Chapter 116
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Chapter 116: The Cursed Paper Figure Advances to Master Level, Characteristics, Sealing the Seven Spirits!
"Find the culprit? Why should I go looking for him?"
This statement left Wan Yangyu utterly baffled.
"???"
His face full of confusion wasn’t due to self-doubt but rather his belief that Mu Lin had lost his mind.
Yet soon he noticed Mu Lin casting an odd glance his way as he spoke, as though Wan Yangyu were the strange one.
That look, paired with Mu Lin’s usual air of mystery, made Wan Yangyu waver.
Even while certain the problem lay with Mu Lin, he cautiously asked,
"Brother Mu, the culprit is right here in Spring Fountain City. If you don’t track him down, how will you kill him and resolve this?"
Mu Lin smiled coldly.
"Who declared that killing requires meeting face-to-face?"
His gaze drifted to the window as he murmured, "The tables have turned. Now the enemy stands exposed while I remain hidden."
"And it’s not I who must rush to find him – he’s the one racing against time."
"Seven hours. That’s all he has left. If he fails to locate my true form by then, his fate will be sealed."
…
As Mu Lin spoke, the source of Spring Fountain City’s evil spirits stirred elsewhere.
Much like Wan Yangyu, the culprit believed himself concealed while his enemy stood visible, considering Mu Lin no true threat.
Had Mu Lin possessed supernatural sight, he’d have seen the true villain wasn’t lurking in sewers but dwelling in an opulent estate.
A man strode into the compound and bowed to a burly elder. "You summoned me, Uncle."
"That Mu Lin shows both skill and stubbornness. He must be eliminated."
When hesitation met this order, the elder snapped:
"You object?"
"Never, Uncle. But killing him may provoke the Demon Exorcism Division to send stronger Qi Practitioners…"
"Fear not. My cultivation method nears completion. Once mastered, we’ll retreat to Endless Demons Mountain. No Qi Practitioner will touch us there."
The younger man nodded. "Understood. But Mu Lin vanished after entering the city. I’ve no leads."
"I’ve arranged an opportunity. While destroying spirits earlier, I threatened to kill him at midnight. Find him, claim you learned of this plot, and offer ‘protection’ at ten past midnight to pinpoint his location."
"Yes, Uncle."
The subordinate raised his head, revealing the face of Spring Fountain City’s military leader – Zhuang Zhan!
Thus showed the world’s complexity: evil manifests not just through ghosts and monsters, but also in men lower than beasts.
With his status, Zhuang Zhan could secretly harm ordinary Qi Practitioners.
But Mu Lin of the Yin Eight Sect’s paper folders wasn’t ordinary at all.
‘Though not the strongest force after ten thousand years of inheritance, the Yin Eight Sect’s self-preservation methods are maxed out.’
‘Can’t even find me? Let’s see you try to kill me then.’
Soon, the mastermind experienced firsthand the sinister cruelty of the Yin Eight Sect’s paper craftsmen.
After commanding Zhuang Zhan, the shadow-hidden elder snorted.
“Mu Lin, blame yourself. I offered you a chance, but you refused a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Since you court death, I’ll oblige!”
“Those city rats should feel honored to become my life-extending pills. How dare they challenge me over worthless peasants? You all deserve death…”
The elder showed no remorse or fear, his malicious glare accusing the world of betrayal. He deemed Mu Lin a fool chasing death.
Yet as hatred festered in his heart, unexpected danger pricked his senses.
“Who’s there?”
The abrupt threat made him bellow.
Zhuang Zhan jumped at the outburst while preparing to depart.
He scanned the surroundings instinctively, finding nothing.
“Uncle, there’s nobody…”
As both men doubted their senses, a sickening crunch pierced the elder’s ear – like rusty nails stabbing through flesh and bone.
Agony followed.
“Aah!”
The elder screamed, wild eyes darting. Finding no foe, he flung his sleeves, unleashing swarms of evil ghosts and spirits from his shadow to scour the courtyard.
Nothing.
“Uncle! What’s happening?”
Zhuang Zhan pressed urgently, but the elder ignored him. The initial stabbing pain had faded, replaced by persistent throbbing – as if actual rusted spikes were embedded in his skull.
The phantom nails drained his vigor, dragging him toward unconsciousness.
Being wicked himself, the elder recognized the affliction faster than Wan Yangyu ever could.
“A curse! I’ve been cursed!”
“Filthy bastard! You’re from the Demon Exorcism Division! Since when do exorcists command paper figures and hexes? What vile tricks!”
“You’re more crooked than I am, brat!”
The villain’s outrage at Mu Lin’s underhanded tactics proved how thoroughly he’d been outplayed.
While the elder raged, cold dread gripped Zhuang Zhan’s heart.
“Uncle, did Mu Lin uncover your identity?”
“Don’t panic. Even if he did, what can he do? As long as we deny it to the end, we can stall for time. We’ll use that time to kill him. Victory will still be ours!”
“Hiss…”
The elder’s throbbing head and drowsy mind fueled his murderous intent toward Mu Lin.
This urgency seeped into his orders to Zhuang Zhan.
“No more waiting. Find Mu Lin’s real body immediately. We end him now!”
Under the elder’s menacing glare, Zhuang Zhan had no choice but to obey.
……
Through Mu Lin’s schemes, Spring Fountain City’s situation had completely reversed.
Now aware of his precarious position, the elder grew frantic.
Mu Lin, however, remained perfectly calm.
It should be noted his true body wasn’t hiding in any Spring Fountain City building, but deep underground.
From Elder Qin, Mu Lin had replicated three high-grade magic items and one premium magic item.
The advanced Yin Spirit Coffin currently hummed with power, carrying Mu Lin and his two companions through the earth.
“With the Yin Spirit Coffin, my self-preservation skills tripled at least.”
He glanced at the paper figure in his hand. Multiple figures surrounded him – replicas of Wan Yangyu’s group and even the elder himself.
How could Mu Lin create these without meeting them? His Paper Figure Curse had reached Master Level.
This made him recall the premium magic item – Seven Spirits Nails.
“Never thought the Seven Spirits Nails would synergize with the Paper Figure Curse…”
For the past month, Mu Lin had prioritized cultivating the Great Yin Living Scripture to boost his magical cultivation.
Normally, his Paper Figure Curse shouldn’t have advanced to Master Level.
But during closed-door training, his frequent study of Seven Spirits Nails – combined with prior experience and unique visualization talent – allowed him to successfully visualize this premium magic item.
When the Seven Spirits Nails solidified in his Mind Image world, enlightenment struck.
In that lucid state, he unraveled human anatomy secrets, comprehended Seven Spirits composition, and grasped the deep bond between Paper Figure Curse and the Seven Spirits.
“Seven Spirits govern humans… Corpse Dog, Hidden Arrow, Sparrow Yin, Thief Swallower, Non-Toxin, Purge Filth, Stinking Lung…”
“Each manages spirit, energy, and organs – heart, stomach, kidneys, intestines, gallbladder, liver, lungs… Losing half the Three Souls and Seven Spirits brings death’s shadow…”
“Three Souls’ dissipation means soul collapse. Seven Spirits’ damage causes bodily death…”
“Since Paper Figure Curse harms bodies, targeting Seven Spirits should maximize damage…”
The answer proved correct.
This epiphany boosted his Paper Figure Curse to 4th Level Master, granting him Sealing the Seven Spirits – a lethal technique.
By manifesting seven coffin nails through paper figures’ connection to targets, he could pin their Seven Spirits. Seven nails meant instant death. Even one nail caused effects.
The elder’s Corpse Dog-pinned state explained his headaches and lethargy. Prolonged, this alone could drive him mad.
Some might argue: “Why not just stab the paper figure? Pinning spirits only weakens, doesn’t kill.”
But direct physical curses only work on weak foes. Strong demons survive heart piercings and regenerate. Killing via paper figure slashes proves futile.
High-level demons resist curses, while Qi Practitioners wield defenses. Against peers or superiors, paper figure curses can’t fully transfer.
Thus, slashing figures becomes inefficient.
But Seven Spirits strike at life’s core. Once pinned, removal proves nearly impossible. Sealing them cripples combat power.
The spirit-drained elder already struggled casting potent spells. Given time, his weakened mind might lose control over evil ghosts.
“Sealing the Seven Spirits terrifies the powerful… Though simpler methods suffice for Cai Tian or Wan Yangyu.”
