Chapter 407: Chapter 350: The Name Reaches Taoist Alliance, Imperial Power Contends for the Dragon_3
Although he did not possess the overwhelming talents like Erlang God and other Taoist Soldiers, he still had Core Formation Stage strength.
Coupled with the Three-headed and Six-armed Fatian Xiangdi technique, his combat power was close to the level of Purple Mansion.
The Taoist Soldiers stood silently in the sky, awaiting their next orders.
Song Lin paid them no mind. Instead, he grasped his magic sword and held the Nine Elders Immortal Capital Seal, standing before the dharma altar, sensing the changes in the Great Dao’s energy flow.
"Born of clouds and dragons, the Dao ascends naturally, Zhang Lie stands for righteousness, Lihua Taqing radiates purity, assisting the righteous path, traveling across the true plane, combining the Six Jia harmonies, Nine Heavens surpass all forms, blessings extend to future generations, immortality manifests within the truth..."
Song Lin seemed to become one with the cloud, riding on the flowing mist, ascending to the highest of Nine Heavens.
Above the Nine Heavens, lay an infinite realm of wonder, filled with countless incredible visions.
The Dao Qi was pure and true, radiating brilliance amidst Taqing’s clarity.
Clouds swirled around Song Lin, concealing him as the mist rearranged itself into a complex and enigmatic symbol.
This symbol was far more intricate than the Netherworld Seal Characters, containing not just countless layers of text but also sound, space, time, imagery, and more.
The Cloud Seal vaguely resembled the character for "soldier."
After a long pause, Song Lin slowly opened his eyes.
A golden, floating Cloud Seal now resided within his Dantian.
"The first one, complete!"
He casually pointed his finger, sending the Cloud Seal into motion.
An army of one hundred thousand arranged itself into formation.
With a wave of his hand, the soldiers dissipated, then he inscribed a Cloud Seal onto a piece of paper and stamped it with the Nine Elders Immortal Capital Seal.
Swish!
The talisman paper ignited, conjuring soldiers into formation once more.
The Spell transformed into a more convenient talisman form, simplifying its usage into straightforward talisman crafting or Dantian-sealing techniques.
Complex spells in the future could be unified, requiring only versatile talismanic skills.
The soldier-conjuring talisman was completed. Next was the sword talisman.
The Eight Sceneries Divine Sword Talisman!
The conversion time of a spell varied; the stronger the spell, the harder and longer the transformation.
Song Lin didn’t intend to rely solely on his personal spells; he planned to select additional techniques from the Five Mountains True Form Map and various texts within the Little Three Emperors Scripture.
His current goal was to complete the Twelve Talisman System.
In his free moments, he consumed pills and cultivated the Five Qi Chaoyuan along with the Nine-Transformation Indestructible Body.
His Nine-Transformation Indestructible Body was still at the Sixth Transformation Realm, remaining far from achieving the Ninth Transformation.
As Song Lin cultivated,
external forces churned in silence, with petty plots lurking beneath the surface.
In Donghua Jungle, within the Mystical Character No. 32 Corridor at the Capital Institute Mansion and the No.2 Spirit Garden Area,
the location bordered the primitive forest, secluded and rarely visited.
At this moment, the sound of reading reverberated.
Approaching the courtyard, one could see weasels, foxes, hedgehogs, grey snakes, and rats standing in a neat row, quietly listening to a young man reading aloud.
Wu Yi resided here, granted certain freedoms by the Wu Country’s Royal Family to oversee the spirit garden within Donghua Jungle.
During his time as caretaker, Wu Yi developed a familiarity with the Five Immortals’ system, sparking their interest in learning as well.
The elders of the Five Immortals entrusted these bothersome creatures to Wu Yi for care.
Through this arrangement, Wu Yi gained various cultivation resources, such as dharma coins and pills.
In the shadowy depths of the jungle,
a pair of eerie green eyes watched Wu Yi intently.
Suddenly, murderous intent surged forth.
Like ink soaking through paper, danger seeped into all directions.
Swish swish swish!
Falling blossoms scattered as thumb-thick, jet-black spikes shot toward Wu Yi’s forehead.
Wu Yi seemed to sense something and narrowly evaded at the last moment.
Bam!
The black spike embedded deeply into the ground as a dark figure swiftly darted out from within the forest.
Wu Yi prepared to flee but quickly thought of the little creatures. Urgently he shouted, "Run quickly!"
Then he cast a talisman, using his meager True Qi to activate it.
A fireball shot toward the dark figure.
The fire illuminated the figure’s face.
It was a pitch-black human face, topped with three or five crooked goat-like horns, exuding malice and evil.
Before the fireball could reach it, demonic Qi extinguished the flame instantly.
"Heh, your head belongs to me now!"
The demon spewed toxic smoke from its mouth.
At that moment, starlight from the Nine Heavens began to flicker, faintly forming a complex Cloud Seal.
Swish!
In the next instant, piercing Sword Qi emerged from nowhere, slicing through the air and beheading the demon in one stroke.
Wu Yi squinted under the blinding sword light. When he regained focus, a young Taoist stood before him.
The Taoist wore a white jade crown, a broad robe, and frowned as he inspected the place where the demon had turned to ash.
"Thank you, Senior, for saving my life. I will forever be indebted to you."
Wu Yi silently acknowledged the strength of this Senior, wondering how they might compare to his sister.
At that moment, another Taoist emerged from deeper within the forest, followed by his Taoist Soldiers dragging a half-dead demon.
"Taoist Lord, we wiped out eight demons and captured one alive."
The Taoist was none other than Shi Yinhua.
He had detected the demonic energy long ago but hadn’t expected Song Lin’s Eight Sceneries Divine Sword Talisman to strike faster.
"Take it away for questioning."
Only then did Wu Yi realize it was the Taoist Lord who had saved him.
Song Lin finally turned his gaze toward the young man.
"And you are?"
Wu Yi introduced his background.
"The thirty-second prince... So you’re Qingyu’s younger brother. Sit here."
Song Lin nudged a white fox that was occupying a seat, prompting the little fox to scurry away forlornly.
"Who wants you dead?"
To dispatch a Core Formation Demon as an assassin, the faction behind this must be extraordinary.
"It could be Consort Rong from the palace, mother of the Eighth and Twelfth Princes. Before her death, she held a grudge against my mother. This time, with me leaving the palace, she probably seized the opportunity."
Wu Yi wasn’t naive; he had pieced together a probable explanation.
"Hmph, the Royal Family colluding with demons? It seems even the Human Clan’s sovereign isn’t clean."
The Eighth Prince, it appeared, was supported by the Heaven and Earth Xuanmen Alliance.
Soon, Shi Yinhua forced out the truth.
It was indeed the work of the Royal Family, but not Consort Rong—rather, the culprit turned out to be the Chief Eunuch.
Wu Yi seemed to have quite an unusual background.
Song Lin closed his eyes in deep thought, tapping his fingers on the table.
"Do you have any domain assigned to you?"
Wu Yi chuckled bitterly and replied, "I don’t have a maternal clan, so I’m unlikely to receive any territory beyond nominal titles."
"Since it’s a nominal position, can you choose where to request domain assignment?"
"The palace likely hopes I leave as soon as possible. As long as it’s not an important location, they should agree."
"Very well, then request territories around Mei County and its neighboring regions. This area was known as Yinghua Land in ancient times. We can have you titled as King Ying or King Hua. Later, I’ll ensure you’re under my protection."
Even if the title is merely symbolic, it carries meaning.
"I obey your orders, Taoist Lord!"
To become a Heavenly Master, navigating politics was unavoidable.
One could either establish a faction to support a contender or outright back a bid for the throne.
At present, the fight for succession was out of question. Instead, building a faction influential within the court meant that any contender would need to offer concessions to win their support.
For example, gaining more sway with the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master and other forces.
In short, Song Lin refused to miss playing this game.
He gazed at the dim Emperor Ziwei Star and let a faint smile curve his lips.
Imperial Power?
He wanted to play with it too.