Chapter 328

Chapter 328: Great Luo Merging Heaven

The immense demand for essence made Mu Lin frown, yet he didn’t feel despair.

First, while thirty-three… ninety-nine portions represented the upper limit, even thirty-three would suffice if achieved through sheer effort.

Second, Mu Lin could demonstrate greater value to attract investments from others. If he joined the South-North War, his ability to challenge Transformation-stage experts would convince southern powerful clans to offer more resources.

Third, a new idea had struck him—selling positions within the True Spirit Domain Chart. Guaranteed Transformation would entice many clans to marry their daughters to him with lavish dowries.

However, the first and third options would limit his potential, which he refused. The second clashed with his principles, making it equally undesirable.

"Life rarely goes as planned," he muttered, brows furrowed. "Even I can’t avoid setbacks."

He then considered a fourth approach: personally scouring secret realms and distant skies for essence. This held merit—he could absorb any celestial-level essence, and hundreds of Substitute Paper Figures would accelerate the search. Ordinary rootless cultivators often spent decades gathering resources this way.

But time meant risk, especially with the calamity approaching. "The worst option…"

Yan Yunyu interrupted his thoughts with news: The Yan family had offered forty-nine celestial-level high-level resources despite the risks.

"This much? Such a gamble?" Mu Lin was stunned. If he died before becoming a grandmaster, their loss would be catastrophic.

Yan Yunyu chuckled. "Ninety-nine portions mean ninety-nine times others’ foundational power. With such mana reserves alone, you’ll dominate. Your Paper Figures make you hard to kill—wise caution minimizes investment risks."

She hesitated before adding, "Also… many celestial-level essences can’t be Refined. Too dangerous, or lacking proper cultivation methods. Our vaults hold thousands of years’ worth of these unusable treasures."

Understanding dawned—the Yan family had simply cleared their inventory of worthless stock.

Mu Lin’s eyes sharpened. Other powerful clans must hoard similar unusable essences. What was trash to them…

With his decision made, Mu Lin told Yan Yunyu to gather the essence immediately.

"Understood, Mu brother. I’ll collect this kind of essence."

…

After conversing with Yan Yunyu, Mu Lin took up residence near Yuhu Academy and the Time Tower.

Most days, he dispatched countless Substitute Paper Figures into the Time Tower to study cultivation methods—though all his techniques and cultivation methods had merged into the True Spirit Domain Chart, they hadn’t vanished. Mu Lin could either practice them collectively to enhance the Chart itself or focus on individual aspects separately.

Practicing individually meant concentrating on elevating specific divine ranks.

Thankfully, Mu Lin possessed enough Substitute Paper Figures to maintain simultaneous training across all methods.

"Hum…"

Time flowed steadily as Mu Lin cultivated.

Three days slipped by.

While Mu Lin remained secluded, clashes between southern prodigies and northern prodigies grew fiercer outside Yuhu Academy.

In just three days, over a hundred skirmishes had erupted between them within Yuzhou City.

The results proved disastrous for the southern forces—only 11 victories out of 109 confrontations, with the North Wilderness disciples claiming all others.

"The gap’s that wide?"

Dongfang Ya, who’d brought the battle reports, furrowed her brows at Mu Lin’s surprise. "Our southern talents mostly grew up sheltered in Taoist Palaces, sects, or wealthy clans. Barely any real combat experience—they trained in Tower of Illusions simulations."

"Northern elites? Every survivor crawled through life-or-death trials. Worse, most northern prodigies tapped into forbidden power through premature cultivation. That cursed energy still gnaws at them, keeping death at their heels daily… but it gives each one lethal hidden cards."

After detailing the situation, Dongfang Ya warned, "Stay indoors these coming days. Southern leaders are smarting from these losses—they’ll want victories to save face. You might become their target."

Mu Lin’s eyes narrowed briefly before he countered, "I haven’t completed my Transformation. How could I shift the tide?"

"You could. The North-South conflict follows rules—opponents must be age-matched. You’d only face under-eighteen cultivators."

Mu Lin relaxed instantly.

Eighteen-year-olds with forbidden power? He felt zero fear.

‘Forbidden energy’s scary, but it’s not like I’m lacking.’

Then realization struck—this crisis presented opportunity.

If he dominated while Southeast Province’s prodigies kept failing, regional leaders would back him fiercely. Essence collection? Child’s play. He might even claim a spiritual weapon.

He rationalized calmly:

"I am the ultimate solution. My growth alone can resolve this world’s crises. Therefore, nothing matters more than my advancement."

Arrogant? Perhaps. But Mu Lin knew his capabilities. When desperate measures became necessary, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Fortunately, Mu Lin currently lacked no resources. Even obtaining ninety-nine portions of essence posed no problem now.

This let him calmly ignore the battles outside.

Soon, Mu Lin stopped paying attention to such trivial matters entirely.

Yan Yunyu returned bearing vast amounts of essence.

Upon receiving the essence from her, Mu Lin finally understood why the Yan family had stockpiled it – this essence was lethally dangerous.

Great Luo Merging Heaven, Chaos Origin Essence, Calamity Qi… These three types comprised most of what Yan Yunyu brought.

Great Luo Merging Heaven stood as the supreme essence in existence, touching upon concepts of Existence and Nothingness.

Absorbing it could erase Mu Lin’s presence from the world itself, even from people’s memories.

It could also nullify enemy techniques or erase beings completely through manipulating existence.

"Truly worthy of Great Luo Merging Heaven," Mu Lin murmured. "Permanently erasing existences or deceiving the world itself – such terrifying power."

The Yan family’s reluctance became clear – refinement carried extreme risks.

Refinement required Qi Practitioners to confront the essence directly. But Great Luo Merging Heaven’s nature threatened complete annihilation upon contact.

The Power of Existence formed one’s foundation. Losing even a fraction meant permanent damage to one’s cultivation limits and strength.

Few dared attempt refinement. Those who tried either vanished without trace or became mediocrities with ruined potential.

Without the True Spirit Domain Chart, Mu Lin wouldn’t have risked it. Even now, doubt lingered.

"Could this erase my True Spirit Domain Chart?"

"Impossible. It’s surpassed heavenly grade, reaching mythical tier. Not even Great Luo Merging Heaven can destroy it."

"Dominion remains mine."

His attention shifted to the other essences.

Chaos Origin Essence could assimilate souls, merging them with his own. This devouring property allowed limitless soul growth through consumption.

But merging required fusing souls and memories. Without iron will, one might never awaken.

Calamity Qi seemed safer initially, yet cultivators despised it most.

Refinement brought endless misfortunes like a curse. Worse, improving this essence demanded seeking out disasters constantly.

After refinement, calamities wouldn’t strike randomly. But enhancing it required deliberately chasing catastrophes.

"Basically professional disaster-chasing." Mu Lin grimaced. "Who’d willingly choose this?"