Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 303 - 274: Netherworld Seal Characters, Invitation from the Mount Tai Woman

Chapter 303: Chapter 274: Netherworld Seal Characters, Invitation from the Mount Tai Woman

The Underworld Capital, Wangsi City.

The city’s walls tower a hundred zhang high, its iron surface mottled with bloodstains, marking the passage of countless years.

Thick green clouds shroud the air, and the Yin Wind condenses into substance, emitting eerie "woo woo woo" sounds.

A perpetual green fog veils the entire city.

The city is teeming with Ghost Kings and Demon Commanders.

At the center stands a magnificent palace.

Nine Yin Demons, looming like mountain peaks, guard this domain.

Their Dharma Eyes remain unblinking, scanning every corner of the city.

Since Mount Tai Lady took charge of Wangsi City, complete order has been restored.

Gone were the days of utter chaos.

Taishan Palace.

Beneath the statue of Mount Tai Goddess stood a beautiful woman in courtly garb, her elegance stately, her skin radiant like snow, her beauty as fresh as a lotus in spring.

Seeing that Song Lin regarded her with a stranger’s gaze, the woman chuckled and said, "You needn’t be surprised, sir. I am Mount Tai Lady; of course, the old woman from before was also me."

It’s a long story.

Years ago, Duke Huan of Qi traveled to Mount Tai and passed by the Mount Tai Goddess Temple. As night fell, he chose to lodge at the temple.

Curious about this overlord of Qi, Mount Tai Woman summoned him in a dream.

Who would have thought that Duke Huan, captivated by her beauty, woke up the next day and issued an order to confer Mount Tai Woman as his consort?

Luckily, his ministers persuaded him to reconsider, halting this folly.

After all, Duke Huan had committed an offense against divinity, prompting Mount Tai Woman to punish him with misfortune in his later years.

Following this incident, Mount Tai Woman transformed into Mount Tai Old Woman and ceased appearing in her true form.

Revealing her real appearance now signified her considerable trust in Song Lin.

"I see," Song Lin remarked softly.

Gazing around the hall, Song Lin noticed bookshelves lined up along the right wing of the palace.

Stepping forward, he casually took a book in hand and opened it, only to find an unfamiliar tadpole-like script.

The tadpole script was pitch-black, and when observed with focused Spirit, it seemed to move.

"What is this writing?"

"Netherworld Seal Script: the secret text of the Netherworld. It ranks alongside the Demon Glyph and Cloud Seal Patterns, high-level scripts universal to the Great Thousand World."

The world has thousands upon thousands of languages, but most are not particularly advanced—merely capable of conveying textual information.

However, texts like the Netherworld Seal Script are different; they can transmit a variety of messages—sound, text, scent, texture, image, and even deeper reflections of the Great Dao.

Mastering this writing by rote memorization is impossible; one must grasp certain insights to comprehend it.

"Is that so? Can I study this script?"

"Of course you can."

Mount Tai Lady readily agreed.

"However, the Ghost Gate is about to close. If you wish to leave again, you’ll likely have to wait until next year."

"How about this: return for now, and later establish an Earth Altar north of the Imperial Palace. Through the Earth Altar, I will meet you regularly. The altar’s opening will require a carefully chosen auspicious day. Let’s set it for the fifth day of next month, how does that sound?"

"Agreed."

Song Lin nodded and then rode the Sun Chariot to leave this dimension.

Boom!

A myriad of ghosts was sent back as the Ghost Gate disappeared.

Song Lin rode the Divine Chariot, soaring through the Nine Heavens, leaving behind a golden pathway that lingered indefinitely.

The citizens below, upon seeing this scene, knew at once that their Holy Emperor was on another patrol.

Song Lin conducted his affairs in this realm openly, rarely obscuring his presence.

The populace was no longer surprised by such displays; after all, their Holy Emperor—what was impossible for him?

"Dafeng, ascend higher!"

Song Lin ordered.

Whoosh!

Ferocious winds lifted the chariot...

Higher and higher from the ground, as if to pluck the stars from the heavens.

At nine thousand zhang high, the chariot was blocked by the Gang Wind Layer.

Seeing these substantial, tangible winds, Song Lin had no doubt that entering would mean being torn apart by their force.

At the same time, celestial stars came into view.

In truth, they were merely glowing stones, not even planets.

These luminous stones orbited the earth shaped like Heavenly Circle and Earthly Square.

Song Lin felt somewhat disappointed.

It seemed ascension truly led to other worlds, not to specific celestial stars.

He wondered which world Bai Mei might reside in; perhaps one day they might cross paths.

Just as Song Lin was about to descend, he noticed a disturbance coming from Jinhua City.

"Such strong demon energy!"

Song Lin murmured to himself.

By estimation, it was around Earth Immortal Peak level.

To think a force this immense remained hidden in this realm.

With this thought, Song Lin concealed his chariot and headed toward the source of the demon energy.

Outside Jinhua City, Lanruo Temple.

As night deepened, the stars vanished.

At this moment, a duel was unfolding here.

Lanruo Temple had a gigantic banyan tree.

At this moment, the banyan tree seemed to come alive, uprooting itself, its massive roots striking at a refined scholar flying in midair.

The scholar, dressed as a literate gentleman, had sword-like brows and starry eyes, his bearing extraordinary.

Though seeming graceful, he floated in the sky.

Below, a sweat-soaked bookish man hid behind a stone, staring in astonishment at the airborne individual.

Beside the scholar stood a woman as picturesque as a painting.

"Mr. Yan..." the scholar murmured, as if seeing the airborne man anew for the first time.

Faced with the overwhelming onslaught of roots and branches, Yan Chixia remained unfazed, pulling out a dusty cloth bag from his chest.

Just as the roots were about to strike him.

Whoosh!

A two-inch-long petite sword, emerald green in color, expanded as it met the wind.

Sword light danced.

The roots fell in waves.

"Heh heh, impressive Divine Skills!"

From the shade of the banyan tree, a hunchbacked, red-robed old woman emerged.

The old woman raised her hand gently.

The earth split open, unleashing countless Yaksha ghosts with green faces and sharp fangs.

Flying Yakshas and Earth Night Demons swarmed toward Yan Chixia in droves.

"Not good! An Earth Immortal Peak Great Demon?"

Yan Chixia controlled his flying sword, every slash of its light dispatching a dozen Yakshas.

Yet the sheer number of Yakshas was overwhelming; Yan Chixia retreated while fighting, eventually landing beside scholar Ning Caichen and ghost maiden Nie Xiaoqian.

"Impossible! Weren’t Earth Immortal Great Demons all exterminated by the Holy Emperor?"

Yan Chixia looked pale.

His heart carried a bitter weight; after years of secluded cultivation to reach Earth Immortal, he had planned to vanquish demons—only to find the powerful ones already gone.

Finally finding a Great Demon, he realized it was a peak-level entity, far beyond his capability to defeat.

"The Holy Emperor? Song Lin is nothing! Destroyed my dharma body, but when I break through to Independent Immortal, I’ll surely make him pay!"

The Tree Spirit Grandmother was one of the Ten Great Yin Marshals of the Netherworld, serving as the Yaksha General.

Song Lin probably hadn’t even met her face-to-face before vanquishing her with ease.

The Yaksha Grandmother’s Primordial Spirit attached itself to the tree, becoming a Tree Demon.

"Prepare to die!"

Just as the Tree Spirit Grandmother was about to deliver the finishing blow to the two men and the ghost.

A golden light streaked across the horizon.

The Sun God Chariot hovered mid-air, a mystic-robed man stepping out from the carriage.

At the sight of this figure, the Tree Demon froze, her grotesque face forced into an awkward smile.

"Your Majesty, why have you come?"

"Weren’t you calling out my name earlier?"

Song Lin inquired calmly.

"Heh, never happened."

The Eight Sceneries Divine Sword spun.

The Tree Spirit Grandmother’s true form instantly turned to dust; the nearby banyan tree withered, and the Yakshas dissolved into ash.

Ning Caichen was baffled, but Yan Chixia stood utterly stunned.

The Holy Emperor, indeed worthy of his saintly reputation, effortlessly obliterated such a powerful demon.

"The younger Yan Chixia pays respects to the Holy Emperor!"

Yan Chixia bowed deeply.

"Yan Chixia?"

Song Lin inspected him curiously and remarked, "Why don’t you have a beard?"

"I’ve never had a beard," Yan Chixia replied, perplexed.

Yan Chixia recounted his story.

Discontent with Jing Country’s rule but powerless to resist, he retreated into the mountains for secluded cultivation.

By the time he reemerged, the outside world had transformed completely.

"Oh, my mistake. Since I see great potential in you, are you interested in serving as the Great General to the court?"

Yan Chixia hesitated briefly, then prostrated himself in gratitude.

He wasn’t one to fawn over power, but receiving recognition from such a supreme figure made his life’s struggles worthwhile.

"Good." Song Lin glanced at Ning Caichen, who appeared hesitant to speak. "Go home, marry, and raise a family; your fortunes lie beyond this path."

With that, Song Lin invited Yan Chixia onto his chariot and departed.

Currently, there was only one Earth Immortal among the Human Clan: Lu Bowen. While he lacked leadership qualities, Yan Chixia seemed perfectly suited for the role of Great General, creating balance within the human court.

After returning, Song Lin ordered the construction of the Earth Altar.

Day and night, he studied the Netherworld Seal Script with Mount Tai Lady.

Demonic forces in the real world often originated from the Netherworld; it would prove useful to familiarize himself with their texts.

Mount Tai Woman mostly appeared as a beautiful lady, leaving Song Lin slightly perplexed but remaining silent. After all, a beauty was far more pleasing to the eye than an old hag.

Unknowingly, three months passed.

Mount Tai Lady began to gaze at him with a peculiar expression.

One day, she adorned herself in striking red attire, her graceful shoulders slender, her eyes brimming with autumnal allure. With a slight smile and an air of deep affection, she softly began:

"You are the Human Emperor, and I am the Ghost Emperor. Why not join hands to reign eternally over the realm?"

"Hmm?" Song Lin raised an eyebrow.