Chapter 108

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Chapter 108: The City God’s Might, Cai Tian’s Fear

As Yan Yunyu spoke, Mu Lin’s hands never stopped moving. He pulled out Sui Mu paper, folded it into paper figures, and swiftly painted colors and faces onto them. Soon, vivid, lifelike paper figures took shape under his skilled fingers.

When he was nearly done, two figures—one petite, one tall—entered the training grounds. The small one was unmistakably his teacher, Dongfang Ya. The other was an unknown middle-aged man. They seemed deep in conversation.

Mu Lin’s brow lifted as he noticed Dongfang Ya’s obvious irritation. Moments later, he understood why.

“Teacher Dongfang, your teaching methods are too lax. Gifted students should be grouped into teams from the start.”

Dongfang Ya snapped, “Forced teams mean nothing if they lack trust or unity. The Taoist Palace trains them to fight evil spirits, not just pass exams. You can force them together here, but what happens after they leave? Without trusted teammates, how will they survive?”

“If they’re divided, let them compete for a Captain everyone respects. Teams don’t last forever—people die or leave. Finding new teammates later is inevitable. This prepares them for that.”

Dongfang Ya scoffed. “Twisted logic.”

“Yet my approach succeeded. Our elite team—Wan Yangyu and the others—defeated your students. A strong start in the Southeast League Examination means better resources, wider leads. Soon, Wan Yangyu will crush Ji Xue’s group entirely…”

Dongfang Ya fell silent, unable to deny Anping Taoist Palace’s defeat. Her expression darkened.

As frustration choked Dongfang Ya and the Qianyang Taoist Palace teacher smirked, a cold voice cut through the air.

“Stealing all your Taoist Palace’s best just to beat Anping’s second-tier team? That’s your pride?”

“Hm?”

Both teachers froze. The man—Qi Qiu—glared at Mu Lin. “Who are you?”

“Mu Lin. Anping Taoist Palace’s top student.”

He’d stepped forward without hesitation. Seeing Dongfang Ya humiliated, especially after all she’d done for him, was unthinkable.

Admittedly, this carried risks. But two reasons drove him. First, defending Dongfang Ya now would earn her deep favor—possibly even a powerful ally.

Second, and more urgent: a clash with Qianyang Taoist Palace was inevitable. To claim the Taoist Palace’s top spot and secure a Southeast Province top-five ranking, he needed Anping’s full backing. Yet Yuhu Academy dominated the rankings, leaving four Taoist Palaces to fight for two slots. If Anping stayed passive, victory would slip away.

So, Mu Lin, aiming for the top five, inevitably had to confront Qianyang Taoist Palace.

‘The great way requires contention. Unless I abandon all competition and resources, conflicts over interests are unavoidable.’

Since offending Qianyang Taoist Palace was inevitable sooner or later, Mu Lin saw no harm in gaining favor with Teacher Dongfang Ya while doing so.

…

For both Dongfang Ya and himself, Mu Lin spoke up directly.

As anticipated, his words drew hostile glares from Qianyang Taoist Palace’s Qi Practitioners.

"First, isn’t that Ji Xue? Also, you didn’t participate in our last inter-palace exchange."

Mu Lin shrugged at this remark.

"For Qi Practitioners like us, Cultivation comes first. I was undergoing closed-door training for a breakthrough then, so naturally missed the assessment. As for Ji Xue – I’ve already surpassed her."

Qi Qiu’s face hardened at these words, his gaze toward Dongfang Ya turning wary.

"Using second-ranked Ji Xue to test us before deploying your top fighter. Clever trick, Anping Taoist Palace. Didn’t see that coming."

"Er…"

Dongfang Ya floundered for a response.

Her eyes held conflicted emotions as she looked at Mu Lin – both grateful he’d stood up during her humiliation, proving her past support worthwhile, yet annoyed he’d likely worsen their predicament by challenging Qianyang’s elites beyond his capabilities.

‘No need for formal competition. Once people remember Mu Lin’s actual situation, they’ll expose him immediately…’

Events unfolded exactly as Dongfang Ya predicted.

The teachers’ arrival already drew attention, but Mu Lin’s declaration became the true focus.

Hearing his bold claim, Anping Taoist Palace members cringed with secondhand embarrassment.

"Does that bastard want to bury us deeper?"

"Defending Teacher Dongfang Ya’s noble, but does he have the skill?"

"Here comes more mockery…"

While Anping members squirmed, Qianyang’s Wan Yangyu wore an odd expression.

"Had he not drawn attention, and without Miss Shenya’s explanations, we might’ve been fooled. Now though…"

The well-mannered Wan Yangyu simply shook his head, refraining from mockery.

His restraint didn’t extend to all companions.

Cai Tian in particular burned with resentment – having been rejected by both Chu Lingluo and Yan Yunyu, now watching them flank Mu Lin. Previously kept in check by Wan Yangyu’s authority, his malice finally found an outlet.

But now, he felt this presented an excellent opportunity.

While his instructor Qi Qiu remained cautious, Cai Tian rushed over shouting, "Teacher, you’ve been deceived! This man isn’t any genius – he’s merely trash with Level 3 Spiritual Roots!"

"Hmm?!!"

The declaration left Qi Qiu dumbfounded, his gaze turning to Dongfang Ya in bewilderment.

Truthfully, he understood Dongfang Ya might employ tricks to salvage her reputation.

Yet he couldn’t fathom why she’d use such easily exposed tactics.

‘At least use someone with Level 2 Spiritual Roots to play the prodigy…’

As Qi Qiu hesitated, Cai Tian first glared at Mu Lin, then sneered at the two girls beside him.

"Ha! I thought you were noble and discerning, yet you blindly favor this worthless trash."

"Your rejection now seems fortunate – foolish women lacking basic judgment…"

Humiliated like a stray dog by Chu Lingluo and Yan Yunyu’s earlier refusal, Cai Tian seized this chance for vengeance through harsh mockery.

His tirade abruptly halted.

His eyes met Mu Lin’s gaze.

Their locked stares froze Cai Tian’s heartbeat mid-thump, his body rigid as stone.

He became an ant gazing at mountain peaks, a mouse cowering before primordial beasts.

Mu Lin now appeared divinely majestic – untouchable and awe-inspiring.

Cai Tian shriveled in insignificance, guilt surging through him.

Those penetrating eyes laid bare every secret, every past misdeed flashing before him.

Anxiety bred weakness as Mu Lin’s stare intensified. Cold sweat drenched the Qi Practitioner’s face, his pallor deathly white.

Merely meeting that gaze nearly drove Cai Tian to his knees.

Such was the City God’s authority.

Ancient officials commanded fearful reverence from commoners. Though Cai Tian practiced Qi cultivation, the City God stood above mortal magistrates – a territorial guardian deity.

This underworld judge’s purpose wasn’t rewarding virtue, but punishing wickedness.

How should evil be handled?

The underworld answered with greater cruelty – endless torments in the Eighteen Layers of Hell.

Tongue Extraction. Ice Mountains. Copper Pillars. Boiling Oil. The Hell of No Escape.

Through ruthless suppression of evil spirits and ghosts, the Yin Court’s City Gods naturally exuded terrifying majesty.

Though Mu Lin’s position as City God lacked imperial recognition, mortal acknowledgment made his authority genuine.

Limited in physical manifestation, his power still leaked through – especially through eyes reflecting his Mind Image world where the City God Realm dwelled.

Moreover, their spiritual cultivation differed catastrophically.

Mu Lin’s Heart Lamp of Will and Mind Image · Heavenly Burial · City God Realm elevated his soul cultivation to Spirit Pool perfection – rivaling Spirit Sea Realm experts through dual sky-grade techniques.

Cai Tian languished two major realms below in the Awakened Realm for both spirit and magical cultivation. Overpowering him proved effortless.

Though already crumbling under divine pressure, Mu Lin pressed further.

"You claim Level 3 Spiritual Roots denote trash?"

"C-crack…"

The trembling youth couldn’t form words.

Mu Lin snorted coldly, his heart’s City God roaring through the mental connection.

"Speak!"

"Y-yes."

Compulsion forced compliance – another aspect of the City God’s dominion.