Chapter 253
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Chapter 253: Burning Fortune, Forceful Luck
"Explain other ways your Yan family uses fortune."
"Yes, Mu brother."
Leaning against Mu Lin’s chest, Yan Yunyu showed no hesitation in revealing her family’s secret cultivation methods. She freely shared everything she knew.
"The Yan family sees fortune as versatile energy. It never directly strengthens us or acts obviously—it works through indirect means."
"For example, we have a secret technique called Treasure Seeking. By burning fortune, we sense where treasures were hidden. Then we search those places, possibly finding valuables in ruins, tombs, or through lucky vendor deals. Sometimes treasures even come to us unsought."
Mu Lin’s eyes lit up. "Can we choose specific treasure types?"
Yan Yunyu answered: "Yes, but that requires burning more fortune."
Seeing Mu Lin deep in thought but not interrupting, she continued:
"Besides boosting understanding and finding treasures, burning fortune grants temporary forceful luck. This helps cultivation breakthroughs or escaping deadly pursuits. My cousin Zhanpeng survived the secret realm this way…"
"Also, burning fortune ensures success when crafting vital magical tools or pills. This method helped Four Seas Pavilion branches spread worldwide."
"Ah!"
Yan Yunyu gasped when Mu Lin suddenly squeezed her chest. She shot him a reproachful look before continuing after his apologetic glance:
"Beyond self-improvement, we can suppress enemies’ fate and fortune through burning luck, cursing them with misfortune."
"But strong enemy fortune can reverse this curse back onto us. Also, treasures hold fortune—burning this makes artifacts explode with tenfold power. Afterwards, the artifact’s fortune drains and it breaks…"
Mu Lin realized fortune manipulation touched upon fate itself. Just as he marveled at this supreme Yan family power, Yan Yunyu turned solemn:
"Mu brother, though powerful, never burn too much fortune at once."
"Why?"
"Fortune represents blessings. Burning too much lowers your fortune rank. Like your current royal heir fate—it deters enemies and maintains your status. But if your fortune drops to green, white, or gray-black levels…"
"…scheming people would target you. Evil gods’ minions might attack too."
This explained why the Yan family remained merchants despite controlling fortune—they lacked sufficient accumulated fortune. It also clarified Yan Yunyu’s desperation for fame and fortune.
Watching the burning fortune above Yan Yunyu’s head, Mu Lin frowned at the risks of overusing this power.
“Since burning fortune has its dangers, then you…”
“Hehe.”
Mu Lin’s concern drew a laugh from Yan Yunyu. Pressed close against him, she traced circles on his chest with a finger and teased, “Mu brother, I merely meant you shouldn’t burn too much at once—not that fortune can’t be used at all.”
“As long as there are no major disruptions, this power gradually recovers over time.”
“Ah, that’s reasonable.”
Having gleaned enough information, Mu Lin sat quietly, contemplating how to wield his fortune.
Beside him, Yan Yunyu’s curiosity burned. Their closeness allowed her to voice questions freely:
“Mu brother, how will you use your fortune?”
“I intend to burn it to locate certain treasures.”
“Huh?”
This answer caught Yan Yunyu off guard. Instinctively, she cautioned, “Mu brother, fortune-burning for treasure-seeking isn’t wise. We’re wealthy in Spirit Stones now—if you desire something, I’ll purchase it for you.”
“Even rare items can be obtained through Yuhu Academy or the Demon Exorcism Division. Though your recruitment terms aren’t finalized, we could leverage their resources.”
The proposal tempted Mu Lin momentarily before he shook his head. “No. This matter’s too personal—I won’t involve those factions.”
The treasures he sought concerned manifesting city gods through Fortune of a Dynasty. These deities served as his hidden ace and mediators between mortals and underworld spirits.
Mu Lin refused Great Spirit Dynasty interference. “By burning fortune to find dynasty-linked relics, I’ll maintain independence. My city gods must remain unbound.”
Dynasty-appointed city gods perished with their rulers, but those sustained by popular worship endured millennia. Though Mu Lin ultimately sought higher paths—Lord of Mount Tai and Emperor of Lidu—he valued autonomy.
…
Ever decisive, Mu Lin prepared to act immediately. Yet realization struck—his current power stemmed from Strange Army at Night, borrowed through Yan Yunyu.
Her imperfect mastery of the technique posed limitations. “Direct use grants strong fortune guidance through burning,” she warned, “but wastes much energy.”
Frugality prevailed. Mu Lin delayed the ritual until midnight, when their physical union achieved perfect synchronization.
In this merged state, he could nearly replicate Yan Yunyu’s full prowess. Guided by her weakened form, Mu Lin carefully ignited his fortune’s flame.
“Buzz…”
As the luck began to burn, a faint guiding sensation arose in Mu Lin’s heart.
At first, this guidance remained indistinct, leaving him unable to act upon it.
Yet Mu Lin stayed calm.
Though slow-burning luck eased his burden and spared him backlash agony, it also needed time to accumulate.
“Seven to ten days until the guidance fully clarifies… acceptable.”
…
Using Yan Yunyu’s talents, Mu Lin gradually converted his stored luck into tangible gains.
Success bred ambition.
“What if I recruit more noble young ladies?”
Having just finished Dual Cultivation with Yan Yunyu, his wandering thoughts made him seem like a callous scoundrel.
But his motives differed.
Mu Lin sought noble daughters not for beauty or lust, but for their clans’ unique abilities.
“As the ‘strongest ruler’ commanding the Strange Army at Night, more capable subordinates mean greater strength.”
“Lingluo grants me the Qingdi Scripture. Yunyu enables luck-burning. More noble ladies could offer new powers.”
The Ge family’s military leader prowess tempted him.
The Feather Tribe’s Tian Yun’s future self ability also intrigued him.
Yet he dismissed these thoughts.
Courting other clans’ daughters risked complications.
Few would match Chu Lingluo or Yan Yunyu’s loyalty.
The former’s innocence and the latter’s marginalized family status had forged their devotion – a rare alignment.
Most noble daughters, groomed by their clans, would prioritize family over him.
Adding them to his harem meant constant vigilance without true trust.
Even ignoring the exhausting risks, their withheld loyalty meant his ruler’s dominion could only harness 10-20% of their abilities.
“Too inefficient. Better spend that time honing cultivation methods, sealing anomalies, or Refining them with willing heart fire.”
…
Mu Lin abandoned his recruitment scheme.
But powerful clans still coveted him.
This stemmed from the True Meaning Diagram of doppelgänger cultivation’s value… and Yan Yunyu’s stubbornness.
Proud clans rarely offered daughters freely, even to gifted cultivators.
Yet the Diagram’s immense worth changed calculations. With Yan Yunyu hoarding production despite abundant Spirit Stones, desperate clans turned to Mu Lin.
“Trusting Yan Yunyu shows Mu Lin’s youth – he favors his women.”
“Or lacks alternatives?”
“Regardless, our Ge family’s daughters rival Yan Yunyu. If he lets women manage power, our bride could control the Diagram’s distribution.”
This logic swayed many clans.
Then new developments shattered their restraint.
