Chapter 174
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Chapter 174: Weakness and Ignorance Are Never Obstacles to Survival; Arrogance Is
Revealing his true form was indeed a proposal that could reduce others’ hostility toward Mu Lin.
After all, young boys, full of youthful longing, often grew jealous of peers their age.
But if Mu Lin appeared as a mere child of eleven or twelve, others would not react the same way.
This approach would also ease the resentment of the young ladies affected by the rumors.
—Not everyone knew their reputations had been damaged due to the feud between Chu Lingluo’s mother and certain noblewomen.
To some of these ladies and their suitors, the earlier rumors seemed likely spread by Mu Lin himself to exploit them.
This belief fueled their rage toward him.
They might resent a sixteen or seventeen-year-old Mu Lin, accusing him of scheming.
But if he were only eleven or twelve, such suspicions would vanish.
Moreover, his youthful appearance would render the recent rumors absurd. The gossip might then shift:
“Did you hear that rumor? The one about eight or nine noble ladies fighting over a husband?”
“I did! Part of me almost believed it.”
“How could anyone trust such nonsense?”
“Stranger things have happened…”
“But they say the boy in question is only eleven.”
“???”
“…Eleven! How did such a ludicrous tale even start?”
Even the most stubborn skeptics would dismiss the rumors upon learning Mu Lin’s true age.
Yet Mu Lin chose not to proceed—he saw no need.
“Ignore them. To rank well in the League Examination, everyone becomes our rival, hostile or not.”
“Since we’ll clash eventually, their opinions of me don’t matter.”
Indifferent, Mu Lin failed to notice the Heart Lamp of Will in his sea of consciousness flare brightly after his decision.
[Heart Lamp of Will Proficiency +331]
The light bathed his spirit, refining it further.
Yet his spiritual demeanor grew colder, tinged with unmistakable arrogance.
Pride, the foremost sin, proved difficult to master.
This emotion could doom not just individuals but entire tribes—for ignorance and weakness are never survival’s barriers; arrogance is.
…
His newfound pride left Mu Lin unbothered by others’ judgments. He waited silently for the competition’s start.
Meanwhile, elders of the Fox Demon and Merfolk tribes delivered final warnings to their fox girls and mermaids:
“Remember: securing top ranks isn’t our goal, nor is it achievable. But complacency is forbidden. Without skill, beauty makes you mere ornaments. The powerful beings among humans will scorn such trifles, and you’ll fail your tribe. Enter the Tower of Illusions and prove your worth—spare no effort.”
“Understood, Elder! We’ll do our best!”
Due to the mutations in the world, many foreign tribes had arrived this time. Besides the Fox Demons, Merfolk, and the Winged People clan from the distant skies, there were also Qi Practitioners from smaller tribes like the One-eyed Tribe, Stone People Tribe, and Tree People Tribe.
However, these tribes were different from the Fox Demons and Winged People.
The latter either aimed to prove their strength to the human race to secure an equal or respected partnership (the Winged People) or had already decided to rely on humans (the Fox tribe). In contrast, the smaller tribes like the One-eyed and Stone People, who dwelled in remote wilderness, were indecisive.
They wanted to cooperate but feared humans might collapse too fast to help them, or even drag them down. Unable to decide, they chose to wait and observe.
They would judge the human youths’ strength and potential through this assessment. If humans showed weakness during crises, these tribes would cut ties or take advantage when humans fell. If humans proved strong, they’d cooperate as before.
With this mindset, the foreign tribes sent many of their own prodigies to test humanity’s power.
Meanwhile, the foreign tribes’ attitudes and gathered intelligence made Yuzhou’s leaders take this assessment seriously. They had no choice—though the human race was strong, they couldn’t ignore other tribes. Moreover, the Great Spirit Dynasty was already facing calamities. If their subordinate tribes rebelled now, even humans would suffer heavy losses. Thus, Yuzhou’s leaders wanted to pacify these tribes.
“Foreign tribes fear power, not kindness. We must crush them until they realize humans can still destroy them easily, even in disaster. Only then will they submit!”
With this goal, Yuzhou’s leaders hoped human prodigies would utterly defeat the foreign geniuses in this assessment, breaking their spirits. This directive was clearly passed to Yuhu Academy’s Mountain Elder.
Naturally, he only informed Yuhu Academy’s own prodigies. To him, weakness and ignorance weren’t threats—arrogance was. This belief wasn’t unique to Mu Lin, who cultivated the Heart Lamp of Will; Mountain Elder shared it. He believed only his students mattered.
Despite the elder guarding the Radiance of Thunder Pool reporting Mu Lin’s power, Mountain Elder didn’t change his mind. He considered recruiting Mu Lin but refused to use resources as bait:
“Resources alone won’t lure Mu Lin. Our Yuhu Academy has plenty, but we need them for many geniuses. Anping Taoist Palace and Longyou Taoist Palace have fewer resources but also fewer talents—they can focus on individuals. Trying to outbid them is foolish.”
“Instead, we should attract talents through our students. Dragons don’t mingle with snakes. If our students shine brightly and we promote how competition among geniuses breeds growth, ambitious talents like Mu Lin will come willingly.”
The Thunder Pool elder disagreed. Remembering Mu Lin’s noble rank and his Body of a Dragon’s potential to become a true dragon, he argued:
“Mountain Elder, your plan works for ordinary talents, but Mu Lin is different! His talent rivals Blood Cherry’s—maybe surpasses it. He alone could threaten Yuhu Academy’s supremacy in the Southeast Province!”
Deputy Mountain Elder Ji Guan scoffed: “How? Can one man shake an academy backed by the Yuqing Sect? Ridiculous! You’re just desperate for a disciple to inherit your Thunder Pool legacy. Training there only strengthens the body—it doesn’t define true talent.”
Mountain Elder nodded: “Yuhu Academy’s status can’t be toppled by one person. Even if Mu Lin is exceptional, we can recruit him later. No rush.”
Elder Huo, red-eyed with rage, stormed out: “Fine! Ignore him—just don’t regret it!”
Watching him leave, Mountain Elder briefly wondered if Mu Lin truly was an unparalleled genius. But Ji Guan’s words reassured him—Yuhu Academy’s foundation was unshakable.
Pe551
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