A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 216 163: Divine Strike Skill, Gold Coin Explosion

Half an hour ago.

The Alien Evil Monarch, dressed in a black robe with pale features, sat solemnly in a dark cave.

This fierce being, ranked among the top ten on the Human-Demon List of Yihai Prefecture, seemed lifeless as a rotten log, with eyes tightly shut.

A four-legged bronze cauldron was placed in front, its three incense sticks burning with wisps of smoke swirling like cotton clouds, gradually hovering above him.

Clearly, the Alien Evil Monarch was entering Meditation Visualization.

The practice of Daoist arts is divided into four steps.

Eating Elixir and Avoiding Grain nurtures the body, Entering Meditation and Embracing the Embryo establishes the foundation, Wandering Soul and Gathering Thought hones the techniques, Spirit Communication and Manifestation initiates enlightenment.

Once one completes Embracing the Embryo, thoughts gather to form the Divine Soul, allowing one to glimpse the void and inhale spiritual energy.

After a moment, the Alien Evil Monarch opened his pitch-black eyes, flashing like a lamp blossom, briefly illuminating the dark cave:

"Without a proper Taoist Sect heritage, guiding the Divine Soul, roaming the void, and collecting spiritual energies.

Independent Meditation Visualization is truly fraught with danger."

He appeared handsome, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, no more than in his early twenties, but his muttering voice was incredibly hoarse, as if he were a venerable elder.

A gaunt figure draped in a broad black robe, resembling a skeleton from a grave, exuded an eerie atmosphere.

Roar!

A black bear stood upright, roaring, spewing a foul, fishy wind.

This cave was originally its lair, now occupied by the Alien Evil Monarch, naturally causing dissatisfaction.

"Noisy!"

The Alien Evil Monarch furrowed his brow, gesturing with a single hand, a sudden green fire line shot forth.

In an instant, a ghostly glow flared, like thick viscous liquid enveloping the black bear entirely, yet it didn't harm its flesh or blood, only making escape difficult.

Behind him, a Yin Banner stood up, as if opening a bloody maw, sweeping through the air, absorbing the bear's thin soul.

Then, the Divine Soul emerged sharply, splitting a strand like a worm drilling into the black bear's body.

"Aw!"

The beast instantly gained intelligence, eyes showing reverence, standing respectfully outside the cave, like a servant of a wealthy family.

"This 'Tao Technique of Lunar Refining Spirit into Invisible Life', despite years of arduous practice, has only broken through to the second layer, the progress is indeed slow.

Truly worthy as a superior technique, profound and obscure, difficult to comprehend, making one study it for a lifetime."

The Alien Evil Monarch shook his head, cultivation has always been divided into Dao and techniques.

The former is a grand path to breaking the barrier of life and death, with the Divine Soul's transformative refinement, while the latter are mystical methods of combat and defense, controlling elements.

However, techniques have levels, and Dao has ranks too.

These are, in sequence: spells, methods, scriptures, and classics.

What the Alien Evil Monarch obtained was a superior method, sufficient to cultivate to the Fourth Realm of Dao Skill, Spirit Communication and Manifestation.

Back then, it was precisely because of this 'Tao Technique of Lunar Refining Spirit into Invisible Life' that he fell from an affluent scion of Yuan Sheng Prefecture to a corrupted demon in the Turbid Tide.

"If I could seize the opportunity on this Celestial Fiend Day, within the void, to find the 'Mountain Gate' of the Celestial Anomaly Sect, absorbing the experiences of predecessors, perhaps there's hope to touch the threshold of Spirit Communication and Manifestation."

The Alien Evil Monarch's eyes flickered, Dragon Court bestows the Official Register to the Daoist Official, whether cultivating Dao or refining techniques, both can be learned from the register, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

This was learned before the fall of the great sect, it's said those who open the Divine Power Secret Realm, great power cultivators able to shift mountains and fill seas with one hand, harmonize with heavenly understanding, devouring all spiritual energy, forming numerous talismans, residing in the void.

When later disciples step into the Second Realm of Dao Skill, beginning Meditation Visualization, Foundation Establishment.

They only need to follow the path they have cultivated, guiding towards anchor points, and pick the relevant talismans.

Heterodox Loose Cultivators with incomplete heritage do not have this blessing, needing to meditate day and night, concentrating their spirit and visualizing, hoping to enhance cultivation, then searching in the void for traces and imprints left by ancestors, to complement each other.

The energy and time consumed in this endeavor is truly immeasurable.

"Mere mortals, without being granted registers, are destined to dally. Rather than difficultly seeking the Dao, enduring wind and frost, it's better to dive into the Turbid Tide, in exchange for a profound method."

The Alien Evil Monarch chuckled coldly, compared to other fierce beings on the Human-Demon List, he could be said to have been born with a silver spoon.

An affluent scion of Yuan Sheng Prefecture, his family, for three generations, ran imperial kilns for Dragon Court, as Imperial Craftsmen, enjoying a life of luxury, without worry.

Upon reaching adulthood, he naturally joined the Daoist School as a student, only to encounter the rising Turbid Tide just as he stepped into the Second Realm of Dao Skill, and come across the half of the 'Tao Technique of Lunar Refining Spirit into Invisible Life' by chance.

This superior Taoist Technique originated from the Celestial Anomaly Sect, viewing the body as clothing, easily changed or discarded.

The key lies in refining thoughts, condensing the Divine Soul, understanding the essence of division, parasitism, possession, and refining.

The first layer involves transforming one's mind into a strand of true consciousness, attaching to a being to feel emotions and desires.

The second layer allows manipulating another's body with true consciousness, almost like possession, turning everything to one's use.

The Alien Evil Monarch currently remains at this stage, with many monsters in Dayu Town being controlled by him.

"People seek the Dao, methods pursue people, if I had never obtained 'Tao Technique of Lunar Refining Spirit into Invisible Life', or resisted temptation, perhaps I wouldn't have forged a demonic path, only remaining a mediocre Daoist School student."

At first, the Alien Evil Monarch didn't make much of the first strand of true consciousness, playfully attaching it to his mother's form, only to later uncover the scandal of his mother and second uncle's affair.

The second strand of true consciousness attached to his father, revealing that his seemingly virtuous father, in Yuan Sheng Prefecture, secretly colluded with bandits to rob, then used the family's kiln to cremate bodies and destroy evidence, committing every conceivable evil.