Chapter 104

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Chapter 104: Advancement of Cultivation Methods, Obtaining Heavenly Techniques Again!

The power of human path’s blessing caused Mu Lin’s imagined ghost officials to materialize.

Even within the city god’s temple, a figure dressed in official robes appeared.

Without doubt, this figure bore Mu Lin’s face.

Within moments, the city god’s form fully solidified, though Mu Lin sighed as the power of human path’s blessing faded temporarily.

—Merely having a good plan didn’t guarantee success.

The power of human path wasn’t truly omniscient, hence its protective approach resembled casting a wide net and hoping for the best.

For exceptional humans, it invested a sliver of fortune and strength. But if these "chosen ones" later became ordinary, the power of human path would withdraw its attention.

Only those who continued shining brightly and aiding humanity’s survival after receiving its gaze would keep its favor.

The underworld legends belonged to a previous life – this world had none.

Thus, the power of human path couldn’t confirm whether Mu Lin’s underworld blueprint would succeed, granting him only brief consideration.

"What a pity. Had the power of human path kept watching me, I might’ve become a legendary chosen one, stumbling upon treasures in cliffs."

"But this isn’t bad either…"

Though the power’s attention lasted mere moments, its immense power caused drastic changes for Mu Lin.

First came his cultivation methods. Through the power’s deductions, both his Great Yin Living Scripture and City of Heaven’s Funeral evolved from top-tier Earth-level to Heavenly Grade techniques.

【Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral (City God) (Heavenly Grade middle grade), Level 3 Mastery (13900/108000), Features: Solidification, Soul Manifestation, Power of Heaven’s Funeral, City God (County City God) (Unappointed)】

【Great Yin Living Scripture, Level 3 Mastery (1/81000) (Heavenly Grade lower grade), Features: Awakening, Spiritual Roots (Lord’s Offering), Substitute Paper Figure, Yin-Yang Harmony (Stage One), Magical Liquefaction, Communicating with Spirits (Ancestral Souls)】

After the advancement, Mu Lin first inspected the Great Yin Living Scripture.

"Though my magical breakthrough focused on the Mind Image world’s underworld construction, the City of Heaven’s Funeral reached Heavenly Grade middle grade while this scripture stayed at lower grade."

Since both were his core techniques, he accepted this outcome.

He noted that while the methods had advanced, features like Awakening and Substitute Paper Figure remained original functions. The upgrade mainly granted him the Communicating with Spirits ability and changed his Spiritual Roots from "Burial White Paper Offering" to "Lord’s Offering".

"In my subconscious, the Lord of Mount Tai – the Eastern Sovereign Emperor – governs life and death. My path shifting toward the underworld made me subconsciously worship Him."

However, this world lacked Mount Tai or any Heavenly Virtuous Emperor. Thus the title carried no geographical prefix, and Mu Lin’s worship targeted an abstract concept rather than an actual deity.

This symbolic worship prevented channeling higher powers.

Previously, with Burial White Paper Offering roots, Mu Lin possessed a desperate tactic – summoning the City of Heaven’s Funeral’s forbidden power at mortal risk, potentially taking enemies down with him.

Now this ultimate move was lost.

Yet the Spiritual Roots change brought benefits too. With the Lord position vacant, Mu Lin could potentially grow into that role. Moreover, while the Lord’s authority stood high, the power of human path remained formidable.

Mu Lin’s lord’s altar was constructed with the aid of the power of human path within his subconscious, granting his altar a sliver of that Great God’s power.

If the Eastern Sovereign Emperor truly existed, Mu Lin could never have condensed such authority without His consent – any attempt to secretly gather it would have resulted in his destruction.

Even if that Great God had permitted it, Mu Lin would have remained bound to another’s will for life.

But now, with the lord’s position vacant and Mu Lin having successfully condensed this authority, he could wield a fragment of its power.

—Only a sliver, and any future growth of the lord’s authority would require Mu Lin’s own efforts. His personal cultivation wouldn’t automatically enhance it.

For current Mu Lin, fully consolidating the lord’s authority remained nearly impossible.

"This minor success came through the power of human path’s assistance. Don’t expect such fortune again…"

Shaking his head, Mu Lin continued his examination.

The trait 【Communicating with Spirits · Ancestral Souls】 manifested this sliver of authority.

Through blood and his Spiritual Roots·lord’s altar foundation, Mu Lin could channel the lord’s authority to perform a grand ritual. Success meant summoning deceased ancestral souls for possession.

This extraordinary trait touched upon Life and Death, history, and civilization – nearly divine. Without the power of human path’s aid and perfect compatibility, its creation would have been impossible.

Now it stood as one of Mu Lin’s ultimate trump cards.

"In a previous xianxia life, I’d have summoned legends like Guan Yu or Xiang Yu. But here? Can’t summon foreign heroes."

"Limited to this world’s ancestors, blood-bound… Any Great Gods in my lineage?"

"Never mind."

Summoning restrictions applied: ancient/powerful souls demanded more energy. Mu Lin’s only cultivator ancestor – his grandfather – still lived.

Even deceased, summoning him wouldn’t be cost-effective. More distant ancestors remained beyond reach.

Turning from Communicating with Spirits, Mu Lin examined Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral.

Its enhancement surpassed even the Great Yin Living Scripture, focusing entirely on City God traits.

Mu Lin now qualified as half-City God, possessing all basic abilities: mind-reading, investigating the deceased, and appointing ghost officials/Yin soldiers with civil/military judges.

His "half" status stemmed from missing official recognition – true City Gods answer to Heaven’s path and human path authorities.

With Heaven’s path’s status unknown and human path active, full power required government endorsement: the Great Spirit Dynasty’s imperial decree, temple construction, and Golden Body consecration.

This would grant regional control, national fortune access, and faith absorption.

Yet Mu Lin would refuse even if offered. Official appointment meant binding his fate to the nation’s – prosperous times might sustain him, but collapse would doom him.

Moreover, bureaucrats would control him. Unacceptable.

"This first attempt’s flaws stem from limited knowledge. The power of human path forcibly elevated Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral’s grade."

"But since I transformed Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral into City God techniques, further evolution toward Fengdu remains possible – eliminating current flaws."

"For now, the City God’s utility outweighs its imperfections."

Without imperial recognition, Mu Lin couldn’t become full City God. But his human path-recognized divine office and universal magic allowed temporary access.

Sufficient magic could even briefly manifest the City God Realm in reality – though the cost would be astronomical.

Within his Mind Image world, soul power could transform Yellow Turban Might into ghost officials/Yin soldiers.

"As County City God, I could maintain 36 ghost officials, 72 Yin soldiers, plus two judges. Official status would let me convert dead souls into permanent retainers sustained by national fortune and earth veins."

"Currently stuck with visualized troops. Unrecognized, I must house them in my Mind Image world, paying magic costs for deployment."

Unofficial status brought hassles, but massive gains nonetheless.

Former paper figures counted as evil spirits – vulnerable to thunder, fire, and sunlight. This weakness explained why paper folders’ secret techniques ranked merely top-tier Earth-level, keeping Yin Eight Sect second-rate.

Now Yellow Turban Might’s transformation meant his paper forces had "passed the civil service exam" – human path recognition negated elemental vulnerabilities.

New gear included Soul Binding Chains, supremely effective against evil ghosts.

With paper figures being core assets, their upgrade from Yin Spirits to official ghost forces massively boosted Mu Lin’s strength.

The judges provided extra value.

Mu Lin immediately summoned his judges, bypassing visualization to directly call the little girl who sells matches and Funeral Yasha.

As they knelt, Mu Lin’s soul merged with the City God statue. Hand on the official seal, he intoned with divine authority:

"Edict: Civil order through scholarship, martial resolution through judgment…"

City God power enveloped the pair. A ledger appeared in the girl’s hands as she became civil judge, gaining power to review mortal lives.

The Yasha transformed into martial judge, black official robes materializing as lengthy chains coiled around it.