Chapter 347

Chapter 347: The Final Boss, Mu Lin Prepares to Strike

“Hiss…”

The dead returned; through death and Rebirth, the powerful beings slain by Blood Cherry transformed into her servants, rising again to fight. This sight naturally filled witnesses with horror, dread, awe, and yearning.

Facing Blood Cherry, Su Xiong—his body riddled with cracks—halted.

Having reached his physical limit, he’d stepped onto the arena resolved to die, intending to repay the northern aristocrats with his final breath so they might protect his family.

But Blood Cherry’s power rendered his sacrifice meaningless.

Should he perish, her strength might not diminish—it could instead grow through slaughter.

Thus, he dared not die lightly.

Across the field, the southern aristocrats stared at the revived black sword in disbelief, muttering uneasily:

“Blood Cherry… and that magical blade she wields—how can they be this powerful?”

The words were instantly challenged.

“Impossible! If she were truly this strong, why hide it before? And if she possessed such terrifying power, the Ge family would’ve never let her join Mu Lin!”

“If not her, then it’s… Mu Lin himself! Lord Mu Lin doesn’t just boost cultivation levels—he transforms abilities, elevating followers into unparalleled geniuses…”

The speaker trailed off, envy nearly spilling from his eyes. How he craved such power!

“Boosting cultivation, evolving skills, healing grave wounds through Mu Lin… Hah! This must be a dream!”

“Hell, even a pig could grow strong with such advantages!”

“I’m not jealous… They say the Sect of Harmony has cultivation methods letting people become celestials who switch genders freely. Wonder if that’s true…”

Days earlier, Blood Cherry had been merely talented—her defeat by the northern aristocrats proved she wasn’t elite. But aligning with Mu Lin changed everything.

Three days. In three days, her cultivation surged, her foundation became unshakable, and she gained a horrifying new ability.

Scions of powerful clans watched with envy-twisted faces. But the deepest shock struck clan elders and family heads.

When Yan Yunyu had demonstrated her power three days prior, they’d been intrigued—yet her poor combat instincts left doubts. Strengthening a legitimate daughter required a spiritual weapon—was the investment worth it?

Blood Cherry’s transformation erased those doubts.

“This power… this evolution… We must wed our daughters to him!”

Investing solely in Mu Lin carried risks—his future assistance depended entirely on his whims. What if he turned capricious? But Blood Cherry’s rise revealed a solution.

“Marry our daughters to him. By investing in our own heirs through this bond, they’ll gain strength too.”

“This would not only extend my daughter’s life and improve her circumstances, but when our family faces danger, she certainly won’t stand idle… Hmm, I must find noble young ladies with close family ties to send.”

The heads of the powerful clans grew interested, while the noble young ladies’ eyes shone.

A powerful being meant authority, status, and longevity.

Given the chance, who wouldn’t desire such power?

Never assume women lacked ambition—the brutal rivalries of the harem proved all humans craved authority.

One noble young lady turned to her father and elders, declaring, “Father, even if I join Mu Lin, I’ll still prioritize our family in all matters.”

Yet the clan elders and family heads swiftly rejected her plea.

They weren’t fools and knew Mu Lin wasn’t either. They believed he wouldn’t nurture someone torn between him and their family.

“A heart split between family and Mu Lin won’t do… Cleverness is key. With beauties around him, only wisdom will make one stand out.”

…

As numerous powerful clans plotted to send their daughters, Prince Liang could no longer stay composed.

Previously, he’d relied on his daughter’s noble status and lavish dowry, seeing no urgency.

But witnessing the clans’ fervor, he realized delay would leave Mu Lin surrounded by a dozen noble ladies.

Amid such competition, his Ling Sha would struggle to shine.

Before, Ji Ling Sha hadn’t needed to marry Mu Lin—other suitors existed. But now, no other rising star offered the chance where one’s success elevates their entire household.

Thus, it was Ji Ling Sha who needed Mu Lin, not the reverse.

Prince Liang turned to Fu Bo. “How can we secure Ling Sha’s marriage as his primary wife?”

Fu Bo didn’t object. Having watched Ji Ling Sha grow, he desired her prosperity.

In these turbulent times, aligning with a powerful figure who could strengthen them was wisest.

After a pause, Fu Bo said, “The palace treasury holds the Sky Ferry.”

Prince Liang’s eyebrow twitched.

The Prince Liang residence had known glory. While this prince lacked the East Sea King’s rebellious streak, his predecessors had dreamed of exploring distant seas and realms.

That era’s Prince Liang had commissioned treasures, including the Sky Ferry—a ship embedded with a space-expanding Formation, capable of transporting a million soldiers and leaping vast distances.

Beyond its scale, the treasure ship boasted formidable defenses and weaponry.

The Sky Ferry was a cornerstone of Prince Liang’s power and his hope during the calamity. Relinquishing such an asset pained him.

“I’ll consider this further.”

…

The southern cultivators were mostly thrilled and motivated by the formidable abilities Mu Lin bestowed, eagerly seeking ways to participate and claim a share of the benefits.

In contrast, the northern cultivators grew uneasy as they witnessed Blood Cherry’s powers.

“How do we counter Blood Cherry?”

“First, recall Su Xiong. Also, those below the combining Essence and Evil realm shouldn’t join the next battle. The enemy’s raw strength and terrifying abilities mean sending weaker ones would only boost her combat power. From now on, only combining Essence and Evil realm cultivators should face her.”

At these words, all eyes turned to the eleven figures standing apart.

These cultivators under eighteen from the northern aristocrats represented their only hope of defeating Blood Cherry and Mu Lin.

Burdened with high expectations, none hesitated.

“I’ll take this.”

A swordsman stepped onto the arena, his eyes shrouded by a black cloth like a blindfold.

Though sightless, his awareness remained sharp.

“Kill!”

Blood Cherry immediately ordered her crimson demonic creatures, Asuras, and scarlet knights to attack en masse.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

“Boom… roar…”

The crimson horde charged like a blood-red tidal wave crashing toward the blind swordsman.

With a single slash, he split the surging wave wide open.

The sword energy tore through countless demons yet still hurtled toward Blood Cherry.

“Clang!”

The Revived black sword intercepted the strike.

Eyes vacant but brimming with fighting spirit and killing intent, the black sword lunged forward.

The blind swordsman frowned—the blade retained not only its techniques but also radiated the lethal forbidden power.

“It kept both sword skills and forbidden power? How fearsome.”

Still, he pressed on, slicing the air with sweeping arcs of sword energy.

Each strike shredded the crimson tide, bisecting three-headed, six-armed Asuras before they neared. Even the scarlet Beiwai Army’s military formations shattered under his assaults.

Alone, his long sword halted the demonic onslaught.

Blood Cherry narrowed her eyes.

“Blindfolded, yet you sense weaknesses in both demons and formations. Impressive. But ordinary slashes won’t work on me.”

Unlike Yan Yunyu, Blood Cherry swiftly grasped her foe’s strengths through keen combat insight—though she remained unperturbed.

Her confidence stemmed from…

“Ding!”

As the blood-red blade behind her quivered, the crimson demonic creatures sliced by sword energy instantly revived.

The severed bodies began crawling toward each other – whenever split parts made contact, they fused back together.

Even when separated far apart after being cut, the crimson creatures persisted.

Severed limbs, heads, and organs randomly combined into grotesque new demonic beings.

When no scattered flesh remained nearby, the severed parts squirmed into smaller monsters: blood-red crows, mosquitoes, even tentacled eyeballs…

“Grooowl!”

The reactivated creatures roared while charging the blind swordsman anew.

The crimson tide endlessly surged toward him in relentless waves.

No matter how sharp his sword energy, he couldn’t fully destroy these demonic entities.

This relentless battle was wearing him down.

Then came worse trouble – the black sword joined the fray.

Wielding both ancestral combat skills and forbidden power, this foe couldn’t be sliced apart easily.

The blind swordsman’s frown deepened as Blood Cherry stepped forward.

Though not attacking yet, her thunderbolt-swift movements left him wary.

He knew any opening would bring her lethal blade flashing toward him.

With Blood Cherry circling like a predator, he dared not commit fully – reserving half his strength to counter her potential strikes.

Between the black sword’s assault and the endless demonic horde, the swordsman still had to split his focus.

This impossible balancing act worsened by the moment.

Within thirty breaths, his body became a map of fresh wounds.

The truth crystallized:

“No more delays. If this drags on, I’ll fall even without Blood Cherry’s intervention.”

Decision made, the blind swordsman unleashed his forbidden power – ripping off his eye-covering black cloth.

“Huummm…”

Blood Cherry and Mu Lin now faced crystalline eyes glowing beneath his brow.

To Mu Lin, they resembled exquisite cracked glassware. Blood Cherry saw only doom.

Those eyes pierced her defenses – her dragon scales and Central Earth Evil armor might as well be parchment.

Then came the horror.

Light flashed in the swordsman’s fractured gaze.

Crack!

Blood Cherry’s body split into segmented chunks.

“This is… a spatial slash? He can unleash spatial attacks with his eyes?”

The sudden strike shocked Blood Cherry, but though shaken, she stayed calm.

Immediately, she commanded hordes of crimson demonic creatures to shield her. Using their powerful vitality, she tried to mend her fractured body. Simultaneously, she activated the paper figure Mu Lin had given her – Substitute Paper Figure – Others – to redirect her injuries elsewhere.

As Blood Cherry fought to survive, the blind swordsman pressed his assault.

“Crack! Crack!”

No longer holding back, he kept glaring fiercely, splitting everything before him.

“Rip!”

Crimson demonic creatures shielding Blood Cherry kept tearing apart, while she desperately summoned more replacements. Their clash became a battle of endurance – whether Blood Cherry’s defenses would outlast the swordsman’s offensive.

Using spatial rip came at a price. Cracks multiplied across the swordsman’s eyes, creeping down his face and body. Continued strain risked shattering him completely. Conversely, Blood Cherry’s head might get sliced into pieces first.

The Substitute Paper Figure – Others couldn’t transfer all damage. Blood Cherry genuinely risked death here. Though stronger now, her shaky foundations meant victory against a combining Essence and Evil expert remained uncertain – especially against northern cultivators famed for their might.

“Tch.”

Mu Lin sighed watching this.

“Wanted to stay idle, but seems I’ll have to intervene.”

While Blood Cherry’s death seemed unlikely, she was both his valued subordinate and key to obtaining the spiritual weapon Slaughtering Blade. He wouldn’t let her fall.

His sigh made the blind swordsman tense. Even northern prodigies who scorned southern cultivators acknowledged Mu Lin’s terrifying strength. The swordsman knew he couldn’t defeat him.

Yet as dread washed over them, the northern cultivators also burned with excitement – the thrill of challenging a final boss.

“Beat him, and the north wins this war!”