Chapter 193
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Chapter 193: Fox Demon Bai Zhi: "I’ve Won!"
With solid foundations resisting all corruption and armed with many magical artifacts, Chu Hongxuan and his two companions demonstrated true power as they charged recklessly through the Strange Drama Stage’s domain, defying its killing rules and weakening effects.
The wailing actors, along with the martial generals, bandits, and thugs enhanced by the Strange Drama Stage, stood no chance against Yuance’s trio.
Such a scene was rarely seen in ordinary horror revivals.
Though evil ghosts roamed and strange phenomena emerged in this world, the presence of magic, spells, and cultivation methods prevented it from becoming a living hell.
Of course, Yuance’s group resisted so easily because the Strange Drama Stage hadn’t fully matured and wasn’t in its true form.
Strangeness couldn’t be killed, wielding rule-like unstoppable powers. Every fully formed and matured strangeness reached disaster-level, capable of destroying cities or transforming entire provinces into dead zones—equivalent to humanity’s Heavenly Masters or Earth Masters, far beyond Yuance’s capabilities.
Fortunately, achieving completeness was difficult for strangeness. Most manifestations were mere servants influenced by true sources of strangeness, which could be destroyed.
The raging Pure Yang Flames now fully engulfed the Strange Drama Stage.
As flames consumed everything and treants rampaged, the Yuhu Academy students displayed their strength, satisfying the observers:
"Yuhu Academy’s current batch isn’t weak."
"Of course not—nearly all Southeast Province’s talents gather here. Weakness would be strange."
"Mu Lin’s in trouble. Handling Yuance’s trio alone is tough, and every Taoist Palace student here excels. Targeted by so many geniuses, he’s doomed."
Outsiders saw Mu Lin being cornered and naturally doubted his chances. Yet their respect for him remained.
On a viewing platform, elders sipped tea while watching the screen:
"Mu Lin’s unlucky. Zhanpeng and Chu Hongxuan are getting serious—he can’t hide once they truly act."
Another elder laughed: "Losing’s acceptable. Forcing so many geniuses to team up makes this defeat honorable. His potential grows if he lasts longer—or survives till—"
"Survive? Impossible!" interrupted the first elder. "They’re holding back. Clan-core heirs like my Zhanpeng have reserves. Finding someone would take him minutes!"
Commoners versus clan elites, individuals versus groups—Mu Lin stood at a severe disadvantage. Yet the clans still dispatched agents to investigate him, even digging up his female companion’s details.
The pessimistic elder also sought Mu Lin’s information—planning to recruit him despite expecting failure. Soon his old servant returned with reports, though looking uneasy.
"Fourth Elder of the Yan Family, I’ve gathered all information about Mu Lin’s female companions. One is named Yan Yunyu."
"Yunyu, a fine name… Wait, Yan Yunyu? The surname Yan—she’s from our Yan family?!"
At that moment, the Fourth Elder felt like fortune had fallen straight from heaven.
The elderly servant beside him also stared in disbelief.
"Fourth Elder, Miss Yunyu is indeed of the Yan family—the third daughter from the thirteenth branch."
"The thirteenth branch… What was her original family assessment?"
"Xuan level middle grade."
The Fourth Elder’s eyebrow twitched. "Only Xuan level?"
"Her cultivation talent was… unremarkable."
"I see."
Being female, lacking talent, and unrelated to the head’s lineage—with all these negative conditions stacked against her, Yan Yunyu naturally didn’t receive the Yan family’s best training.
But times had changed. After observing Mu Lin’s performance, the Fourth Elder finally declared, "Upgrade her assessment to Earth-level."
The servant asked, "Middle grade or low grade?"
"We’ll decide later. If Mu Lin endures longer, middle grade. If he fails quickly, low grade."
Though merely Earth-level low/middle grade, this ranking meant Yan Yunyu would escape being discarded or married off for alliances. Even if assigned to manage a provincial Four Seas Tower in future, her Yan family status and Earth-level rating guaranteed regional authority—exceeding her original life goals. While she now nurtured greater ambitions, achieving this early would bring immense relief.
The Fourth Elder swelled with pride when others noticed Mu Lin’s Yan family connection. Laughter died among nearby elders, replaced by envious scowls.
"Your Yan family invested early?"
"Hah! We didn’t lift a finger—this was Yunyu’s own doing. Our Yan offspring simply have sharp eyes!"
The Fourth Elder’s booming laughter made his peers grind their teeth. "Don’t gloat! You merely stumbled upon luck!"
"And remember—Mu Lin isn’t wed to Yan Yunyu yet. Chu Lingluo remains at his side. The game’s still undecided!"
Their irritation only deepened the Fourth Elder’s delight. After all, what good was hidden triumph? True victory required witnesses.
As an elder, the Fourth Elder of the Yan Family had grown indifferent to many things. The only matters he still cared about were family inheritance and petty competitions with old comrades.
Mu Lin’s emergence not only boosted the Yan family’s influence but also earned him great respect among his peers. The more he watched Mu Lin, the more fondness he felt.
Though he viewed Mu Lin favorably—especially since Yan Yunyu’s involvement had practically made the young man his son-in-law—a son-in-law could never compare to a real son.
In his heart, Yan Zhanpeng still ranked above Mu Lin. He believed Mu Lin fell short of Zhanpeng in both current strength and future potential.
"Let Zhanpeng partner with Mu Lin for this trial. If Zhanpeng takes first place while Mu Lin and Yunyu secure second, our Yan family will achieve perfection."
"Hmm… The assessment’s already started, so we can’t send instructions now. But in the second round, we’ll have them collaborate—one leading, the other supporting—to claim victory."
While plotting, he recalled his old friend’s warning:
"That Yunyu girl’s position is shaky. We must bolster her standing…"
With a glance at his elderly servant, he conveyed his intent. The servant bowed and hurried to arrange matters.
…
Yuance and his two allies’ overwhelming displays ignited fervent discussions among the spectators.
Within the Tower of Illusions, their performance terrified certain observers—members of lesser tribes monitoring human movements.
Chu Hongxuan and Yuance’s dominance shattered the resolve of weaker tribes. Some despaired:
"Go fight the humans yourselves. Our Red-Eye Tribe withdraws."
"W-we quit too…"
"Wait! United, we could still rival the human race!"
Attempts to preserve the crumbling Alien Alliance failed. Such coalitions rarely held—how could natural enemies like the insect tribes and their avian predators ever truly unite?
The alliance’s collapse enraged powerful tribes. "Those brats aren’t worth scheming with!" one leader spat.
Yet others saw opportunity. Fox Demon Bai Zhi swiftly pivoted:
"I must defect to the humans quickly. Without unity, we can’t oppose them. To avoid becoming targets, I’ll prove my loyalty first."
The Fox Demon Clan excelled at opportunism. She’d joined the alliance seeking profit, and now abandoned it without hesitation.
"But whom to follow?"
Her gaze swept Yuance, Chu Hongxuan, and Yan Zhanpeng before dismissing the latter. "Too scheming to trust," she concluded.
After deliberation, she chose Yuance—his Pure Yang Body offered unique advantages. This constitution repelled evil spirits, crucial against the coming calamity of strange evil spirits.
"Yuance might appear weaker now, but he’ll shine brightest later. Betting on him pays off."
She sneered at Bai Li Xiu Ling’s choice:
"Foolish Merfolk! However you value Mu Lin, I’ve outplayed you. Whether by lineage or potential, Mu Lin can’t touch Lord Yuance."
"When Yuance reveals his full power, he’ll dominate the human race. You’ll grovel before me then—hehe!"
