Chapter 120
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Chapter 120: Spirit Pool Realm, Death! (Please Subscribe)
As the little girl declared her judgment, and since the black-robed old man was truly guilty, streams of special force converged from the air and pressed down on him.
Under this power’s influence, the old man felt every wicked deed he’d ever committed surge from his heart, tormenting his conscience.
But such torment meant nothing to him.
“I’ve done no wrong. What’s the harm in killing? Eating a few people? Those lowborn wretches should count themselves blessed to be of use to me…”
Though the mental torment failed, the weight of sin altered his very nature, marking him as an evil sinner condemned by human morality.
Had Mu Lin’s City God Realm been fully deployed, imposing humanity’s order upon the land, the old man would’ve been rejected by heaven and earth, crushed by their wrath.
Now, while heaven and earth didn’t reject him, the sinner’s mark made him vulnerable to Mu Lin’s Yin soldiers, ghost officials, and civil and military judges.
Every strike from the Yin soldiers’ swords or ghost officials’ chains now wounded him, forcing him to endure the Sentence of a Thousand Cuts and the tortures of Copper Pillars and fiery oil.
The little girl wasn’t done. With a hum, her judgment merged with illusory power—blades materialized by the hundreds to skewer him, flames erupted to engulf him, while Copper Pillars and cauldrons of boiling oil manifested around him. Every hellish punishment came at her call.
Overwhelmed yet furious, the old man found worse torment: the sinner’s mark amplified all injuries. Pain from blades and flames now burned seven to nine times fiercer than normal.
“Filth! I’ll slaughter you!”
Maddened, he fixed his rage on the true culprit—Mu Lin.
Ignoring the onslaught, he bulldozed through attacks toward Mu Lin.
“RAAH!”
“CRASH!”
“SHRIEK!”
“DIE!”
The Spirit Pool Realm’s might proved terrifying. Even encircled by a hundred Yin soldiers and ghost officials, even with “frequent dizziness” and “continuous bleeding” weakening him, he battered through all defenses to reach Mu Lin.
“Perish!”
Hatred fueled his final lunge as he clawed at Mu Lin’s skull.
“CRUNCH!”
He struck true—Mu Lin’s head shattered under his talons.
“Victory is…”
The triumph died in his throat as Mu Lin’s body dissolved into scattered paper scraps.
Across the battlefield, Mu Lin reappeared unharmed.
The black-robed old man’s resolve crumbled. He couldn’t tell if this Mu Lin was real—just as he’d never known during their first clash. Back then, he’d gambled everything on that desperate charge.
Fleeing was pointless against a curse master like Mu Lin—it’d only delay death. Fighting head-on had failed too: his evil spirits broke before Mu Lin’s forces, while the civil and military judges proved unkillable.
Worst of all, whenever a Yin soldier fell, fresh paper figures crawled from the earth’s cracks to replace them.
Cornered in such a hopeless situation, the black-robed old man had no choice but to charge at Mu Lin, hoping to end it all in one strike.
The failure of this assault left the old man in utter despair.
“This can’t be!”
“How are you this strong? You’re at the Spring Fountain realm! Why does your magic power dwarf mine?”
“How can your curse technique harm me?”
“And why are your evil ghosts superior to mine?”
The desperate old man spouted endless complaints.
To this, Mu Lin silently thought:
_Because my Heavenly Technique cultivation methods exist. Because I’ve trained both curse techniques and Substitute Paper Figure to master-level._
_With Heavenly Techniques, master-level skills, and slight aid from my proficiency panel – if I couldn’t crush you, why bother cultivating at all?_
He kept these thoughts to himself, calmly watching from afar as Yin soldiers and ghost officials surrounded the old man, observing his desperate struggle against the civil and military judges.
“Rumble…”
Like a cornered beast, the dying man attacked wildly. His strikes shattered the ground and tore the air with explosive howls.
But without locating Mu Lin’s true body, his efforts proved useless.
The Soul Binding Chains proved too formidable – Mu Lin’s Yin soldiers and ghost officials suffered few losses. Countless chains ensnared both flesh and spirit, while dozens of Yin officials prevented the old man from focusing on the ghost soldiers.
The final blow came from another coffin nail.
“Thunk!”
No longer aiming for spirit points, Mu Lin struck directly at the heart now that the old man’s defenses had crumbled. The nail pierced clean through the weakened organ.
Already battered beyond recovery, the old man collapsed.
“Freak…”
His death marked the Tower of Illusions’ Fifth Floor conclusion.
Yet the aftermath of Mu Lin’s dominance kept stirring the crowd.
“He actually died like that?”
“Total suppression from beginning to end.”
“Zong Xiu! You’re certain the Fifth Floor monster’s at Spirit Pool Realm?”
“Undoubtedly! Did you see that battle? What Spring Fountain cultivator could withstand such power?”
“Not me – I couldn’t survive its roar alone. This makes no sense! The monster failed at scheming yet still lost in direct combat. Who’s the real Spirit Pool cultivator here?”
Zong Xiu had no answers. Bewildered by Mu Lin’s might, he could only echo the black-robed elder’s defeated sigh.
“Monster… Our Anping Taoist Palace has truly birthed a Potential Dragon this time…”
Those around heard his words, yet none dared mock him. Mu Lin’s power shown in the projection had completely subdued them.
It wasn’t just Mu Lin’s classmates who were convinced. When Wan Yangyu from Qianyang Taoist Palace saw Qi Qiu, he promptly bowed and apologized.
“Forgive us, Teacher. We’ve been defeated.”
Hearing this, Qi Qiu did not get angry or disappointed. Instead, he reassured them: “Don’t lose heart. Losing to such a monster brings no shame.”
As his words faded, Mu Lin emerged in a flash of white light.
His appearance marked the official end of the trial.
Simultaneously, the Hidden Dragon Rankings beside the Tower of Illusions buzzed and abruptly shifted.
Mu Lin’s name reappeared on the list and began climbing at startling speed—93rd, 85th, 76th, 51st… Like a flying sword piercing through clouds, his name streaked upward until settling at 43rd place.
Seeing this rank, Qi Qiu released a heavier sigh before turning to Wan Yangyu. “43rd. There’s no shame in your loss.”
…
While Qianyang Taoist Palace’s members lamented, Dongfang Ya was in a completely different mood. Witnessing her prized student excel filled her with pride—she who cherished nurturing youth now brimmed with fulfillment.
Her overflowing joy, combined with the frustration she’d felt days prior, drove Dongfang Ya to gloat at Qi Qiu.
“Heehee, not bad for my student, eh? Now whose teaching philosophy stands proven?”
“…Yours does.”
Qi Qiu’s admission amplified Dongfang Ya’s delight.
Yet her triumph swiftly twisted into outrage when Qi Qiu strode toward Mu Lin the moment he appeared.
He came not to confront or reprimand—but to recruit.
“Student Mu Lin. Have you considered transferring to Qianyang Taoist Palace?”
“???”
The blunt offer left Mu Lin speechless.
Seizing the pause, Qi Qiu pressed on: “Join us, and I vow you’ll receive our palace’s finest training and utmost respect. Triple whatever resources Anping offers! No—quadruple!”
“Moreover, our Mountain Elder’s daughter studies here. If you’ve got the charm…”
“Qi Qiu!”
Dongfang Ya nearly erupted at this brazen poaching attempt.
Unfazed, Qi Qiu spread his hands. “Teacher Dongfang, why the anger? Don’t you champion students’ freedom to choose? I’m merely expanding Mu Lin’s options.”
“Besides, rumors say you weren’t giving Mu Lin any attention before.”
Dongfang Ya bristled. “Would your palace have valued him with Level 3 Spiritual Roots before his display?”
“…But we value him now.”
“We value him deeply too.”
Having said this, Dongfang Ya turned to Mu Lin. To his surprise, she maintained her principles despite the risk—issuing no commands, only advice:
“You’ve excelled today. I’ll report your achievements to our Mountain Elder and request rewards for you.”
She hesitated, then added quietly: “Even if you depart… hear what resources he offers first.”
