Chapter 165
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Chapter 165: Dealing with Mu Lin? No, We Need to Flatter Him
"Buy if you want, or scram!" Such a terrible attitude was certainly improper, especially for a merchant.
But Yan Yunyu’s true intention wasn’t to sell the True Meaning Diagram of doppelgänger cultivation. If it remained unsold, she’d be delighted.
With this mindset, her rude behavior seemed perfectly reasonable.
Mu Lin did not stop her.
He wasn’t some heroic figure aiming to nurture countless powerful beings to rival him. Sharing the Clone Cultivation Method was merely a tactic to reduce his troubles.
Once the True Meaning Diagram appeared, Mu Lin’s problems would lessen, and the public’s scrutiny would shift elsewhere.
As for profit… Though counterintuitive, cheaper goods aren’t always easier to sell.
The belief that "cheap means inferior" and "expensive equals quality" had taken root in people’s minds.
—A steep price would convince others his technique was genuine and potent, spurring demand.
While musing, Mu Lin said to Yan Yunyu, “I know little about commerce. I’ll entrust the sale of the True Meaning Diagram to you.”
Hearing this, Yan Yunyu beamed and vowed:
“Rest assured, Brother Mu. I’ll ensure your True Meaning Diagram of clone cultivation fetches a price matching its worth.”
She then added with a feigned smile, “Remember, scarcity breeds value. We should limit the diagrams—only one should exist at a time. Release a new one every three months after the previous is used up…”
…
Yan Yunyu had clearly schemed to hoard the True Meaning Diagram within her circle.
Beyond inflating prices, she aimed to restrict supply, minimizing others’ chances to master clone cultivation.
Flower Xingyu and Lin Qi twitched their lips upon realizing her ploy.
Yet they couldn’t argue. Backed by the Yan family’s noble ladies and Mu Lin’s esteemed status, she wasn’t someone to provoke.
When negotiations failed, the two left to gather funds—Flower Xingyu from his affluent clan, Lin Qi through loans.
Lin Qi sought his captain, Yuance, but found only Pure Yang Team members training.
“Where’s Captain Yuance?” he asked.
“Summoned by Mountain Elder,” a teammate replied before grinning. “So, Brother Lin—did you scout that arrogant Mu Lin? Can we crush him without our captain’s help?”
Their usual contempt for outer court students fueled this confidence.
Lin Qi would’ve once agreed.
But after witnessing Mu Lin’s dominance in the Thunder Pool and his fearless generosity, doubt crept in.
For the powerful being Mu Lin, Lin Qi felt respect and awe. When he heard others belittling Mu Lin again, his brow furrowed deeply.
"Show proper respect to Mu Lin. That man isn’t weak."
“?!!”
Lin Qi’s words left the others in the room stunned.
“Respect? That guy? Lin Qi, have you lost your mind?”
Some thought Lin Qi had gone mad, while others wondered what caused his sudden change.
Lin Qi didn’t explain immediately, stating instead:
"We’ll discuss this after the captain returns."
His words silenced the group, though their confusion only grew with time.
Just as their bewilderment peaked, Yuance strode in with a furrowed brow. The tense atmosphere in the training area deepened his scowl.
"What’s going on?"
"Lin Qi gathered intel on Mu Lin, but now he’s practically worshipping the guy," answered a lively youth spinning a throwing knife.
Lin Qi shook his head. "Not worship—respect. Respect for strength itself, not just the man."
The knife-thrower snorted. "Calling Mu Lin a ‘powerful being’? Admit you’re starstruck! Captain, he’s clearly turned traitor. Next he’ll say we can’t beat Mu Lin and should surrender!"
To everyone’s surprise, Lin Qi nodded. "I do advise befriending Mu Lin rather than fighting him. Not because I’m bribed—because we’d lose."
"Befriend him? You’re insane!"
Even Yuance looked doubtful now. After studying Lin Qi intently, golden light erupted from the captain’s palm, bathing Lin Qi in pure yang energy.
"I’m not bewitched," Lin Qi said wearily under the warm glow. "Mu Lin wouldn’t attack students at Yuhu Academy."
"Then why oppose confronting him?"
"Because he’s strong enough to crush us."
Before more questions came, Lin Qi revealed: "When I toured him through the Taoist Palace, he reached 72 meters in the Radiance of Thunder Pool."
"Impossible!" The knife-thrower gaped.
Yuance’s eyes narrowed. "Mu Lin practices paper magic—a shadow art weak against thunder. Reaching 72 meters would require Spirit Sea mastery at minimum…"
"The Taoist Palace’s records are wrong," Lin Qi countered. "Mu Lin’s from the Paper Folding Lineage, but he’s also mastered the Dragon Transformation body technique. That’s how he achieved 72 meters."
He added: "Flower Xingyu from Yan Zhanpeng’s group and others witnessed it. His name’s carved on the Thunder Pool’s stone tablet—check yourself if you doubt me."
"…You wouldn’t lie about verifiable facts."
While some accepted this, others still struggled to believe.
"How is that possible? Outer disciples don’t have Time Chambers, Qi Pools, or Radiance of Thunder Pools to adapt step by step. How could he reach 72 meters in one go?"
"Exactly! Are the Taoist Palace mentors lying? The gap between our Taoist Palace and others can’t be so small!"
This perplexed feeling wasn’t limited to the throwing knife youth – Yuance and others also burned with confusion.
As they struggled to understand, Lin Qi spoke again.
"I know why Mu Lin’s power grew so rapidly. That’s why I advised our team not to provoke him, but to curry favor instead."
Yuance demanded, "What reason? And did you actually say ‘curry favor’?"
Lin Qi answered, "Yes, curry favor. I’ll explain, but Captain… since I’ve contributed this intel, could you lend me three thousand Spirit Stones?"
"Three thousand? Fine. But this information better be rock-solid."
"Reliable as sunrise. I witnessed it myself."
Lin Qi suppressed his excitement before continuing reverently, "True, Mu Lin’s from the outer academy with inferior training conditions."
"But first, his comprehension’s monstrous. Second, two noble ladies supply endless resources, keeping his training speed high."
"Even so, he’d just be exceptional, not extraordinary. His real edge is the Substitute Paper Figure technique!"
"Substitute Paper Figure?"
A cultured female voice interjected. The intellectual-looking woman frowned, "That Paper Folding Lineage technique allows substitution, but how’s it related to cultivation?"
Lin Qi explained, "Normally it isn’t. But Mu Lin mastered it to master-level and unlocked a new power – clone cultivation. Six paper clones train alongside him, then merge their cultivated qi and insights…"
*Hssss*
Sharp inhales echoed before he finished. Even steady Yuance’s fists clenched white-knuckled.
Sevenfold efficiency counting himself – what Qi Practitioner wouldn’t tremble? All doubts about Mu Lin’s prowess vanished.
"Clone cultivation?! Damn right he’s strong! Give me that power and I’d dominate too…"
"Sixfold?! How’s this blasphemous skill allowed…"
Envious eyes glinted red around the room.
As they scratched their heads in jealousy, Lin Qi detonated another shocker:
"You miscalculated. Mu Lin’s current training speed isn’t sixfold – it’s thirtyfold."
"Eh?"
"WHAT?!"
