CHAPTER 440: CHAPTER 382: 3 MAO HEAVENLY COURT, XIAO MAO TRUE MONARCH

Mysterious upon mysterious, the Door of Wonders.

Song Lin arrived in a pale and desolate world.

All around him was white mist, obscuring any view of what lay ahead.

Through the ethereal haze, faintly visible was a path of green slate stretching into the heavens.

"It has arrived!"

Song Lin muttered to himself.

According to Zhengxin, after receiving a talisman, one would be able to perceive the matters of the Heavenly Court.

Each person’s perception would be unique, generally corresponding to their cultivation techniques and personal enlightenment.

As per the Taoist School’s teachings, all magical veins originate from the Heavenly Court, which harbors higher Taoist Skills. During one’s perception of the Heavenly Court, higher magical veins are also transmitted downward.

Though considered self-realization, it is more likely an instinctive connection to higher Taoist Skills.

"So, what would my higher Taoist Skill encompass?"

Song Lin wondered to himself.

Soon, he saw it.

Amid the glowing white mist floated a grotesque evil ghost with ram’s horns, tiger-like eyes, a dragon’s head, a human body, and radiating an overwhelming aura of Evil Qi.

Song Lin sensed briefly.

[Dragon Head Rampant Soldier]: Gate Guardian Taoist Soldiers of the Sanmao Heavenly Court, impervious to swords and spears, immune to fire and water, resistant to all poisons, capable of spewing green fire, spraying venomous water, and summoning toxic smoke; their numbers are exceedingly vast—Sanmao Heavenly Court has 80 billion Dragon Head Rampant Soldiers, low in cost yet high in cultivation.

Song Lin read the information.

The Dragon Head Rampant Soldier was impressive, but it did not align with his chosen path.

Song Lin continued onward, beside the green slate path, where the void occasionally revealed various Secret Techniques, methods for forging rare treasures, or other mystical arts.

Most of the content emanated from the Spirit Treasure Sect’s Taoist lineage; however, Song Lin’s insights into otherworldly Secret Techniques did not emerge.

These Taoist traditions were generally far superior to those from the Real World.

At this point, Song Lin roughly understood why the experts of this realm had such baffling and bizarre Taoist Skills—it now seemed these were exclusive, individually realized supreme techniques.

Further along the path, the mist grew heavier, and nameless mental pressure surged into his heart.

He glanced at the black mist to his side, feeling an uncanny temptation to plunge himself into it.

Song Lin resolved that he must not step into the mist.

Though unaware of the consequences, he was certain they would not be favorable.

Song Lin traveled on for what felt like an eternity.

The Spirit Treasure from the Real World grew restless.

What was happening? Why was this taking so long?

Song Lin was the first to undergo such lengthy enlightenment.

Could he be lost?

...

Song Lin saw ahead a massive Jade Building gatehouse.

The gatehouse shimmered in and out of existence, feeling both ethereal and tangible.

This was the end of the path.

At the terminus lay a talisman, almost bearing ancient characters akin to the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master’s script. Song Lin found little appeal in it.

But he was intrigued by the great gate before him.

As he prepared to ascend, a young girl emerged from the mist, her eyes bright and teeth white.

The girl furrowed her delicate brows in an adorable attempt at maturity, and shouted:

"Who goes there?"

"I am the Donghua Taoist of the Holy Might Taoist School within the Heaven and Earth Xuanmen Alliance, true name Song Lin, styled title Donghua. Dare I ask, fairy, what place is this?"

Song Lin spoke with a smile.

Even the gatekeeper was within the Purple Mansion realm—this place surely held extraordinary mystery.

"This is the Jade Capital Gate. Beyond me lies the Heavenly Court. Which Taoist School are you from...? Likely a mortal disciple—choose a supreme technique and descend the mountain," the girl replied loftily. Then, as if recalling something, she stamped her foot in shy frustration and regained her cold demeanor, "I am the Treasure Servant!"

"Ah, yes, I pay homage to the Treasure Servant."

Song Lin couldn’t resist teasing the little one.

"Hurry up and leave! I need rest. Don’t waste your effort. Although you’re the first mortal to reach here in a thousand years, you still lack qualification. Return once you’ve become a Heavenly Master."

"Even with my Great Master Talisman?"

"No, the Heavenly Court does not acknowledge private talismans."

"Even with my Upper Pure Three Cave Talisman (Three Cave Five Thunder Talisman)?"

"No, your rank is insufficient."

Song Lin contemplated for a moment and produced a miraculous jade seal.

It was the Nine Elders Immortal Capital Seal.

"Would this do? Personally crafted by Xiao Mao True Monarch!"

"Please ascend!"

Beaming, the Treasure Servant’s radiance felt like blossoming flowers.

Indeed, a woman’s change of emotion is innate.

Song Lin stepped onto the stone stairs.

The mist dissipated, and the great gate slowly swung open.

Beyond the gate lay ruined walls and shattered landscapes, a scene of desolation.

Scattered remnants of immortal cranes, fractured Azure Dragon bones, dried-up lakebeds, everywhere the corpses of immortals mingled with mysterious dead monsters.

As far as the eye could see, the devastation stretched to the ends of the world.

The bodies of immortals and demons numbered at least a hundred million. Of course, most had low cultivation levels in life—predominantly within the Divine Establishment Period, a few in Core Formation, fewer still in the Purple Mansion realm, and only a scant few in tribulation crossing or Primordial Spirit—less than three thousand.

This was discerned by Song Lin using the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill.

A great battle had unfolded here.

Compared to the Heavenly Court, mortal world conflicts seemed pale and insignificant.

"This... How could this be..."

The Treasure Servant’s large eyes filled with tears, unable to believe the sight before her.

She merely guarded the gate for a thousand years—how had opening it again led to this?

"Is... the Heavenly Court gone?"

Song Lin was stunned. No wonder communication between the mortal world and the Heavenly Court had diminished—it had fallen.

"Not gone, this was merely a Heavenly Court outpost. Why didn’t they notify me before retreating... Wah!"

The Treasure Servant broke out in uncontrollable sobs, leaving Song Lin helpless as he sought to console the crying girl.

"There, there, perhaps there’s a hidden reason."

Song Lin spoke soothingly.

"Pardon me—I’d forgotten,"

Suddenly, a voice startled the two.

Song Lin whirled around, the Emperor Sword poised to strike.

Behind them stood a strikingly handsome man, crowned with the Yin Yang Crown and robed in the Eight Diagrams Robe.

The man held a large seal, similar in design to the Nine Elders Immortal Capital Seal.

Upon seeing the crying little girl on the ground, the man gave a wry smile.

"Xiao Mao True Monarch!"

Exclaimed the Treasure Servant as she ceased crying and leapt upon him.

"Xiao Mao True Monarch?"

Song Lin echoed in astonishment.

The Xiao Mao True Monarch before him didn’t appear all that powerful.

At best, he seemed at the Primordial Spirit Peak, possibly aligning with the Spirit Treasure realm.

"Donghua Taoist, it’s been one circuit since our last meeting at the sword tree,"

Xiao Mao True Monarch said with an elegant smile.

"Ah, this is my residual thought, not my true body, and yours as well?"

"The sword tree..."

Song Lin’s thoughts raced.

Zhengxin had previously mentioned his Taoist lineage; he suspected his inheritance hailed from the ancient Sword Tree legend featuring the Nameless Sword Immortal.

The sword immortal’s cultivation technique bore notable similarities to his own.

In the myth, the Human Clan had been driven to despair by the Demon Army, retreating to a forest.

Xiao Mao True Monarch and the White Clothes Sword Immortal inspired humanity, and seemingly in response, the trees grew blades, spears, and swords. The Human Clan regrouped and launched a counterattack, successfully repelling the demons.

Xiao Mao True Monarch, the White Clothes Swordsman.

This idea sparked a theory in Song Lin—could the White Clothes Sword Immortal be himself?

Might his future self have traveled to the Sanmao Myth and forged a connection with Xiao Mao True Monarch—could this be the case?

Otherwise, why would Xiao Mao True Monarch know him?

In the blink of an eye, Song Lin formed his response.

"I am indeed Donghua, though this is my true self. During the battle, I sustained severe injuries and reincarnated to rebuild my cultivation; much of my memory has long faded."

"That explains it."

Xiao Mao True Monarch nodded in understanding.

"Reincarnation is good. This realm has been abandoned by All Heavens Court, and demons have proliferated across the mortal world. Donghua Taoist, you might consolidate old territories and rally the Human Clan to ascend again, reestablishing contact with me."

Boom!

At that moment, the sky shattered as a pitch-black fissure tore through it.

"Not good, the Demon Army is advancing. I must destroy this Heavenly Gate."

Xiao Mao True Monarch’s face darkened.

"Taoist, take the Treasure Servant and leave now!"

Before his words settled, the realm shattered completely.