Chapter 131
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Chapter 131: Starry Paper Figures
"Your name’s Mu Lin? Level 3 Spiritual Roots?"
"Yes."
"Honestly curious – how’d the Taoist Palace justify pouring so many resources into someone with third-grade roots? Even more baffling – how you remade yourself so thoroughly in such short time."
Mu Lin tensed slightly, but Master Meng Rui continued, "Not my business though. Curiosity stays leashed. Here’s the jade slip for Polar Violet Formation."
"Gratitude, Master."
Mu Lin clutched the slip, ready to leave. The master’s next words froze him mid-turn, conjuring images of swindling merchants.
"Leaving so soon? Not wise…if you want quick mastery of Polar Violet."
Noticing the odd look on Mu Lin’s face, she blew smoke sideways. "Formation’s clean. Taoist Palace-backed, remember? I’m still your nominal master – wouldn’t sabotage apprentices."
Mu Lin bowed deeply. "This disciple wronged you with petty suspicions. Master’s guidance about swift mastery…?"
"To bond with the Seven Stars, you need celestial connection. Vast heavens mock mortal efforts. Mere meditation won’t channel Big Dipper’s power quickly."
She tapped ash from her pipe. "From your questions, I gather you want paper figures as formation anchors instead of humans."
Her lips curved. "Puppetry’s my specialty. Paper figures count. I can alter their attributes using star-aligned materials and talisman formations – make them naturally resonate with the Dipper."
Silence hung.
Mu Lin’s pulse quickened.
True master indeed! Her method bypassed the hardest step. Polar Violet Formation could leap to Level 2 Proficiency…maybe even Level 3 Mastery!
This formation wasn’t for battle. It boosted magical cultivation – his primary focus. Any shortcut mattered.
"What price for modifying the figures?"
Her answer made his vision swim.
"Not just crafting – designing. No existing star-linked paper puppets. Mine won’t just connect – they’ll amplify cultivation effects too. Fair price."
Mu Lin swallowed. She wasn’t wrong. But…
Yan Yunyu’s entire resource shares might cover it. But then no Essence Stones. No Moonlight Essence. The Three Yuan Heavy Water orders already drained funds. Current cultivation could barely handle three heavy water units anyway…
Brilliant solution. Empty purse.
As Mu Lin prepared to give up with a bitter smile, he suddenly thought of something that made his eyes light up.
"Master, I heard you’re organizing an assessment at the Taoist Palace?"
Hearing this, Master Meng Rui raised an eyebrow while half-lying on her bed.
"You want to make this request after winning first place?"
Mu Lin: "Not allowed?"
"Allowed."
Nodding, Master Meng Rui said calmly, "You paid tuition like my other students. If you win, I’ll naturally guide you."
"However, my expertise is puppetry. You must use paper figures for the contest, and only match opponents with equal numbers."
This made Mu Lin freeze with a strange expression.
His odd look came not from restrictions, but their lack of severity.
"That’s all? No limits on my secret techniques?"
"Use any paper figure-related techniques you want, just don’t attack classmates directly."
A flash of pride and irritation showed in Meng Rui’s eyes.
"Pah! What made you disrespect puppetry so… If your crude paper dolls beat my puppets, I’ll not only advise you but gift you Flowers and Butterflies too!"
Clearly, Master Meng Rui trusted her puppetry completely.
Truthfully, paper figures couldn’t match puppets in equal numbers.
Inferior materials, weaker magic, poorer cores… With such overwhelming advantages, Meng Rui couldn’t imagine losing.
Her bold statement came from another confidence too – she had a hidden ace.
‘That natural-born Puppet Master student will defeat you even if you cheat.’
‘Want my star-linking paper figure designs? Better save up Spirit Stones.’
…
After making this agreement, Mu Lin returned to the Taoist Palace with the Polar Violet Formation diagram.
Back in his small courtyard, he immediately tried cultivating the formation – succeeding without modifying paper figures would be ideal.
But as expected, progress proved difficult.
Connecting seven paper figures’ spiritual energy was easy, but linking to the Big Dipper stars stumped him.
He stared skyward for hours without sensing anything.
"Still not working… Wait, my cultivation methods improved +1."
Knowing the Big Dipper’s shape and position, combined with the proficiency panel’s help, brought minor progress through meditation.
The proficiency panel never failed him.
While his training speed wasn’t slow compared to others – being ten times faster than average – it felt sluggish compared to his own achievements.
When practicing the Sky Wall Palace Formation, he’d reached Level 2 in one incense burn, Level 3 overnight. A few more days might bring Level 4, letting the Heavenly Wall Palace manifest properly instead of collapsing when Yin soldiers got chaotic.
Faced with such rapid progress elsewhere, Mu Lin refused to grind slowly on the Polar Violet Formation. Especially when a shortcut existed.
"I’ll take first place in Master Meng Rui’s puppetry exam."
"Need preparations. My paper army’s strength is numbers, not individual power. Without adjustments, I’ll likely lose… Got it – Vajra Strength talismans!"
"For a puppet battle, I’ll cover them in talisman formations. Master-level formations granting 9x strength/defense? Let’s see anyone break through then."
Mu Lin threw himself into inscribing Vajra Strength talismans.
"Scratch-scratch-scratch…"
After a day and night of work, another skill leveled up.
This skill was called – Drawing.
