, dressed in official robes, appeared before Song Lin.
Since Song Lin had assud the Departntal Position, Xi Fang’s mana had also surged, promoting him to a Tunzhi Yin Officer.
"How many Rampant Soldiers do we currently have?"
"Eight thousand in our main force, plus over three thousand from the combined water armies."
"That’s sufficient. We can wage war now," Song Lin thought, deciding at least to seize three prefectures in Southern Jingzhou first.
"Altar Master, I suggest waiting a little longer. Chen Xiong is nearing his end. Neither of his sons is competent, and Jingzhou lacks anyone to inherit his foundation. Chen Xiong greatly esteems his relative, Chen Yixin, who is fad across the land. Perhaps we could take Jingzhou without a fight," Xi Fang proposed.
They nominally pledged loyalty to King Ann Liu; anwhile, they could bide their ti to slowly dismantle his power.
Conquering the land couldn’t rely solely on Rampant Soldiers. Even if they won through force, human governance was necessary. Ghosts and gods couldn’t manifest for extended periods, and in the end, the spoils would fall to others.
"Are you dreaming?"
Song Lin nearly laughed in anger.
How could such a foundation be easily left to others? No matter how high Chen Yixin’s reputation soared, it wouldn’t change the fact that Chen Xiong, on his deathbed, would likely drag soone down with him.
Upon hearing Song Lin’s explanation, cold sweat poured down Xi Fang’s back.
"Begin preparation for mobilization imdiately. Ignore King Ann Liu—they’re too preoccupied with fighting Jiangdong’s Xiang family."
"Understood!"
The official roads bustled with activity; war lood near. Here and there, armies raced across the land, forcing travelers to hastily step aside.
Amid the commotion, one figure stood out—a man with a long flowing beard, his hair white as snow.
He carried a horsetail whisk, walking calmly down the center of the road. Strangely, the passersby around him seed oblivious to his presence, instinctively stepping away as they neared his side.
He was accompanied by two child disciples.
"Master, didn’t you say the Xiang and Huang families would divide the realm? Why are we in Jingzhou now?" one child asked, puzzled.
"There is sothing unclear," the man replied.
"What is it?"
The child, still young and brash, received only kindly humor from his master, the forr immortal Wus Youxu.
"According to the heavenly phenonon, the Dragon Qi belongs to the Xiang family, blessed with four generations of emperors’ fortune to rule the south of the Yangtze. They should claim Jingzhou in one month’s ti and attract talents to establish their imperial foundation. But..."
Yet the heavenly signs suggested otherwise. Jingzhou now showed unusual movents. A man nad Chen Yixin had suddenly risen to prominence.
This man, known for his benevolence across the land, was supposed to die in battle, earning posthumous recognition as the Marquis Martyr and later ascending to divinity. How had events taken such a drastic turn?
Wus Youxu had observed the stars the previous night and discovered that Chen Yixin now carried an air of contention for the throne.
Destiny deviates for no reason—such anomalies were nothing short of demonic. He had to intervene personally and erase this threat.
"Deviation must not be allowed. Order must return to its rightful course!" Wus Youxu chuckled softly. "Consider this an early opportunity I offer. Let us see exactly who has dared ddle with his fate."
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