Chapter 16
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Chapter 16: Visualization in Practice, One Mind, Many Uses
Though both were facets of the world, Fengdu was an officially recognized realm, far better than the ominous City of Heaven’s Funeral.
Of course, Mu Lin could only dwell on this in thought for now.
Names held power, but merely uttering one wouldn’t grant him strength.
The City of Heaven’s Funeral truly existed in this world and wielded real influence, which was why cultivation methods named after it could channel a sliver of its terrifying power.
Hell and Fengdu, however, might not even exist.
Even if they did, speaking their names alone wouldn’t summon their power—it required pacts, insights, or other rituals.
“The Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral was likely created by ancient sages who harnessed a fragment of its primal power over centuries.”
“I’m still weak. Altering cultivation methods is beyond my current ability.”
“As a novice, I must follow the path laid by predecessors and learn through exploration.”
【Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral, Level 3 Mastery (1/13600), Features: Solidification, Soul Spirit Manifesting (enhanced cognition, perception, soul possession…), Burial Power (channeling a thread of the City of Heaven’s Funeral’s power via true names)】
After reviewing the proficiency panel, Mu Lin proceeded with his training.
Yet bitterness lingered—to advance to Level 4 Master, he needed constant exposure to the City of Heaven’s Funeral’s power.
“Mastering the Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral involves two tasks: expanding its structure by crafting more buildings, tools, humans, and Flying Cranes until a bustling street emerges, and absorbing its sinister energy to elevate its rank.”
“Without absorbing that energy, my Mind Image would cap at Xuan-level quality.”
The Earth-level ranked second among Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang tiers. Even Taoist Palaces backed by royalty and powerful clans only offered low Earth-level methods in their Scripture Pavilions during this wartime resource surge. Top-tier Earth-level techniques were exceedingly rare and potent.
“To reach top-tier Earth-level, I must absorb the City of Heaven’s Funeral’s power and comprehend its strange forces. Only then will the Mind Image live up to its Earth-level reputation.”
Avoiding the power meant safety but limited growth. Embracing it risked danger yet promised greater strength.
Mu Lin chose the latter without hesitation.
He had no choice. The royal family and clans were no benefactors—their resources came with a price: frontline combat against evil spirits and horrors in three years. Without power, he’d perish within months.
“Drawing the City’s power might kill me someday, but the Yin Eight Sect’s Paper Folding Secret Manual has endured millennia. Some of its practitioners survived. Avoiding the power, though, guarantees danger in three years.”
A distant death versus imminent peril—Mu Lin’s decision was obvious.
With his resolve firm, he began visualizing horses.
"First, let’s construct the horses, paper cranes, and humans. We’ll connect with the City of Heaven’s Funeral’s power last."
Visualizing horses suddenly became vastly more difficult.
Unlike motionless swords, armor, houses or coffins, horses required more than static images – Mu Lin had to imagine their running movements. Transitioning from stillness to motion resembled the leap between 2D sketches and 3D animations.
Ordinary cultivators typically solved this by observing real horses over time. Mu Lin brute-forced his visualization instead. Memories from his past life and enhanced mental strength from his awakened spirit let him recreate a horse’s galloping motion after dozens of attempts – though the result remained stiff.
Notably, Mu Lin didn’t visualize just one creature. His multitasking mind allowed simultaneous visualization of four objects: a lantern, paper crane, horse, and snake.
"Lanterns light the way, cranes carry messages, horses bear riders. Visualizing the Black Water Mystic Serpent should help my Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique."
"But common snakes won’t work… What does the Mystic Serpent actually look like? Can’t just imagine it blindly."
"I’ll ask Zong Xiu after training. He knows these things…"
Mu Lin sank deeper into Mind Image visualization as his mental strength kept rising. Previously lasting half an incense stick’s time, he now maintained four simultaneous visualizations for two full incense burns. This endurance let him solidify lanterns beneath his cottage eaves – twin lanterns flanked the doorway now. He even added a boat through persistent effort.
This progress brought frustration. At Level 2, each solidified object gave 100 proficiency points – eight objects maxed 800. Now, solidifying the lantern only gave one point.
"To reach Master Level, must I visualize thirteen thousand six hundred things?" He shook his head immediately. "Reaching Level 3 requires Burial Power contact. Ordinary objects won’t suffice."
Though managing basic visualizations for crane, horse, and snake, their required motions – flying, running, slithering – prevented proper solidification.
"Normal cultivators hit bottlenecks here. They’d need field observations and enlightenment. Not me." Mu Lin tapped his temple. "With my proficiency panel, I’ll grind until they stick."
Pe551
Thanks for the chapter!(・∀・)