Yunmeng Mountain.
This mountain is not very tall, but it is very treacherous, filled with miasma and steep cliffs, and one can easily fall into a swamp if not careful.
"Immortal, this is Yunmeng Mountain. I discovered the inscriptions at the bottom of the valley."
Shangqiu Zixu said.
Following the route in Shangqiu's memory, the group passed through dense forests and indeed discovered the valley ahead.
The valley was covered with a faint green miasma, and the fierce wind blowing across it made terrifying howling noises.
It was as frightening as the netherworld.
"Stay here, I'll go down alone."
Song Lin flipped his body, using his feet on the protruding rocks and branches, and in no time, he descended the two hundred feet high cliff.
This place is not accessible to normal people.
According to Shangqiu Zixu, when he was young, he fell into the valley while searching for a cow, found the inscriptions, and then came out under the old cow's guidance.
Song Lin arrived at the bottom of the valley, where a small stream flowed slowly.
It was dark below, with weeds growing everywhere.
For some reason, there were no animals around, and no fish in the water.
Maybe there is some new discovery at the source.
Song Lin followed the stream upstream and saw many skeletons appearing by the roadside.
Most were animals, but Song Lin even saw human skeletons.
Seeing this, he became alert and took out the Three Yang Fire Sword, which illuminated the surroundings.
Not far away, under the dark sky, stood a banyan tree with a crown covering a hundred meters, thick roots hanging down to the ground.
Faintly visible were toppled stone tablets all around.
Song Lin even stepped on a stone tablet, shattered into countless pieces, inscribed with the "Poria Eating Method."
"As expected!"
His heart was filled with joy—these stone tablets indeed recorded various Taoist Skills.
If his guess was correct, Shangqiu Zixu must have obtained the medicinal prescription here, which led him to enter the cultivation world.
He must have had another secret recipe, as it couldn't have been just eating Chang Pu for immortality, or else many who followed him would be immortal by now.
Whoosh!
Just as Song Lin approached the banyan tree, a gust of Yin Wind blew, rustling the tree canopy.
"Not good!"
Song Lin immediately retreated several steps; where he stood just moments ago was suddenly pierced by tree roots sprouting from the ground.
In the shade, there were pale human heads, staring at him with sinister coldness, issuing vicious laughter.
Luckily, the Bat Night Brightness Skill allowed him to see in the darkness, otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Hee hee!!"
"Heh heh!"
"New food has arrived!"
The heads let out piercing laughter, then opened their mouths and spat out green miasma.
"Hmph! A trivial trick!"
Song Lin was most unafraid of miasma. He took out a green bead, which absorbed the miasma and then released it.
The miasma had no effect on the heads, which mocked him instead.
Whoosh!
Another tree root shot up from the ground, and Song Lin quickly dodged it, narrowly escaping harm.
He counter-slashed with his sword, cutting the root apart.
To his surprise, the root immediately burned to ashes upon contact with the flames.
"Hmm?"
Song Lin further tested with the Avoiding Filth Talisman, discovering that its golden light also had a restraining effect on the roots.
Seeing this, a plan formed in his mind.
He quickly approached the banyan tree.
Crack!
More roots stabbed at him, but Song Lin cut them down without looking; the heads spat miasma, only for the bead to absorb it.
As he neared the banyan tree, he threw over twenty Fire Light Talismans and a dozen Avoiding Filth Talismans from his sleeve.
The golden light turned all approaching roots to ash, while the Fire Light Talismans flew into the canopy, becoming fireballs that exploded.
"Go!!"
Not finished yet, Song Lin hurled the Three Yang Fire Sword with force.
Clang!
The fire sword deeply pierced the tree trunk, its flames spreading upwards.
In no time, flames engulfed the entire banyan tree, blazing high into the sky.
Even the people outside the valley saw it clearly and wanted to investigate, but remembering the Immortal's instructions, they didn't.
Half a moment later, the fire dispersed, leaving a few dying flames on the ground. The great banyan tree had turned to charcoal.
Cautiously, Song Lin stepped forward.
Boom!
The charcoal tree collapsed, scattering sparks, almost causing him harm.
Underneath the charcoal was a crystalline, jade-like skeleton.
Song Lin marveled at the wonder.
This skeleton, untouched by fire, was clearly not of an ordinary person.
The skeleton sat cross-legged, with bony roots growing from its leg bones, deeply embedded in the ground.
Based on the skeleton being inside the trunk, Song Lin deduced the truth of the human-faced tree.
It must have been that the Taoist's Essence, Qi, and blood happened to be absorbed by the sapling after death, turning the banyan into a demon over time.
However, upon seeing the nearby stone tablet, his thoughts shifted.
The stone tablet inscribed the Taoist's life story—claiming to be a disciple of Guang Chengzi, who lived during the Yellow Emperor's time and lived over eight hundred years.
Before dying, he attempted to defy fate, killing eighteen disciples, burying them underneath, planting a banyan tree on top, using it to sustain his body, waiting for a day to resurrect.
The surrounding stone tablets were to prevent memory loss upon resurrection.
"So that's it; fate plays its games, haha."
Song Lin noticed from the inscription that just one day remained for this person to fully resurrect, only for him to perish in Song Lin's fire.
He didn't expect such malice, realizing the human-faced tree was intentional.
Perhaps this was the legendary divine retribution.
Song Lin turned to the nearby stone tablet again.
It recorded this person's training method, "Guang Chengzi's Beidou Red Dragon Qi Gong."
This method, called Qigong, revolved True Qi to the Dan Zhong Acupoint for storage, forming a True Qi Red Dragon, deployable for attack.
This Red Dragon could unleash other Qigong techniques.
For example, the adjacent spells "Dragon Qi Red Emperor Fist," "Dragon Control Technique," and "Red Dragon Flying Star Skill," which were offensive techniques.
Another spell "Red Scale" was defensive, allowing the Red Dragon to coat the body, forming red scales impervious to weapons.
"What Divine Skills!"
This method was a traditional Qi Cultivator practice, focusing on internal energy.
But for someone like Song Lin, who practiced other Cultivation Techniques, it could be used as a Divine Skill.
Despite the absence of Ghost Valley Master, acquiring Guang Chengzi's teachings was an unexpected delight.
Guang Chengzi was the renowned Immortal, Emperor's Master to the ancient Yellow Emperor, making his skills extraordinary.
Song Lin planned to retreat there to meticulously cultivate the Qigong.
However, there was still one task at hand.
"Let's go! I, the humble Taoist, will escort you to Qin Country."
Upon leaving the valley, Song Lin said to Prince Lian.
He mentioned nothing of the valley's incidents.
Over the next two months, he escorted Prince Lian to the Western County of Qin and then returned to Yunmeng Mountain for cultivation.
Prince Lian, supported by Qin Country's Zhuxiang, ascended the throne, leading his army to eliminate Little Master Qin and his Lady, smoothly becoming the King of Qin.