"Thank you for your guidance, Master." Li Xuan bowed deeply.
The Dharma Altar Warehouse, naturally, couldn't compare to the official General Warehouse, but the advantages were significant.
The Yin Yang Altar dealt with the storage and allocation of items like pills, magic artifacts, incense candles, spiritual food, Yin Treasure Medicine, and more.
Regardless of the department, all warehouses experienced losses, and taking advantage of those losses could be excessively profitable.
Back when Lin Yang was the manager, there was no chance to exploit such opportunities.
Now, the opportunity was right in front of them, especially since Li Xuan had just broken through his cultivation level. Taoist Wude was confident he could secure his position.
Taoist Wude stepped out of the grand hall and glanced at the sky.
It was midday, and Lord Dianzao was due to arrive soon.
"Let's wait outside first," Wude said.
The Yin Yang Altar's grand hall.
Song Lin entered the Dharma Altar Warehouse.
Inside the warehouse were over ten shelves holding various items such as human remains, spirit grass, coffin wood, sandalwood, burial shrouds, and more.
The deepest shelves carried rare medicinal materials.
None of these items were mundane, so potent that Song Lin could visibly see the heavy yin energy surrounding them.
"Don't touch that; it bites people."
Seeing Song Lin standing in front of a pot of sunflowers, the plump man behind him warned.
"No problem. I'm here to collect some items. Huh? Are you heading somewhere far away?" Song Lin asked, surprised.
Lin Yang was carrying a large bundle, looking like he was prepared for a long journey.
"More or less. I've been reassigned for official duties and won't be coming back here anymore," Lin Yang replied with a smile. "Official tasks are easier to manage, and besides, I need to prepare for the 'Three Trials.'"
"What are the 'Three Trials'?"
"You don't know?" Lin Yang explained patiently. "The 'Three Trials' refer to the Nether Bridge, the Netherworld River, and the Fire Sea Hell."
The Three Trials were a pivotal assessment; those who passed were accepted as Inner Sect disciples and granted lineage titles.
The most important positions in the Taoist Temple were largely held by Inner Sect disciples.
For those unwilling to engage in productive roles, reaching Qi Cultivation exempted them from such duties, and they even received monthly Taoist Merit stipends.
"I see. Can anyone participate?"
Song Lin's interest was piqued.
The Three Trials seemed to filter out exceptional disciples, providing them with ample resources and time for focused cultivation.
"Not everyone. Only Taoist disciples can participate, and they need a Taoist's recommendation to qualify."
The mortality rate for the Three Trials was exceptionally high, which is why a recommendation system existed to prevent reckless disciples from squandering their lives in foolish attempts.
Lin Yang delivered the necessary materials to Song Lin, exchanged farewells, and departed.
Song Lin, carrying the materials, walked out of the warehouse.
Suddenly, ominous clouds gathered in the sky above the courtyard.
Yin Wind howled like the cries of ghosts and gods.
Boom!
A thunderclap echoed.
"This isn't good! Thunder during the daytime must signify a monstrous entity!" Taoist Wude hurriedly stepped forward.
Everyone at the Yin Yang Altar felt an eerie chill of intense yin energy.
Crash!
Suddenly, hundreds of altars began trembling in unison.
"Something's wrong!"
A profound sense of danger swept through everyone's hearts.
Bang!
Before Song Lin could react, the Ghost Baby Altar behind him suddenly exploded.
From the dense black smoke emerged a twin-headed monstrous baby.
The monstrous baby had no pupils, its sclera deeply white, its mouth wide open with sharp fangs, and it drooled pitch-black venom that corroded the ground into pits.
"Damn it, a conjoined monstrosity!"
Song Lin instantly understood.
The hostility from a conjoined monstrous baby was far greater than a regular ghost baby, requiring significantly more talismans and materials for suppression.
It probably had been mistaken for an ordinary baby by someone who didn't use enough talismans, thus causing this mess.
The twin-headed monstrous baby lunged at Song Lin, its claws as sharp as blades.
Taoist Wude witnessed the scene as he stepped out.
Everyone assumed Song Lin was doomed.
How could a mere Taoist disciple possibly defeat a newly formed fierce ghost?
"How unfortunate..." Wude sighed inwardly, not lamenting Song Lin but rather disappointed in the twin-headed baby ghost.
The twin-headed baby ghost, undoubtedly a more potent fierce ghost, seemed wasted as it emerged prematurely.
With that thought, he gathered a mass of ghost-green Yin Fire in his right hand, intending to destroy both the Taoist disciple and the baby ghost together.
However, under everyone's astonished gaze, Song Lin sidestepped the monstrous baby's claw strike.
Snap!
Two Avoiding Filth Talismans flew out, igniting spontaneously and transforming into a rain of golden light.
The golden light fell onto the baby ghost, instantly emitting blue smoke as it corroded.
"Ah!!"
The twin-headed baby ghost shrieked, spewing pitch-black venom from both heads.
And that wasn't the end.
As Song Lin retreated to create some distance, a dozen Fire Light Talismans ignited into fireballs, bombarding the baby ghost.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Relentless fireballs descended.
If the quality wasn't enough, then quantity sufficed; the damage overwhelmed and killed the twin-headed baby ghost.
"Phew, it's over." Song Lin smiled at the massive pit before him, lamenting that he hadn't brought the Three Yang Fire Sword; otherwise, he'd have finished it sooner.
"This... the Fetal Breathing Stage?" Li Xuan couldn't believe it. This guy had actually entered the Fetal Breathing Stage.
Not just him—Taoist Wude also seemed taken aback.
Song Lin's adept techniques and clean resolution of the fierce ghost felt like those of a seasoned Taoist.
Zhou Xuan was completely stunned, and upon regaining his senses, he suddenly clapped his hands in realization.
No wonder Song Lin didn't think much of Li Xuan—he himself was...
"Haha, not bad, your reactions were quick."
Bold laughter echoed from all directions.
A figure rode upon the Yin Cloud, descending rapidly.
As the Yin Cloud landed, a towering figure emerged.
The man stood over two meters tall, wearing a mountain-shaped crown and a pitch-black robe that resembled ink. When he turned, everyone's hearts skipped a beat, overwhelmed with astonishment.
His head was made of bronze, tarnished with mottled rust. His hair was like copper wire, his eyes formed from obsidian, and black smoke billowed from his nostrils.
Judging by the Jade Talisman marked with the Zhengyi Alliance Scripture at his waist, this imposing Taoist was none other than Lord Dianzao, Tongshou.
"Greetings, Tongshou Taoist," Taoist Wude bowed, and everyone followed suit.
"Master, this is my disciple..."
Tongshou Taoist didn't acknowledge Wude but instead turned his gaze toward Song Lin.
"When did you break through? Whose disciple are you?"
"I broke through last night, um... I don't have a master. Currently, I'm overseeing the Ghost Baby Altar."
"No master?" Tongshou Taoist sneered, looking at Song Lin. "You must've encountered some fortuitous event."
"Your discernment is incredible, Master!"
Song Lin exaggerated his tale of seizing the She Mountain Stone Fish, trading for five Qi Nourishing Pills, and mastering the Hidden Dragon Breath Emission Powder.
Naturally, he omitted mentioning the Monster Chronicles.
As for the Lao Mountain Five Skills, he claimed he'd discovered them from a mountain Taoist's remains.
The pinnacle of deception was nine truths and one lie.
The Grand Commissioner Institute had records of his exchange for Qi Nourishing Pills, providing evidence to back his story.
"Hidden Dragon Breath Emission Powder? Bold as well as clever!"
Tongshou Taoist inscribed Song Lin's account into memory, planning to investigate it later—not because he coveted the minor fortuitous event, but because he might overlook a greater opportunity.
"I had no other choice. Without innate talent, my only asset is my life. If I don't risk it, how can I rise?"
"Well said! I admire you!"
Tongshou Taoist shot Wude a glance, whose awkward expression betrayed his discomfort, and smirked mysteriously. "From now on, you will act as the warehouse manager in the Dharma Altar. If you pass the Three Trials, I'll formalize your position!"
"Master, this... doesn't adhere to protocol..." Wude protested.
"Hmm? Do you have an alternate perspective?" Tongshou Taoist stared at Wude, his obsidian eyes seemingly piercing the soul.
Wude's face broke into a nervous sweat. Forcing a smile, he said, "I wouldn't dare—it's perfectly reasonable."
"Thank you, Master."
Song Lin smiled faintly. He could confidently take the role, observing that Tongshou Taoist was dissatisfied with Wude, which assured his own position.
Li Xuan hung his head, his eyes flashing with resentment.
What he thought was his rightful position had been snatched away by an unexpected rival.
Unable to challenge Tongshou Taoist directly, his hatred fell upon Song Lin.
Tongshou Taoist took a brief tour and remarked to everyone, "That's enough, disperse."
Song Lin didn't linger to socialize but returned quietly, focusing on his immediate priority: unlocking the world.
Back at his residence.
Song Lin summoned the Monster Chronicles and then sliced his wrist.
The Monster Chronicles flipped open to the second page.
"At midnight, Yingzhou's frigid moon descends, cold winds blow cranes to Penglai."
[World]: Taiyin Refining
[Thirty-Six Heavens]: Mortal World
[Time Flow Speed]: 1:365
[Descent]: Soul
[Category]: Eastern Penglai Myth, Pre-Qin Myth
[System]: Overseas Immortal Mountain Divine System