Chapter 189
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Chapter 189: Solo Battle Against Yuhu Academy
The chain of suspicion in the Dark Forest persisted.
Yuhu Academy didn’t trust Mu Lin—a curse technique user—to hold back during this future-determining examination.
Similarly, Mu Lin doubted Yuhu Academy would permit an outsider like him to reach the top three, much less claim first place. Doing so would bring immense trouble to their teachers and students.
This mutual distrust kept Mu Lin psychologically prepared for Yuhu Academy’s schemes. What surprised him was their ferocity and scale. Through his senses, he detected every Yuhu member hunting him down, attacking without mercy.
Mu Lin had underestimated the threat others saw in his curse techniques. He never imagined Yuhu’s top cultivators would deliberately infect themselves with curses to gauge his power.
“Being targeted by everyone? Annoying.”
Yet fear never surfaced. Instead, a smirk crept onto his face.
“But sheep flock together while tigers hunt alone. Even if all of you oppose me, I won’t fall!”
“Killing me won’t be easy!”
——Arrogance colored Mu Lin’s spirit, making him unshaken by challenges.
Prideful but not foolish, Mu Lin acted swiftly. He commanded the buried Yin Spirit Coffin to sink deeper underground. While evading pursuit, he retaliated.
Papers rustled as he folded them into precise replicas of Yuance, Chu Hongxuan, Yan Zhanpeng, and others—complete with their true names.
“Pity,” he muttered. “I could only gather their appearances and names these past days. Their blood and birth dates remain hidden.”
Cursing required more than paper figures and names. Mu Lin had to forge deep connections through sustained mental energy and magic, typically limiting curse masters to one target. But Mu Lin defied norms.
*Buzz.*
Substitute Paper Figures emerged from his body. After a shared glance with their creator, they instantly grasped their roles. Each took position before a Cursed Paper Figure, channeling magic to sustain multiple curses simultaneously. Yuance, Yan Zhanpeng, Chu Hongxuan, and Huameng—all fell under his hex.
“You chose to hunt me. Now face the consequences.”
Outside, Yan Zhanpeng and his allies scoured the terrain, unaware of the storm brewing beneath their feet.
It must be acknowledged that Yuhu Academy truly possessed capable individuals.
Though Mu Lin’s position remained well-hidden and he’d avoided contact with most people, the academy’s disciples still employed various detection methods. They cast stones for pathfinding, performed tortoise shell divinations, summoned mirror spirits for guidance, listened to celestial whispers and earthly murmurs, and activated spirit-vision – swiftly tracing Mu Lin’s spiritual signature.
Fortunately, the vast city chosen for this examination teemed with monsters and evil spirits. This forced Yuhu Academy’s disciples to exercise caution during their search, as many demon-infested areas could only be observed from a safe distance.
Mu Lin’s numerous paper figures roaming the streets complicated matters further. These paper doubles carried his residual energy, misleading the pursuers into chasing decoys while the real Mu Lin stayed hidden.
*Boom!*
Yuance vaporized a paper figure with Pure Yang Flames, his brow furrowed as he demanded from his subordinates: "Still no trace of the main body?"
"Too many decoys causing interference," came the reply.
"Then purge all paper figures first."
The order triggered swift destruction. Within moments, half of Mu Lin’s paper army lay in ashes. The disparity between these disposable constructs and Yuhu Academy’s elite disciples became painfully apparent – though it should be noted these weren’t Mu Lin’s finest creations.
…
Yuhu Academy’s blatant operation attracted attention from other Taoist Palace disciples and foreign observers in the city.
Longyou and Heshan disciples exchanged relieved glances. "Our scheme worked. His notoriety made Yuhu Academy feel threatened. Mu Lin’s elimination is imminent."
None believed Mu Lin could withstand Yuhu Academy’s full assault. Foreign observers shared this sentiment as they clustered together, originally strategizing for the examination until Chu Hongxuan’s dramatic maneuvers redirected all focus.
"Being Yuhu Academy’s primary target – what wretched luck," remarked one spectator. "How long will he last?"
"Half an hour. The city’s size and demonic presence restrict their movements."
"Half an hour of meditation at most. You underestimate Yuhu Academy."
Amidst the speculation, Bai Zhi of the Fox Demon Clan smirked at a nearby Merfolk. "I recall your kind showed interest in Mu Lin earlier. Planning to cling to a sinking ship?" Her barb carried the rivalry between two famously beautiful tribes – Fox Girls and Mermaids having competed for centuries.
The Fox Demon Clan had departed before Mu Lin’s confrontation with the corpse monster, missing his display of power that compelled Merfolk submission. Bai Zhi naturally assumed her peers would favor Yuhu Academy’s elite over a hunted fugitive.
The response stunned her. Upon hearing of Mu Lin’s predicament, Merfolk leader Bai Li Xiu Ling displayed clear agitation while her warriors readied for combat.
But in the end, they did not charge out. Still, Bai Li Xiu Ling wasn’t completely passive—she stood and made a proposal to the gathered outsiders.
"Everyone, we should help Mu Lin. The enemy of our enemy is our friend! Weakening Yuhu Academy could be decided right here!"
These words shocked many non-humans.
Some voiced agreement:
"You’re right. This is our chance to weaken humanity."
But others objected:
"We should oppose Mu Lin instead. Yuhu Academy is chasing him now. Helping them would earn their favor."
Different tribes held different views about the coming calamity.
Some wanted to cling to humanity’s power for survival. Others sought independence and even hoped to replace humans.
These conflicting goals split their strategies.
Those supporting Mu Lin—mostly the independence-seeking tribes besides the Merfolk—wanted humans to kill each other, weaken their power, and get destroyed.
Though this conflict only happened in the Tower of Illusions, it still mattered. Young people represented their tribe’s future, so events here both hinted at what might come and boosted morale.
Meanwhile, those backing Yuhu Academy wanted to become humanity’s servants.
The ideological clash sparked fierce arguments. This disunity explained why numerous non-human tribes still couldn’t threaten humans—they couldn’t work together.
"Cowards! You’d lick human boots forever?"
"Better servants than dead fools like you!"
"You dare mock me?!"
"What if I do?!"
The debate turned violent. As fists nearly started flying, many sighed in frustration.
Finally, Fox Demon Bai Zhi spoke up:
"Enough! Fighting helps nobody, whether you want to ally with humans or not."
The Fox tribe leaned toward joining humanity, but these sly creatures knew their true value came from making humans fear their united strength. Only through unity could non-humans gain respect.
Yet without real power, even clever plans meant little. The Fox tribe’s classic trick of borrowing others’ strength required at least pretending to be united.
Bai Zhi’s words worked. Many realized unity brought better bargaining power regardless of their goals.
This returned them to the original question: Help Mu Lin or not?
Bai Zhi rejected the idea, claiming:
"You argued too long. Mu Lin’s energy’s almost gone—he’ll be captured soon."
"Helping now means fighting humans directly. We’re not ready for war."
Her real reason? Sabotaging the Merfolk’s plan.
"Relying on Mu Lin? How stupid! When your ‘master’ ranks last in this trial, let’s see you act tough then!"
Bai Zhi smirked, certain she’d beaten Bai Li Xiu Ling. She believed Mu Lin couldn’t escape Yuhu Academy’s chase.
Surely, it was time for Mu Lin to fall.
But…was that truly the case?
