Chapter 29

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Chapter 29: A Mere Fatal Wound

With the Substitute Paper Figure, Mu Lin found himself nearly immune to curse spells of the same rank. Even those one rank higher couldn’t harm him.

He concluded:

"The flaws in Injury Transfer are my own limitations, not the Substitute Paper Figure’s."

"If I cultivate this technique to higher realms, full injury transfer becomes possible. Then only enemies capable of obliterating my True Spirit in one strike could kill me."

"As for spell capacity limits… who said I can only have one Substitute Paper Figure?"

Visions of enemies piercing his heart or crushing his skull no longer troubled him. Through residual soul fragments, he could transfer all injuries. This thought brought deep reassurance.

More importantly, he could already utilize some powers now.

"Altar, awaken!"

"Hum!"

The altar within Mu Lin’s dantian glowed, amplifying the paper figure’s power and strengthening their bond. Through this amplification, injury transfer efficiency jumped from 30% to 50% – with no usage limits.

Continuous transfers meant fatal wounds became severe, severe turned minor, minor became scratches. Mu Lin chuckled darkly.

"Maybe I’ll start calling fatal wounds ‘mere scratches’."

He immediately dismissed this reckless thought. Critical injuries like brain or heart destruction left gaping voids in the paper figure. Repairing such damage required immense magical power – something he currently lacked.

"Focus on cultivation. Improve the paper figure’s level."

Checking his Attribute Panel, Mu Lin’s eyebrows shot up. The Great Yin Living Scripture’s proficiency cap had multiplied over tenfold:

【Great Yin Living Scripture, Level 2 Proficiency (1/3300), Features: Awakening, Spiritual Roots (Burial Sky White Paper Ceremony), Substitute Paper Figure】

More surprisingly, the Substitute Paper Figure had its own proficiency panel starting at Level 2:

【Substitute Paper Figure (Inherent Spell), Level 2 Proficiency (1/810), Features: Clone Illusion, Injury Transfer】

"Separate cultivation paths." Mu Lin nodded. Though requiring extra effort, spells generally progressed faster than cultivation methods. Higher realms seemed achievable.

"And this technique’s potential extends far beyond injury transfer…"

……

Successful Awakening and solidified Spiritual Roots kept Mu Lin elated for hours. Only through disciplined meditation did he resume training.

Time flowed swiftly. Dawn found Mu Lin rushing to class, excitement overriding hunger.

His arrival immediately drew a crowd around him.

"Mu brother, you came so early!"

"With such dedication, no wonder your paper folding and painting reach master levels."

Some rejoiced at Mu Lin’s arrival, others remained indifferent, while a few burned with resentment.

Pang Ding glared darkly at Mu Lin surrounded by admirers.

Noticing this, weaker students clinging to Pang Ding’s status whispered comforts: "Young Master Pang, don’t fret. For Qi Practitioners, paper crafts are trivial pursuits – true Cultivation matters most. Once you Successfully Awaken, he’ll see the gap between you."

"Exactly! These shortsighted fools won’t even get chances to lick your boots then."

"Why bother with idiots, Young Master Pang?"

Pang Ding chuckled bitterly.

"Haha… True. Getting angry at lesser beings shows poor composure…"

The flattery soothed his wounded pride, driving him to train harder and eventually humiliate Mu Lin after advancing. But reality shattered his defenses before he finished scheming.

When the lecture bell chimed, Teacher Ma entered. Before the instructor sat, Mu Lin stood abruptly.

Most assumed he’d ask cultivation questions – until his declaration shook the room:

"Teacher. I’ve Successfully Awakened."

Silence gripped the classroom until Pang Ding’s disbelieving shout:

"Impossible!"

Pang Ding’s last pride – his Level 2 Spiritual Roots – crumbled as the inferior Mu Lin awakened first.

Teacher Ma felt equally Perplexed. Having considered sponsoring Mu Lin, he’d investigated the youth’s background. The paper folder’s Earth-level inheritance often killed practitioners young, yet required decent talent. How did this rootless commoner with mediocre Spiritual Roots awaken in twenty days?

Suppressing doubts, Teacher Ma asked evenly: "Confirmed?"

"Yes."

"Come. We’ll test your Spiritual Roots grade."

En route, despite disliking the Yin Eight Sect disciple, Teacher Ma explained basics:

"Using Earth-level cultivation methods to awaken between days 7-33 earns B-level ratings – divided into B-upper, B-middle, B-lower. Higher tiers grant better privileges."

"Most crucially, B-levels may revisit Scripture Pavilion for Earth-level spells: lower grades choose bottom-tier, middle grades pick mid-tier, upper grades claim top-tier Earth-level… We’re here."

They entered a chamber where two figures waited – one elderly man, one… child?

Mu Lin stared at the twelve-year-old girl.

Her nostrils flared. "Hmph!"

An Oppressive Aura flooded the room as she snapped:

"You’re thinking rude thoughts."

"I did not."