Chapter 118

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Chapter 118: Facing the Spirit Pool

The old man hiding in the shadows grew horrified when his body began decaying shortly after the second hallucination.

His weakened flesh couldn’t withstand the corrosive magic energy. Even motionless, his body kept rotting.

What chilled him deeper was the realization that this weakness… was permanent.

The curse meant his body would keep deteriorating endlessly. Precious spirit herbs could only delay the erosion, not stop it.

This explained the dread of curse techniques – why cursed victims in legends remained feeble for years.

His failing body terrified him, but worse came the dreadful thought: if two hallucinations occurred… a third would follow!

"After the first nail hallucination, my mind weakened. The dizziness made controlling evil ghosts harder."

"The second hallucination ruined my body’s ability to contain magic."

"What will the third do to me?"

"Will the fourth or fifth kill me outright?"

This panic finally forced the old man to act.

He now clearly understood – in Spring Fountain City, he was the one running out of time, not Mu Lin.

He needed to strike first.

"No more waiting."

The old man urgently contacted his nephew Zhuang Zhan: "Find Mu Lin’s location now!"

Zhuang Zhan protested: "Uncle, rushing will make mistakes! Mu Lin’s already suspicious of-"

The old man would normally agree, but death’s approach changed everything. A demon cultivator who devoured lives cared little about nephews – sons could be replaced, but his own survival mattered most.

"This isn’t a request. Obey!"

"Uncle, please-"

The old man activated secret techniques, making Zhuang Zhan scream in agony. A cold voice followed:

"Lure out Mu Lin’s true form. Succeed and live. Fail and die."

"…Yes."

With his Life and Death controlled, the tortured Zhuang Zhan obeyed.

Soon he reached Spring Fountain Tavern, finding Mu Lin gazing calmly through a window.

After steadying himself, Zhuang Zhan approached with flattery: "Lord Mu Lin."

"What?"

"Your earlier display capturing evil ghosts was remarkable… but drew the mastermind’s attention. Might you require our protection?"

"Sure."

"Eh?"

Zhuang Zhan froze at this response, then felt a surge of joy in his heart.

But before he could show his delight, Mu Lin continued speaking.

"Have the soldiers surround the tavern."

"…My lord, your true body isn’t here. Surrounding this place is pointless…"

"Who says this isn’t my true body?"

"…"

Zhuang Zhan nearly blurted out that any thinking person could tell this wasn’t Mu Lin’s real form. He swallowed his disrespectful thoughts and said politely, "My lord jokes. Protecting your true form is more crucial. That mastermind schemes endlessly…"

Mu Lin cut him off with a tired headshake. "You’re too hasty. Your aim shines through like daylight… Not that I blame you. The truly desperate one is that mastermind. His situation must be dire indeed."

Before Zhuang Zhan could reply, Wan Yangyu sighed nearby. He’d noticed Zhuang Zhan’s odd behavior – not because Zhuang Zhan was stupid, but as Mu Lin said, haste breeds mistakes. When Zhuang Zhan kept pressing about the true form, Wan Yangyu immediately sensed something wrong.

What struck Wan Yangyu was the reason behind this urgency.

"Truthfully, Brother Mu," he said, "when you mentioned aiming for top three earlier, I doubted you. Thought it was arrogance. Now I’m convinced you might actually take third place."

Having led a team through the Tower of Illusions’ Fifth Floor, he knew how terrifying those Spirit Pool Realm monsters and evil spirits were. Their cultivation crushed ours. The maze-like terrain hid ambushes everywhere. Without family treasures and Taoist Palace artifacts, we’d have died instantly.

Even then, we needed numbers to wear down the Fifth Floor’s guardian. So many fell that we barely earned a ‘Decent’ rating.

Yet Mu Lin? He’d been drinking tea at Spring Fountain Tavern since entering the tower. Only struck once. But that single move cornered the monsters completely.

When Zhuang Zhan risked exposure to find Mu Lin’s true body, Wan Yangyu understood – Spring Fountain City’s mastermind was panicking. Only life-threatening desperation would make them burn a valuable spy like Zhuang Zhan.

‘Spring Fountain should lose to Spirit Pool. Yet Mu Lin flipped everything. One strike drove Spirit Pool monsters mad. How strong is he?’

Awe. Shock. And… quiet relief. Wan Yangyu felt deeply grateful they weren’t enemies.

His eyes shifted to Cai Tian. A new determination formed. ‘Must discuss Cai Tian with Teacher Qi Qiu…’

Meanwhile, the exposed Zhuang Zhan snarled, face twisting: "Damn that old bastard! If he hadn’t kept rushing me, I’d never have slipped up!"

“And you, you bastard, why couldn’t you just ignore those worthless peasants…”

“Bastards! All of you bastards—drop dead!”

Exposed, Zhuang Zhan shed all pretense, descending into madness.

“Swish!”

He thrust his spear toward Mu Lin, intent on killing him.

Yet after taking just one step, his body stiffened mid-lunge.

Blood suddenly sprayed from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.

“Hss… M-my heart…”

“H-how… when…?”

He couldn’t grasp when Mu Lin had struck him.

Wan Yangyu, however, felt bittersweet relief, tears pricking his eyes.

*Finally—we’re not the only ones suffering!*

That incomprehensible attack had shattered his mindset, leaving him numb with dread. But watching others endure the same confusion? That brought twisted satisfaction.

While Wan Yangyu rejoiced, Mu Lin frowned.

“Still breathing.”

Beneath Spring Fountain City, inside the Yin Spirit Coffin, Mu Lin studied the paper figure in his hand—an exact replica of Zhuang Zhan, bearing his true name. A coffin nail pierced its chest.

Through their linked fates, Zhuang Zhan’s heart should’ve ruptured. Yet a warrior’s vitality—an extraordinary force—had resisted the curse’s full power. Worse, warriors’ rugged bodies clung stubbornly to life even with fatal wounds.

Mu Lin sighed.

“High-level foes won’t die from simple curses. Lucky he’s weaker than Spring Fountain City’s mastermind.”

Shifting focus back to the tavern, Mu Lin blew on two paper figures. They transformed into Yin soldiers clad in black uniforms, advancing toward the wounded Zhuang Zhan.

As they moved, Mu Lin glanced out the window.

“Now… make your move.”

He was right.

Seeing Zhuang Zhan’s failure, the lurking elder attacked in Rage.

“Crash!”

The floor exploded as a shadowy figure lunged tiger-like into the tavern, claws outstretched toward Mu Lin.

Mu Lin didn’t hesitate.

“Swish!”

A blood-stained paper sword was summoned by Mu Lin, slicing toward the old man.

At the same time, he reached into his robe again to pull out paper figures.

But this action did not succeed… Soon Mu Lin understood the might of a Spirit Pool Realm demon.

“ROAR!”

The seemingly frail old man unleashed a thunderous bellow against Mu Lin’s assault.

The roar resembled both a tiger’s growl and a thunderclap.

Its ferocious sound carried an overwhelming force of will.

Under the sonic onslaught, Mu Lin’s paper sword fluttered away like ordinary paper.

Beside him, Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo stood frozen, their eyes glazed and spirits shaken.

Mu Lin… remained unharmed. Though the thunderous roar could shatter souls, his resilient spirit, City God status acknowledged by humanity, and Trait of Transcendence rendered him immune.

Yet the old man possessed more than just a deafening roar – his monstrous strength and speed proved overwhelming.

When Mu Lin grabbed the knocked-away blood sword and swung again, his clumsy martial skills allowed the old man to easily dodge. The wrinkled hand shot forward, clamping around Mu Lin’s throat.

“What did you do to me…”

No answer came.

Even with his windpipe crushed, Mu Lin smiled.

“Heh. Impatience serves no purpose here…”

“BASTARD!”

Enraged by the mockery, the old man tore off Mu Lin’s arm.

The severed limb instantly disintegrated into shredded paper.

This spectacle deepened the old man’s fury.

“Cough… Hack…”

Violent coughing wracked him, flecks of blood spraying from his lips. Since Mu Lin had sealed his Thief Swallower spirit among the Seven Spirits, demonic energy had been corroding his body. Now his rage caused that tainted energy to surge, injuring him from within.

Mu Lin’s grin widened.

“See? I warned against haste.”

“Little brat…”

The mocking tone stoked the old man’s anger further. Though he tried containing his rage, three factors made it impossible: the demonic energy poisoning his mind, impending death’s shadow over his head, and most crucially – Mu Lin had already sealed his Corpse Dog soul governing mental clarity.

Without this spirit’s dominion, his exhausted mind could barely control his evil ghosts, let alone restrain his temper.

“Vermin! Only cowards scheme in shadows! Face me properly, Demon Exorcism Division dog!”

“Heh…”

Mu Lin chuckled.

“Me? The villain here? Check your reflection, old fool. I’m the righteous…”

CRACK.

Infuriated by the taunting smile, the old man’s grip crushed Mu Lin’s throat.

The "corpse" dissolved into torn paper scraps. Before the old man could react, a familiar voice spoke beside him:

"Rashness remains your fatal flaw."

The old man and Wan Yangyu whirled toward the voice.

A stranger stood there – with Mu Lin’s voice.

Across the tavern, patrons rose one by one, all fixing the old man with identical eerie stares.