Chapter 196
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Chapter 196: Mu Lin’s Rising Value
Staring at the black fog swallowing everything and hearing shrill screams echo around them, Chu Hongxuan, Yuance, and Yan Zhanpeng wore darkened expressions. For the first time, their usual calm confidence was gone. Even Huameng’s smile had dimmed.
Until now, they’d kept their trump cards hidden. Both Chu Hongxuan and Yan Zhanpeng believed they could eliminate Mu Lin if they unleashed those reserves. They’d saved those tricks for their teammates, even hoping some would die during the chase to drain their allies’ resources.
Before, they’d seen each other as the real rivals, dismissing Mu Lin as a minor pest. Now, they realized how wrong they’d been.
The malicious stares piercing through the fog made Yan Zhanpeng and Chu Hongxuan’s skin crawl. They finally understood—the shadow monsters lurking in the strange black fog could actually kill them.
By unleashing this power, Mu Lin had transformed from a trivial annoyance into a catastrophe.
Yan Zhanpeng barked, “Stop holding back! If we keep hiding our cards, we’ll die here!”
Yuance snapped, “Didn’t need your reminder.”
Chu Hongxuan jabbed, “You first.”
Yuance blinked. “…Huh?”
Yan Zhanpeng glared at Chu Hongxuan before gritting out, “Fine. I’ll act.” He pulled out the Great Sun Magical Mirror. With a thunderous *boom*, sunlight erupted from its surface, burning away patches of black fog. Exposed to the light, the shadow monsters faded into nothing—proving they couldn’t survive outside the fog.
The mirror’s glow shielded Yan Zhanpeng’s group and some subordinates. But the shaken allies barely caught their breath. Fox Demon Bai Zhi, Yuance’s newest subordinate, stared blankly.
*Perplexed, she couldn’t fathom how Mu Lin could be so strong.*
Her confusion didn’t last. A low moan rolled through the air as the black fog surged back like a tidal wave.
*BOOM!*
The fog smashed against the mirror’s light, sparks hissing where darkness met radiance.
In the visible clash between the two sides, the radiance of the Great Sun Magical Mirror steadily retreated.
Though this treasure held immense power, Yan Zhanpeng—a mere Qi Practitioner—couldn’t fully unleash its potential.
Fortunately, Chu Hongxuan acted moments later.
*Crack!*
His palms clapped, and amidst a rustling sound, both snow-white and jade-green flowers bloomed from his towering tree-like form.
*Swish…*
As the blossoms swayed, they released a fragrant aroma with unique properties. The white flowers emitted a purifying power, while the green ones bestowed mental clarity. Combined with Yan Zhanpeng’s Great Sun Magical Mirror, they finally held back the encroaching strange black fog.
Even as monsters within the fog launched relentless attacks and clamored fiercely, the group from Yuhu Academy remained unharmed, shielded by the mirror and mystical flowers.
Watching from afar, Mu Lin shook his head but showed no dismay.
“Yuhu Academy gathers the Southeast Province’s finest talents. Their resilience is expected—weakness would’ve been strange.”
This thought stirred no fear in him. While the strange black fog couldn’t overpower Yan Zhanpeng’s group, neither could they dispel it. By leveraging his City God status’s lingering aura and the fact that Chu Hongxuan’s team had triggered the fog’s killing mechanism, Mu Lin directed the fog to hound them relentlessly.
“In a normal fight, victory would hinge on endurance—the fog versus them.”
This observation wasn’t lost on the watching cultivators. Many sighed in relief as Chu Hongxuan’s group resisted the fog.
“Phew…that was close.”
“Facing a top Taoist Palace alone and nearly winning? This Mu Lin is formidable.”
Some marveled, while others dismissed him. Officials from the Demon Exorcism Division and generals of the Canglong and Kunpeng Legions wore grim expressions:
Canglong Legion: “He borrows the strange evil spirits’ strength—not his own.”
Kunpeng Legion: “He can’t fully control that power. It’s a reckless move, usable only in the Tower of Illusions.”
Demon Exorcism Division: “Tampering with strange powers is perilous. He risks becoming a monster!”
Their open criticism made nearby nobles hesitate. Yet even as some reconsidered recruiting Mu Lin, the Demon Exorcism Division’s Cold Envoy secretly ordered his subordinates and allies to gather more resources.
“Increase the offer. Secure Mu Lin for our division at all costs.”
“But Cold Envoy,” a noble protested, “you called him uncontrollably dangerous!”
The envoy scoffed.
“That was for the legions’ ears. Channeling strange powers is a talent, no different from Qi Practitioners wielding nature’s forces. His paper figures contain the risk—if control breaks, only clones are lost, not his sanity. And imagine the benefits! He might someday subdue greater evils, leaving only mundane monsters to crush. Our regions would know peace.”
“……Understood.”
The Canglong and Kunpeng Legions acted similarly. None were fools. Though Mu Lin’s methods were unorthodox and his control imperfect, he’d trapped the Southeast Province’s brightest youths single-handedly. That alone made him invaluable.
More crucially, his tactics served warning:
“Using clones to weaponize strangeness? Avoid provoking him at all costs!”
……
Unaware of the stir he’d caused, Mu Lin focused solely on eliminating Chu Hongxuan’s group. The black fog alone might not suffice, but he had other means.
A sinister grin twisted his lips.
“Let me gift you something more…”
