Woosh!
A dizzying sensation suddenly struck, and Song Lin lost consciousness on the spot.
When he woke up, he found himself inside an ancient and elegantly styled residence.
Song Lin walked up to a bronze mirror and discovered that he was now dressed in different clothes, though his appearance remained more or less the same.
"Could it be that I've transmigrated again?"
Just as Song Lin was pondering this, a small, dark yellow, ancient booklet appeared before him, with four large characters on its cover: Monster Chronicles.
The ancient text fell into his palm as he opened it, revealing on the second page the title: Lao Mountain Taoist.
[Still the Feathered People in Danqiu and leave the Undying Old Hometown]
Below, there were several additional lines of small text.
[World]: Lao Mountain Taoist
[Thirty-Six Heavens]: Mortal World
[Time Flow Speed]: 1 to 365
[Descent]: Soul
[Category]: Southern Chu Land Myth, Taoist Myth, Middle Ages Myth
[System]: Chu's Taiyi God System
[Note: Each time the Taoist uses essence blood, a story world can be opened; once opened, entry and exit are unrestricted.]
[Note: In this world, the body exists solely as a Karma Illusion Body; its death won't affect reality, but if it dies, this world will permanently close, erasing all knowledge, memories, and records of this world from reality.]
[Note: Only one world can be opened at any time; a new world can only be initiated once the Karma Effect of the previous world completes. The amount and quality of the essence blood determine the world's level.]
Below these lines of text, there was a black circular emblem.
Another line of small text appeared below:
[Note: This is the Karma Effect Cycle. Karma Effect Completion allows transcendence from this world.]
[Upon entering this world, a reward of one Perfect Causality and 10% Karma Effect is granted!]
As Song Lin was reading the information, the interior of the black circle gained a tenth of golden filling.
It resembled a battery icon charged with one bar.
When the circle is fully illuminated with gold, perhaps that signifies transcendence from this world?
At the same time, a round, vermillion fruit appeared in his hand.
The fruit looked somewhat like a tomato, with golden patterns across its surface. It was extraordinarily dense and heavier than it appeared.
Simultaneously, a message appeared in Song Lin's mind, conveying that consuming this Karma allows one ability or item from this world to be taken into reality.
"I see. Now I understand." Song Lin had a rough grasp of what was happening.
To put it simply, he could use the Monster Chronicles to enter the worlds within the stories.
The method to open a new world was by using his own fresh blood.
Lao Mountain Taoist was one story world, which he could freely enter and exit, where one day in reality equaled one year of time in this world.
If he wanted to open the next story, he needed to complete the Karma Effect Cycle and transcend the current world.
As for how to obtain Karma, Song Lin was temporarily unsure.
Overall, it was illusory. While everything he learned, practiced, and acquired here was fake, the memories were real.
"So when I return to reality, I won't have any Taoist Realm, but I can use my memories to cultivate anew."
"Of course, I could also consume Karma to extract one ability or item from this world."
Thinking this, Song Lin felt a surge of excitement. With the Monster Chronicles, he could not only aim to become a Taoist but possibly reach even greater heights.
This artifact would be the foundation of his standing in the outside world.
On the second page, there seemed to be an introduction about himself.
No time to think it through, as Song Lin's mind stirred, and both the Karma Cycle and Monster Chronicles vanished.
Because footsteps echoed from beyond the door.
It sounded as though someone was approaching.
At the same time, Song Lin finally had a chance to recall the memories of his Karma Illusion Body.
This body's original owner was also named Song Lin, a wealthy young master from the foot of Lao Mountain who, driven by his admiration for longevity, came to the mountain to seek apprenticeship.
Unexpectedly, after staying for half a year, the Lao Mountain Taoist only had him cutting firewood and carrying water. Unable to endure, the original owner demanded to learn spellcraft, to which the Taoist replied that he would visit late at night to impart teachings.
"Foolish! This is obviously the Taoist tempering his determination and spirit." Song Lin couldn't help but curse inwardly.
He had read Lao Mountain Taoist before. It told the story of the lavish youth Wang Sheng learning spells.
In the story, Wang Sheng also couldn't bear hardship, so the Taoist taught him a Wall-penetrating Skill. When Wang Sheng returned home to show off a bit, the skill failed to work and left him utterly humiliated.
Judging by this pattern, once the spell was learned, he would likely be sent down the mountain.
Song Lin fixed his eyes firmly on the door.
The footsteps outside suddenly stopped.
The pitch-black night was punctuated by the eerie disappearance of footsteps, making the atmosphere genuinely unsettling and frightening.
Bam!
Someone suddenly slapped his shoulder.
Song Lin turned around, instantly frightened.
Standing beside him, without him noticing when, was a green-robed elder Taoist.
The Taoist appeared to be seventy or eighty years old, his skin as tender as a baby's, his white hair wild and untamed—like a chicken's nest.
What startled Song Lin most was his eyes. Two streaks of fresh blood flowed down his eye corners.
To behold such a sight was undeniably terrifying.
"Young Brother, what are you staring at?" The Lao Mountain Taoist chuckled.
"I was just thinking about learning Taoist Skills; it made me a little excited. I was waiting for you to arrive, Taoist." Song Lin found an excuse. "Uh, Taoist, aren't you going to wipe your face?"
The Taoist robe on his chest had already been stained red by the blood flowing from his eyes.
"No need. So, which skill do you wish to learn?" The Lao Mountain Taoist sat by the window.
"What skills does Taoist know?"
Song Lin thought this might be his last chance. If he performed well, the Taoist might not chase him away.
"Haha, I know plenty. Chasing Stars and Seizing the Moon, Conjuring Wine from Nothing, Summoning Moon Immortal, Wall-penetrating Skill, Bat Night Brightness Skill, Qi Refining Skill. Which one do you want to learn?"
The Taoist spoke with ease, without the slightest hesitation.
After all, he was just planning to fool the boy. This youngster wasn't suitable for the path of cultivation; casting an Eye-blocking Technique would suffice to deal with him.
Song Lin fell silent for a moment.
The first three were undoubtedly Illusion Techniques, while Qi Refining Skill probably required decades of effort.
Right now, Zhang Jin was still roaming outside trying to find him; it wouldn't be wise to spend time admiring moons or drinking wine. He needed something to address his current predicament.
The choice would have to be between Wall-penetrating Skill and Bat Night Brightness Skill.
"Taoist, which skill is quicker to master?"
The time-flow ratio here is 1:365.
Ten minutes outside meant roughly two and a half days here. He had at most two and a half days to work with.
"Wall-penetrating Skill requires forty-nine days, while Bat Night Brightness Skill depends on your talent," the Lao Mountain Taoist stroked his beard, chuckling.
"Bat Night Brightness Skill, once mastered, allows you to see hundreds of zhang in absolute darkness, clearly discerning even the wings of a fly."
Sure enough, young men always prefer shortcuts. They weren't made for genuine Taoist cultivation.
"Then I'll choose the Bat Night Brightness Skill!"
Song Lin stood up and bent deeply in respect toward the Lao Mountain Taoist.
"Oh, young lad, are you sure about this?" The Lao Mountain Taoist was a little surprised.
"Bat Night Brightness Skill requires swallowing a bat's eye, using bat blood mixed with sulfur to create talisman water, and applying it to your eyes. Slight carelessness could result in blindness. Are you bold enough to learn it?"
This skill, a blend of witchcraft and Taoist Skill, was sinister and disgusting—a highly risky affair. Few were willing to take it up.
"Blindness?" Song Lin hesitated for a moment before inspiration struck. With upright resolve, he declared, "I'm not afraid! For the sake of Taoist cultivation, I'm willing to sacrifice anything."
This body was merely a Karma Illusion Body; he had nothing to fear. Forget losing limbs—he'd dare try even if the chance of death was ninety-nine percent.
The Lao Mountain Taoist had no way of knowing this, but his impression of the young man shifted slightly.
Though his spirit seemed a bit rash, he undeniably possessed bravery.
Of course, it might also just be empty talk—testing it would reveal the truth.
"Very well! If you succeed, I will take you as my disciple!!"
With that, the Taoist waved his sleeve.
Upon the table appeared jars and bottles containing bat eyes, bat blood, vermillion yellow paper, and other materials.
"Close your eyes! Focus!"
The Lao Mountain Taoist picked up a calligraphy brush and lightly dipped it in vermillion, carefully painting a design around Song Lin's eye sockets while muttering incantations.
"Essence of Jade, born of Heaven and Earth; Dragon Marks and Wind Patterns, manifest swiftly; symbols fly aptly, traversing through celestial light—Command!!"
"Swallow! Bat Eye!"
Song Lin suppressed his disgust as he consumed the mashed-up bat eye, mentally convincing himself—this body is not mine, is not mine...
"Open your eyes and apply bat blood!"
Song Lin opened his eyes, and the Lao Mountain Taoist dipped his brush into the ominous black liquid, sprinkling it onto Song Lin's eyes.
"Ah..."
The burning sensation in his eye sockets was like sulfuric acid was being poured on them—excruciating and searing.
Song Lin's face flushed red, but he forcibly endured without screaming, overcoming both physical pain and mental discomfort by treating it like a game.
(P.S.: The protagonist's golden finger has finally emerged. Allow me to digress briefly. My story is a mythological and supernatural creation. Since childhood, I've been fascinated by this genre of books, filled with tales about myths—not merely Taoist and Buddhist Immortal Gods but also Pre-Qin Qi Cultivators who consumed mica and mugwort, the Kunlun Queen Mother with leopard tails and tiger teeth, the Supreme and Minor Fate Officers masters of life and death, romantic legends such as Xiang Jun and Lady Xiangg, and the myriad spirits and abnormal soldiers inhabiting mountains and rivers. From Emperor Qin to Emperor Wu of Han seeking elixirs, from Qin Han-era schools of alchemy and abnormal soldiers roaming wild, from Chu's Taiyi God System to Kunlun-style immortals of the West and Penglai's independent saints, and all the way back to the Five Emperors and ancient gods systems during the Shang era's Heavenly Emperor and the West Zhou period. Spanning regions and times—both vertical and horizontal spectrums—I strive to present these myths in their raw and authentic forms without rigid hierarchies or unified cultivation systems. I dare not claim perfection in my writing, but I hope to resonate with enthusiasts of myth. If you enjoy this work, please consider adding it to your collection. Thank you all.)