Chapter 415

Chapter 415: The Cracked North Wilderness, the Vanished West Desert

For their own safety and their families’, both the North and South Aristocrats and the Great Spirit Dynasty tried hard to recruit Mu Lin, hoping he’d join their side.

Their offers came with genuine feelings and full sincerity.

But their efforts now came too late.

"When I stayed in the East Sea Kingdom, I already promised an Old Master from the North Wilderness. He’d shield me from powerful beings, and I’d help guard the North Wilderness with all my strength."

"Good! We’ll treat you right, Mu Lin!"

Hearing this, the northern aristocrats cheered loudly.

Their leader kept patting Mu Lin’s shoulder, saying "good" over and over—every bit of combat power mattered during this crisis.

The Great Spirit Dynasty and Southeast Province aristocrats felt deep regret. This hit hardest for the Southeast group, since Mu Lin had grown up in their lands.

"Too late…we should’ve decided sooner," someone sighed. Others looked furious.

"You couldn’t decide earlier! Without a strong leader, you all act separately. Even simple choices take days! Your Southeast aristocrats lost their nerve long ago in these soft riverlands."

"Mark my words—though you’re inland, you’ll fall first when calamity strikes!"

Ji Hongyu snapped these angry words. As deputy commander of the Demon Suppression Army and a frontline general, she knew the Southeast Province’s weaknesses best. She understood the Demon Exorcism Division’s struggles.

She badly wanted Mu Lin to stay. A strong ally could save countless soldiers.

But while she supported Mu Lin firmly, other Southeast aristocrats wavered. They refused to act before seeing if Mu Lin would win against the East Sea Kingdom. By the time they changed minds, the chance had passed.

…

Mu Lin didn’t notice Ji Hongyu’s frustration. He currently asked Yan Yunyu, Si Ye, and Dongfang Ya to collect news about the North Wilderness.

He needed to go north—both to keep his promise to Old Master Zhang Hetian and to find room for growth. But the reports made him frown.

"Things look rough up north."

"Rough" didn’t cover it. The situation was dire.

Dongfang Ya’s group had gathered intel about the whole Xuanling Realm. From this, Mu Lin learned the world’s general state.

Yan Yunyu explained: The Xuanling Continent where Mu Lin stood formed the realm’s core. Humans controlled its rich central lands, split into nineteen provinces.

Endless eastern seas belonged to the Dragon Palace water tribe. Southlands held non-human clans and the beast-shaped Demon Race. Unlike humans, demons didn’t change environments much. The rainy, mountainous south remained wild—full of forests, swamps, and poisonous insects.

Then came the North Wilderness, freezing cold each winter.

Due to the harsh environment, this place was already vast and sparsely populated.

Yet that wasn’t the worst problem. What shocked Mu Lin was the cracked sky over the North Wilderness.

Unknown reasons had left the northern spatial barriers dangerously weak, riddled with countless dimensional tears.

Every year, falling stars and alien visitors crashed into this land, stirring chaos.

The Great Spirit Dynasty stationed armies here to keep otherworldly monsters and evil spirits from invading human territories.

The northern forces had handled this duty well for years.

But recently, minions of evil gods and supernatural threats multiplied, overwhelming the defenses.

Matters worsened when an evil god invaded the North Wilderness, clashing with human warriors.

Though repelled and wounded, the evil god’s attack cost human lives – Celestial Masters perished or suffered grave injuries.

Fortunately, the dynasty’s rulers weren’t complete fools.

Understanding their own safety depended on the northern buffer zone, they summoned heroes nationwide to reinforce the frontlines.

Supplies poured into the North Wilderness like endless rivers.

"The Great Spirit Dynasty panics because their lands lie directly behind the North Wilderness."

"But the Southeast Province feels no urgency – they’re safely distant from the crisis."

This reminded Mu Lin of the recent clash between northern and southern aristocrats. He called Si Ye and Yan Yunyu to discuss the outcome.

To his astonishment, the southern aristocrats had backed down.

"Why? Don’t claim they suddenly grew kind hearts!"

Remembering humanity’s failures during the Ming Dynasty’s collapse, Mu Lin doubted unity against invaders.

Si Ye revealed the truth – the Southeast Province acted under pressure, not goodwill.

"After you left, southern aristocrats kept resisting. The war-torn northerners grew desperate. One legion abandoned defenses and relocated."

This puzzled Mu Lin. Withdrawing forces and surrendering territory was exactly what southerners demanded. Why retreat now?

"Wait… unless…"

Seeing his realization, Si Ye nodded. "Exactly. The retreating Canglang Legion didn’t fortify northern cities as expected. They crossed the river south instead, clashing violently with southern clans."

Conflict proved inevitable. Limited resources meant every gain caused someone’s loss.

In Southeast Province, every inch belonged to someone.

A lone wanderer like Mu Lin could survive, but entire legions with followers needed more.

Northern aristocrats, mighty warriors all, refused to live modestly. They scorned "first come, first served," believing might makes right.

When the Canglang Legion arrived, they seized lands from southern clans.

Dispossessed families naturally fought back fiercely.

When the two major clans clashed, regardless of the outcome, both would suffer losses.

No one wanted to see this situation.

Of course, if the southern aristocrats united, they could drive out the Canglang Legion.

But while the southern aristocrats had allies, the northern aristocrats had them too. If they all marched south together, the southern aristocrats would be helpless.

The royal family of the Great Spirit Dynasty would also face trouble—without the northern aristocrats as shields, they’d have to confront evil gods and monsters themselves.

This was unacceptable to the Great Spirit Dynasty. Though the calamity couldn’t be avoided, every moment’s delay meant more time to prepare and better survival odds.

Thus, the northern aristocrats’ plan to cross the river south scared both the southern aristocrats and the Great Spirit Dynasty.

To stop the northerners from moving south, both the Great Spirit Dynasty and southern aristocrats offered massive resources to appease them.

Taxes already took eighty percent? The south had nothing left?

Fools. Resources are like sponges—squeeze hard enough and more comes out.

The powerful southern clans tightened control, squeezing out half the required taxes immediately.

Not enough? There were still fattened pigs called wealthy merchants.

Still short? The clans’ centuries-old reserves could be tapped for emergencies.

Through this coercion by the Great Spirit Dynasty and southern clans, resources indeed flowed.

This nearly made Mu Lin laugh aloud.

"People truly need threats. Reason gets ignored, but put blades to throats and everything becomes negotiable."

…

The resources from the Great Spirit Dynasty and southern aristocrats, plus recruited heroes, did ease some northern pressure.

But with countless evil gods and powerful monsters, the North Wilderness remained in grave danger.

"Danger brings opportunity. Only in such peril can I act freely."

After surveying the North Wilderness, Mu Lin turned to the West Desert.

His frown deepened.

The North Wilderness was barren, but the West Desert was truly dead.

Dongfang Ya’s reports showed most West Desert areas lacked spiritual energy, while inhabited zones held greater dangers—most Xuanling world forbidden zones lay here.

Even evil gods and their minions avoided this place.

"Cracked skies in the North Wilderness, dead spirit lands in the West Desert… Xuanling continent must’ve seen wild times."

…

In Southeast Province, Mu Lin prepared for his North Wilderness journey while analyzing the world’s situation.

Meanwhile in Tianwu City, the North Wilderness stronghold, banners fluttered as martial generals gathered.

They came begging for resources.

The vast North Wilderness required thirty-three defensive towns protected by formations.

Centered around Tianwu City, thirteen legions guarded these settlements.

This was only the main city; below the towns lay numerous mines and spirit fields needing stationed guards.

This couldn’t be avoided. Though the Great Spirit Dynasty and southern aristocrats supported the north, they couldn’t spare all resources. Often, North Wilderness legions had to clear land, mine locally, or tend spirit fields to replenish army supplies.

With so many places needing protection, all thirteen legions struggled with manpower shortages.

Combined with battle losses and draining resources, daily pleas for aid flooded Tianwu City from these legions.

This situation gave True Lord Tianwu, Grand Marshal of the northern forces, constant headaches.

Thankfully, recent heavy resource extraction from southern aristocrats provided temporary relief for the thirteen legions.

Now the legions’ envoys fought even fiercer battles over supplies.

Competition was inevitable – brotherhood meant everything in military life.

Generals, marshals, and soldiers fighting together forged unbreakable bonds.

These were bonds forged through shared bloodshed.

No commander wanted their troops to perish.

More resources meant better survival chances for comrades – how could any legion hold back?

Arguments turned physical within Grand Marshal Tianwu’s residence.

"Old Jin! My Tianyuan City’s crucial! If it falls, the North Wilderness is finished!"

"Lies! Futuguan guards the largest mines supplying our weapons! Which matters more?"

"Pity us Black Prison troops! We’re starving over here…"

"Back off! These supplies are mine! I’ll gut anyone who challenges me!"

Some played sympathy cards, others stressed strategic importance, while the fiercest brandished threats.

Though envoys from different legions clashed constantly, their shared northern allegiance and the Grand Marshal’s watchful presence prevented true bloodshed.

Amid the chaos, they inspected resources from southern aristocrats and the Great Spirit Dynasty, scanning conscription lists.

Several lead envoys froze upon spotting Mu Lin’s name.

Many messengers’ eyes gleamed.

Despite North Wilderness’ remoteness, Mu Lin’s legendary deeds reached every legion.

All knew him as the once-in-an-era genius who crushed the East Sea Kingdom, slaughtered the Dragon Palace’s True dragon offspring, and annihilated countless monster champions.

His joining any legion would massively boost morale and fighting power.

All schemed to recruit him – until they read his conscription details.

"Seven Earth Immortals’ worth?! If Mu Lin joins, that legion gains resources for seven Earth Immortals! Madness!"

"Grand Marshal! This must be a mistake!"