Chapter 368

Chapter 368: Does Mu Lin Dare to Kill Me!

The ∞ character was derived from the Ouroboros Sword. Sharing the same origin, their abilities remained similar – both representing infinite cycles though expressed differently.

The Ouroboros Sword mainly created domains, while the ∞ character proved more flexible, being used in many different ways.

Take spells for example.

Previously, when Mu Lin’s spell got disrupted, it simply ended.

But now with infinite cycles added, disrupted spells would automatically gather spiritual energy and reform themselves.

This reconstruction didn’t happen just once or twice, but a full nine times.

Similarly, wounds Mu Lin inflicted could reactivate about nine times through infinite cycle essence.

Of course, Mu Lin found the best application was self-targeted.

The Crimson Holy Grail’s Blood Rebirth already granted healing, so injury recovery through infinite cycles didn’t interest him.

The real surprise came when he discovered time loops also fell under infinite cycles.

"Or rather, time loops represent Ouroboros’ most common form. Many looping timelines either originate from or contain Ouroboros essence."

For Mu Lin, this manifested as linking his present and past selves.

Present Mu Lin became the head, past Mu Lin the tail. Through Ouroboros’ self-devouring growth cycle, past and present could now interact.

The first benefit: using past selves as death substitutes.

"Another survival trick… Substitute Paper Figure, Root Word Fixing, Blood Rebirth, Divine-Mortal Separation, plus past-self substitution. At this point, I’m harder to kill than an Earth Immortal."

Truthfully, threatening North and South Aristocrats while playing both sides carried risks.

Though cautious, someone might still snap and attempt lethal retaliation.

But surveying his survival skills, Mu Lin only wanted to declare:

"What’s a little risk? Who could possibly kill me anyway?"

"Even if you manage it, how many times could you keep killing me?"

Cowards cling to life. With nearly a thousand Revive coins, Mu Lin naturally grew bolder.

…

Past-self substitution marked infinite cycles’ first ability.

The second: mana stacking.

Head-to-tail connection merged past and present Mu Lin into one entity.

Being the same origin, he could now draw mana from past selves.

Effectively gaining a backup mana reserve.

"Pity my understanding of Ouroboros’ time cycles remains shallow. Currently limited to one past self connection. Multiple connections could multiply my mana."

"A hundred past selves would grant limitless power."

Though unattained, this vision excited Mu Lin deeply. Yet despite his enthusiasm, lingering dissatisfaction with the ∞ character remained.

The reason wasn’t that Mu Lin was ungrateful, but because the essence of the Ouroboros was truly formidable.

The ultimate realm of the Ouroboros, belonging to the supreme creator god, symbolized not just infinite cycles but also boundlessness—limitless growth.

Yes, it represented infinity, endlessness, and perpetual advancement.

Applied to the world, the interlinked Ouroboros allowed the world to sustain its own cycles while expanding endlessly without pause.

For an individual, it meant shattering one’s limits and growing stronger without end.

A clear example was Saitama from *One Punch Man*.

With his limiter removed, he broke through barriers constantly, growing stronger with every passing second. This growth let him defeat any foe with a single strike, though he secretly wished his enemies wouldn’t perish too quickly.

If Mu Lin grasped the Ouroboros’ boundless essence and imprinted it upon himself, he too could achieve endless growth like Saitama.

Sadly, while Mu Lin had some grasp of infinite cycles, the concept of boundlessness left him utterly clueless.

Thus, his ∞ characters lacked this power entirely.

“Enough. One must be content—the infinite cycle is already powerful enough…”

Though he muttered this, it still took Mu Lin a long while to calm his mind.

Yet while Mu Lin found peace, fury and terror gripped someone in Yuzhou City.

“Bastards! What’s wrong with those powerful clans? I’m targeting Mu Lin—why are you throwing yourselves into this? Is he your dad?!”

In a dim room, a voice raged.

Had Mu Lin been present, he’d have recognized the speaker as the mastermind behind his assassination.

But there were no “what-ifs”—Mu Lin wasn’t there.

Luckily, the powerful clans of Southeast Province lived up to their reputation as local tigers.

Before, some had watched idly, others had hindered investigations covertly, letting the mastermind roam free. Now, pressured by Mu Lin, the clans pooled their resources. Their deep-rooted influence surfaced swiftly, uncovering clues in mere days.

The truth would soon be exposed—hence the mastermind’s fury.

As he seethed, others in the room kept their cool.

“Young Master, we must flee. They’ll trace us soon,” one urged.

“Leaving would doom me! An unexplained departure would confirm their suspicions,” he retorted, clinging to hope. “Can we persuade the southern aristocrats to stay neutral like before?”

A shadowed elder shook his head.

“Impossible. Mu Lin’s irreplaceable status forces both North and South Aristocrats to obey. They dare not refuse.”

“Bastard!”

The mastermind cursed again, then spat, “How dare Mu Lin act so boldly? Doesn’t he fear retaliation? The North and South need him now, but after the North-South conflict ends—”

‘He need not fear. No retaliation will come.’

"Especially after this incident, fewer would dare to retaliate or provoke him."

This came from another elder in the room.

Having lived a long life, he knew well that even powerful clans tended to maintain friendly relations with unparalleled geniuses rather than suppress them.

Of course, should they become enemies, they would spare no effort.

The problem with Mu Lin lay in his established connections. The Yan and Chu families prevented other clans from using their might against the weak.

What’s worse, Mu Lin… was notoriously hard to kill.

His self-preservation skills were unmatched. In the Grave Lord’s tomb, Mu Lin’s hundred deaths not only broke the descendant of evil gods’ mindset but also deterred countless others.

Facing such an unkillable figure with hidden cards and destined greatness, few dared oppose him.

Now add two more labels: vicious vindictiveness and ruthless methods.

Forcing the North and South Aristocrats to act through his undeniable importance perfectly demonstrated these traits.

Truth be told, powerful clans would grit their teeth against such an indestructible threat rather than retaliate.

Having endured for millennia, every clan knew when to swallow pride—though never for ordinary people.

They’d still try befriending Mu Lin afterward.

Powerful clans valued profit over grudges.

The elder kept these thoughts to himself, simply stating, "Young master, we must depart."

"I won’t! Even if that Mu Lin bastard finds me, he wouldn’t dare kill me!"

His rage carried confidence—believing his father’s status made him untouchable despite the failed assassination.

What shocked him was his elder’s response after a heavy silence: "He would. Whether fleeing north or reaching the Great Spirit Dynasty’s capital, even the prince couldn’t touch him then."

"…"

The mastermind vanished before dawn.

Mu Lin remained oblivious, consumed by vengeful preparations to chase enemies anywhere.

Currently, after grasping the Ouroboros Sword’s essence, he kept merging high-level resources to expand his secret world… hell itself.

With continuous merging, only one day remained until his Transformation advancement.

"By tomorrow night, I’ll complete my Transformation!"

Anticipation surged through him—that liberating sense of boundless skies and seas.

Assessing his capabilities, he realized post-Transformation would likely make him peerless.

Against Earth Immortals? He mightn’t kill them, but cautious action would make crushing him near-impossible.

His ironclad defenses and hundreds of revival tokens weren’t decorative.

In this era lacking active celestial masters, with Earth Immortals struggling to eliminate him, boldness became feasible.

"Not too reckless though. ‘Hard to kill’ doesn’t mean ‘unkillable.’"

"Celestial masters are preoccupied, not extinct."

"And those thousand-year clans? Their hidden depths could still destroy me if provoked."

He inhaled deeply, steadying his excitement.

While not invincible post-Transformation and still mortal, trivial foes wouldn’t threaten him anymore.

This certainty wrapped him in newfound security.