Chapter 36

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Chapter 36: How Can You Sleep?

The proficiency of Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral unexpectedly grew as Mu Lin’s heart lamp clashed with the power of Heaven’s Funeral. Though surprised, he saw this as beneficial and didn’t dwell on it. After a short rest to recover his tired mind, he began his next task—refining the vital blood of the Black Water Mystic Serpent.

For days, Mu Lin immersed himself in relentless training. When refreshed, he summoned the power of Heaven’s Funeral to battle his heart fire, tempering both his heart lamp and Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral. During daytime exhaustion, he refined the serpent’s vital blood to strengthen his body and black mist magical power. At night, he cultivated the Great Yin Living Scripture.

His efforts bore fruit. All his cultivation methods improved, particularly the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s transformation method. With ample resources, his progress soared—within days, his physical strength neared the realm of a Qi Blood Martial Artist.

Martial artists follow distinct stages: refining skin, flesh, bones, marrow, and organs as martial trainees, then nurturing Qi Blood to become true warriors. Most take years to reach this level, yet Mu Lin achieved it in under a month—a testament to immortal cultivation’s power. Still, Qi Blood Martial Artists pale against Qi Practitioners, lacking magical power or spells.

“Even so, their physical prowess is unmatched,” Mu Lin mused. “An Awakened Stage body might endure the drain from the Vitality of the Living.” His expression tightened. Since reaching the Awakened Stage, his cultivation thrived except for one flaw: his body and Qi lagged behind his spirit. The Earth-level Black Water Mystic Serpent’s transformation method was limited, and practicing the Great Yin Living Scripture steadily drained his Qi Blood.

This explained the Paper Folding Lineage’s ghostly pallor. To avoid becoming a “weak young master,” Mu Lin devoured over twenty bowls of Spirit Rice daily—a temporary fix.

Yet hope lingered. Refining another drop of the serpent’s vital blood could push his body to the Awakened Stage, bolstering his Qi Blood. Additionally, the low-tier Black Water Mystic Serpent method required less proficiency to advance. Soon, reaching Level 3 Mastery might unlock traits to solve his dilemma.

“Strengthen the body first,” he resolved. “Then upgrade the method!”

"Crack, crack, thud…"

Mu Lin shoveled Spirit Rice into his mouth while deep in thought.

He finished one bowl quickly and hurried to fetch three more from the dining hall. His physical cultivation methods, especially the vitality-draining Great Yin Living Scripture, gave him a massive appetite. Being recognized as a B-grade capable person meant the Taoist Palace provided unlimited free Spirit Rice, so Mu Lin ate with gusto.

He devoured three meals daily in the hall and even took extra portions back for midnight snacks. The rice’s sweetness, nutrition, and purity meant he never bothered with side dishes.

Some ignored his habit of gulping plain Spirit Rice, while others sneered at him as a "rice bucket."

Qi Xiu snorted as he passed Mu Lin’s table with teammates. "Stuffing yourself just because it’s free? You’re a disgrace to the Formal Class!"

"Cut him some slack, Brother Qi," a companion chuckled. "Poverty breeds cheap habits."

"Hahaha!"

Before, Mu Lin would’ve ignored such taunts—cultivating was better than wasting time on arguments. But now, embracing his role as the "catfish," he struck back before their laughter faded.

"Fuck your mothers!"

The trio froze at his sudden roar.

"You think I’m the disgrace?" Mu Lin spat. "You Level 2 Spiritual Roots got overtaken by my Level 3! If I’m trash, what does that make you? Maggots beneath trash!"

"How do you sleep at night? If I’d been caught by inferiors like you, I’d have hanged myself from shame. Yet here you are—laughing, slacking, giving up. Quit wasting the Taoist Palace’s resources and crawl back to your gutters!"

"You…" Qi Xiu’s finger trembled as speech failed him. One red-faced teammate lunged forward, but Mu Lin smirked.

"Go ahead. Hit me. Let’s see if Teacher Dongfang Ya skins you alive." He leaned closer. "I’ve got connections, you know."

The threat worked. Even elite disciples like Ji Xue and Yan Yunyu respected Teacher Dongfang Ya—Qi Xiu’s group didn’t dare test her wrath. Mu Lin’s confidence sold the lie, especially since the teacher had praised him publicly before.

But Mu Lin wasn’t done. "What’s wrong, trash? Mad I outclass you despite worse talent? Heard you failed the Tower of Illusions every damn time. How’s that even possible?"

"You bastard!" Qi Xiu snapped. "You’d die on the first level!"

"Really?" Mu Lin shrugged. "Perfect. I’m climbing it in seven days. Let’s see if the first level’s as ‘hard’ as your excuses."

His mocking grin tightened the noose around their pride. If this third-rate cultivator succeeded where they’d failed, their humiliation would be legendary.