Chapter 229
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Chapter 229: Yin Soldiers Passing Through, Army Marching
People had heard about the benefits of clone cultivation multiple times, including how it could interact with the Time Tower for enhanced effects.
Yet doubts remained about this cultivation method’s true effectiveness.
As the saying goes – hearing isn’t believing, seeing is believing. With so many frauds in the world, constant deception made everyone naturally cautious.
"The clone cultivation technique sounds too perfect, which makes it feel suspicious…"
"Could some sixteen-year-old from a poor family really develop such secret techniques?"
Their skepticism made logical sense.
But all doubts vanished when witnessing Mu Lin’s rapidly rising power.
Through widespread investigation and personal observation, most knew Mu Lin’s magical cultivation had been at Spring Fountain’s late stage mere days before.
Now his cultivation reached Spirit Pool’s late stage.
What shocked them more – his foundation appeared rock-solid, not the slightest weakness detectable.
This explosive growth erased all doubts about his clone cultivation method.
In fact, Mu Lin’s progress surpassed their most optimistic predictions.
"Creating such powerful techniques proves Mu Lin’s exceptional talent. Even if my son learns this, he’ll never match up."
"No matter! I don’t need him to surpass – even achieving half or one-tenth of Mu Lin’s efficiency would be a massive win!"
…
Mu Lin felt the burning stares and frowned slightly.
Thankfully, Yuhu Academy’s Mountain Elder announced the trial’s start.
Participants filed into the Tower of Illusions awaiting teleportation.
While waiting, an irritated Tian Yun – Feather Tribe’s holy maiden – glared at Mu Lin and snapped: "I’ll make you pay during the trial!"
Mu Lin shot back without hesitation:
"Try me."
As their confrontation ended, teleportation activated.
When Mu Lin relaxed to let the Tower transport him, something went wrong.
BZZZT—
Blood-red light erupted from the tower’s mirror.
The crimson glow carried sinister energy, tainting the teleportation with ominous vibes.
"Danger!"
Mu Lin’s heart jumped as he tried resisting.
Too late. Never expecting attacks here, he’d prepared no defenses.
The high-rank Tower’s power overwhelmed him mid-surprise.
During final moments before disappearance, Mu Lin realized one thing – this anomaly wasn’t aimed at him specifically.
The other students traveling with him, their faces frozen in shock, were all teleported away too.
In his last glimpse before disappearing, Mu Lin saw several figures leap up from the audience seats the moment the mutation occurred, their faces twisted with rage as they stared toward the Tower of Illusions.
“Trouble…”
“How dare!”
“Stop it now…”
“Hmm…”
Then everything went dark for Mu Lin. When light returned, he found himself standing in a gray, crumbling wasteland.
His heart sank as he realized his physical body had been transported this time.
What made him grimace worse was finding himself utterly alone – Yan Yunyu, Chu Lingluo, Ji Xue, and all others had vanished.
“Bastard!”
Without hesitation, Mu Lin summoned the Yin Spirit Coffin the instant he materialized.
“Swish!”
After climbing inside the coffin himself, it sank into the earth and disappeared completely.
Though Mu Lin had retreated underground, two Substitute Paper Figures remained where he’d stood.
The paper clones exchanged looks. One began blowing life into stacks of paper figures while the other unleashed flocks of paper cranes and herds of paper horses.
The silent wasteland soon buzzed with activity.
Paper cranes scattered in all directions like startled birds.
The Yin soldiers and ghost officials stood motionless.
Under Mu Lin’s control, Yin soldiers nocked arrows and unsheathed swords while ghost officials whetted blades – all preparing for combat.
Black Fog billowed out from their ranks. After releasing the paper cranes, one substitute transformed into an Ink Dragon and unleashed Swallowing Clouds and Puffing Fog, shrouding the spectral forces’ limbs in mist.
With battle preparations complete below,
The paper cranes overhead beat their wings furiously.
Within moments, Mu Lin’s Forces sprang into action.
This wasn’t because the cranes had found Yan Yunyu or Chu Lingluo – Mu Lin never relied on just one tracking method.
Deep underground in the Yin Spirit Coffin, Mu Lin produced two paper figures marked with Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo’s names.
This twisted use of Cursed Paper Figures allowed sensing targets’ approximate distance and condition through their connection to these effigies – wounds could transfer both ways.
Through this dark art, Mu Lin located the women’s general direction and mobilized his troops accordingly.
“Hoooo…”
Hooves shook the earth as Black Fog rolled across the land, while paper cranes sliced through the smoky sky.
Mu Lin abandoned all stealth in his urgent search.
Yet despite the frenzy, he did not lose his composure.
Due to this, only his substitutes along with the Yin soldiers and ghost officials moved about, while Mu Lin’s true form never emerged.
Through his connection with the paper crane, Mu Lin continuously observed the barren land.
As the paper crane soared swiftly, expanding its search range, Mu Lin gradually realized this place was vast and fraught with peril.
In this sunless wasteland, broken ruins and hidden dangers sprawled everywhere.
Human-headed lanterns, shadowy apparitions, and twisted stone statues… these grotesque sights made Mu Lin feel he’d stepped into hell itself.
Yet during his surveillance, something caught his attention.
Amidst this treacherous strange location, ordinary humans existed.
These weren’t individuals like Yan Zhanpeng or Chu Hongxuan who’d been transported here, nor students from Yuhu Academy, Heshan, or Longyou—just common folk.
“Why would ordinary people be here?”
“Doesn’t matter. Capturing them for questioning will reveal answers.”
With that thought, the black fog swerved slightly, engulfing panicked humans.
Chains clanked as ghost officials dragged the captives before Mu Lin for interrogation.
His actions seemed reckless, showing no concern for potential traps.
And Mu Lin… truly didn’t care.
The forces he commanded here could easily crush common spirits. Even if overpowering evils appeared, his true body wasn’t present. Losing all Yin soldiers and ghost officials would barely affect him.
A paper folder with countless self-preservation methods could afford such boldness.
…
While Mu Lin operated, chaos erupted outside.
The moment the Tower of Illusions malfunctioned, Yuhu Academy’s Mountain Elder rushed over, furious and alarmed. He urgently communicated with the tower, desperate to retrieve the trapped students.
Members of the Demon Exorcism Division, military personnel, and powerful clans’ elders also gathered anxiously.
Their panic was justified—Yan Zhanpeng and Chu Hongxuan were scions of influential families, and their family and friends demanded action. For Mountain Elder and officials, failure meant humiliation and punishment.
“What happened?!”
“How could the Tower of Illusions—a national treasure—be corrupted?!”
“This sub-tower’s defenses aren’t flawless. A potent evil could’ve tainted it.”
“Or an insider sabotaged it…”
“I don’t care about causes! Just bring Tian Yun back!”
“Stay calm! I’m coordinating with the tower… I’ll rescue Mu Lin, Blood Cherry, and Chu Hongxuan!”
Fortunately, the Tower of Illusions’ corruption hadn’t fully obscured its functions. Using his authority, Mountain Elder activated most of the tower’s capabilities.
Through the artifact’s projection, Yuhu Academy established one-sided contact. The water mirror reappeared, displaying Mu Lin’s group.
Relief washed over some observers, while others staggered in horror.
Casualties had occurred.
“No—!”
