Chapter 408: Chapter 351: 5 Years Later, A New Confrontation
Returning to his residence.
The Immortal living secluded outside the mountain did not mean he was unperturbed by worldly affairs.
If he were a solitary loose cultivator, he could overlook this point.
But with the entire Donghua Alliance at his back, Song Lin could not retreat no matter what.
The Donghua Alliance was in a phase of development, with numerous hidden threats within.
Especially with the newly joined Black Prison Mansion, Blessed Land Spirit Forbidden Mansion, Qingyun, Sanhe, and Tianling forests.
These newly joined forests and mansions were not necessarily all loyal.
The first two were Taoist Alliance departments and could not be tampered with, like embezzling or appointing another department to replace them.
The attitude of the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master was also easy to see.
He only looked at strength, regardless of who the other party was.
These few places were undergoing transformation, and it was unknown how many chose to leave, or how many secretly colluded with enemies.
This had to be guarded against.
"Ultimately, it still depends on strength."
Song Lin thought to himself.
His current realm was the consummation of Three Flowers Gathering at the Top late-stage Purple Mansion.
Just one step away from the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.
This realm was equivalent to the Department Director Level.
But for the entire Donghua Alliance, it was still insignificant; there were currently six experts in the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.
Zhonghuang Zi, Yuanbo, Zhengxin, Mei Hua, Earth Evil, and Heavenly Slaughter.
Song Lin’s power stemmed from Zhonghuang Zi, Yuanbo, and Zhengxin.
He had long since not feared Earth Evil and Heavenly Slaughter; his strength was comparable to theirs.
Zhengxin absolutely supported him, and the strength of Zhonghuang Zi and Yuanbo was restricted by him; without the North Emperor’s Precepts, the Divine Demon Dharma Image could never fully manifest before the world.
Song Lin’s strength in their eyes was not impressive.
After all, the Donghua Jungle also had eleven Purple Mansions—six Department Directors from the two mansions and five Taoists from the forest.
Currently, Song Lin might meet combat standards, but his strength was still not enough.
At least entering the Transcendance Stage, becoming a first-rate power in the Taoist Alliance.
The title and strength of this Shadow Heavenly Master would then be truly deserved.
Thinking of this, Song Lin summoned the Three Capitals and Five Masters along with Xiangling.
The crowd curiously observed Xiangling, this young girl.
This girl wore simple nightwear, with no makeup, a lively expression in her eyes, and occasionally emitted astonishing Demonic Qi.
Who exactly was she?
Why had they not seen her before?
Only Shi Yinhua, who had interacted before, seemed to ponder something.
"Demon Guard, Evil Exorcism Altar Envoy."
Song Lin had no intention to give a detailed introduction.
"Yinhua, I will be in closed-door training for a while. The current situation of the alliance is complicated; you all must manage the alliance properly, listen to the opinions of Zhonghuang Zi and Senior Zhengxin, and work closely with the Evil Exorcism Altar."
"Yes."
"Also, Ziye, make sure to scrutinize the new disciples and allies; be diligent in patrolling the forests. If possible, I suggest you involve yourself in the patrol tasks of the other five forests."
"As you command!"
"Qingyu, focus on the training of our disciples, and discover the right talents to inherit; prevent the cultivation techniques from leaking."
"Alright."
Song Lin looked at the other Five Masters, Guu Yuchan, Yan Jiuge, Xiao Xuan, Li Hu, Zhong Mountain.
Li Hu was a burly man with a tiger’s back and bear’s waist, a former patrol steward, under whom Song Lin had once worked; he also entered the Core Formation stage.
Zhong Mountain was a middle-aged man with gray hair, a loose cultivator who pledged allegiance to him, cultivated the Taiyin Refining Technique.
He had currently succeeded in soul wandering the Void and broke into Core Formation.
Taiyin Refining Shape Temple was a special Taoist temple, the home for many elders, having a relatively transcendent status, which Song Lin had to include in the core power level of the Five Masters out of both sentiment and reason.
"You all coordinate well with the Three Capitals."
The power of the Donghua Alliance was now immense, with the number of experts alone equating to one-third of the Taoist School.
The population covered approximately twenty-six million people.
It had expanded more than fourfold.
The Donghua Jungle was also unique, and with Song Lin in closed-door training, the burden fell on them.
After everyone left, Xiangling reverted to her mischievous nature.
"Hehe, Taoist, do you have any instructions?"
Xiangling came forward, asking with a smile.
She did not appear to be the master of the Hidden Pulse.
"Hmph, be serious."
Song Lin feigned anger.
"Okay."
Song Lin said, "Their matters are not important; what is crucial is the Evil Exorcism Altar. If anyone violates the precepts, secretly conspires with outsiders, or commits a capital crime, you must not show any mercy."
"Certainly, for the newly joined two mansions and three forests, do not intervene; I promise to let them reform themselves within three years, and only then will I intervene."
"I certainly will not hold back."
Xiangling’s eyes flickered with a hint of murderous intent.
"Good, you may go and rest."
Song Lin typically granted extensive power to the people of the Evil Exorcism Altar.
After all, their lifespans were short, and they adhered to the strictest North Emperor’s Precepts, holding the power of the emergence of divinities.
Song Lin was such a person, bearing as much authority and responsibility as his capability allowed.
The reason for entrusting the full authority of life and death to Xiangling was partly because she was a descendant of the Yin Spring Palace.
Even if trouble arose, Zhonghuang Zi would lend a hand.
After sending everyone away, Song Lin announced his closed-door training.
Whether Five Qi Chaoyuan or Nine-Transformation Golden Body.
These were methods validated over multiple worlds, repeatedly tested.
No need for exploration or additional insight, he could just headstrongly break through.
Time gradually passed.
A year, two years, three years... five years.
Five years was neither too long nor too short.
Tianhe’s injuries had long since healed.
The Donghua Jungle had not been idle either; Shi Yinhua managed to win over Spirit Talisman and Spirit Sword, freeing them from the identity of the Holy Might Jungle’s Capital Management and Grand Commissioner, to become Guest Elders of the Donghua Alliance.
The identities of Spirit Talisman and Spirit Sword were not simple, representing the true heirs of Holy Might, the orthodoxy of the old era.
A large number of cultivator families were their supporters, and their joining signified the joining of cultivator families from the Holy Might Jungle to the Donghua Jungle.
This was an immense benefit.
Cultivator families rooted in the mortal class could never be completely eradicated and could only be united with; Spirit Talisman and Spirit Sword played a linking role in this.
Capital Management Mansion.
Shi Yinhua leaned against a redwood carved-back chair, listening to the reports of his subordinates, the incense curling up and filling the room.
"In two days, the Spirit Talisman will lead part of the cultivator families into the Donghua Six Counties; you all assign people to guard them, and do not allow thieves to exploit any gaps."
Across from Shi Yinhua was a young man of average appearance, standing proudly, giving the impression of a stalwart pine.
Looking into his eyes, one could feel the profound realm suffused with Purple Qi.
"Alright." Guu Yuchan nodded.
"Try to remain hidden."
Whoosh!
Guu Yuchan transformed into a lightning bolt and left the area.
"Excellent cultivation technique!"
Shi Yinhua praised.
As time passed, the gap among these geniuses gradually widened.
He himself concentrated on the Five Immortals Dharma, still quite a distance from the Purple Mansion.
Wang Ziyue had just entered the late-stage Core Formation.
Yan Jiuge and Guu Yuchan were only a step away from the Purple Mansion.
Especially Guu Yuchan, already exhibiting the bearing of a Grandmaster.
The Cultivation Path originally could only suit the Thunder Skill, as it was just a vein focused on Qi Refinement, unable to perform higher-level spells.
However, with his modification, the Cultivation Path could now suit Sword Cultivation, Divine Demon Refining Body, Divine Medium Immortal Skill, Corpse Gu Technique, Taoist Soldier Skill, and others.
Were it not for the Cultivation Path needing to seize vast amounts of resources and essence, this relatively low-threshold method might have proliferated everywhere.
Even with intentional restriction, many within the sect still had criticisms of the Cultivation Path.
Like locusts sweeping across a country, the areas they had cultivated seemed to form an essence vacuum, really leaving not a drop.
Song Lin had even joked, saying if they really unified the world, they would have to allocate a continent for them to develop on their own.
Shi Yinhua called a steward and asked, "Has Yan Jiuge returned?"
"Still on the way, about to enter Yunzhou’s territory."
"Send word for them to return together with Guu Yuchan."
"Yes."
These five years, Wu Yi had just reached the age to add a crown, according to royal regulations, granted a kingly title.
So Shi Yinhua sent escorts to the Capital.
Sure enough, half a month ago, Yan Jiuge sent word, saying Wu Yi was granted the title of "King Ying," his fief being Mei County, Yingxin County, Mountain County, and other counties.
It was not a real fief, lacking even the qualification for tax division, just an honorary title.
Recently, he was almost back from the Capital.
The development of events was indeed as Shi Yinhua anticipated.
The allegiance of the Spirit Talisman caused a stir within the Taoist School.
Heavenly Master’s Dojo.
Tianhe still had that old yet shrewd appearance.
"Heavenly Master, the situation is roughly this: the Spirit Talisman is currently leading the Li Family, Song Family, Gum family, Sima family people towards Mei County."
The four families were the descendants of former elders; though the elders had died, the family foundations remained, and the clan leaders of each were late-stage Core Formation, comparable in foundation to half a forest.
If such people were to pledge allegiance to the Donghua Jungle, would their power not grow stronger again?
Tianhe remained silent, a trace of anger hidden in his calm eyes.
Shadow Heavenly Master... Shadow Heavenly Master...
The existence of this name was an insult to him every moment, a reputation achieved by stepping over his head.
"Send people to investigate them, but do not act personally, disguise as demons."
Tianhe had reason to suspect this was intentionally done by Song Lin, this brat just waiting for him to kill the Spirit Talisman brothers, so that he would bear the stain of having killed grandsons.
Even if he used methods to suppress the Taoist School people, they would probably become divided.
After all, how could someone who kills even his grandsons have any humanity?
"Yes! Rest assured, Heavenly Master, I also have informants within the Donghua Alliance."
Tianhe pondered, then said, "Forget it, I’ll go with you."
Tianhe did not trust others; everyone around seemed like a mole, and every move by the Donghua Jungle seemed like Zhengxin’s plot.
With the morale of the Taoist School low at present, he must kill one to warn a hundred, disguising the aftermath as the work of demons, and people would understand anyway.
After all, whether the two brothers’ successful allegiance to Donghua damaged his prestige or their death damaged his own, it was the same.
The latter at least proved his determination against traitors.
In any case, Tianhe could not be led by the nose by Zhengxin.
He played his game, while proceeding according to his path.
Both sides could not foresee, once again confronting in what seemed an innocuous event.