Chapter 38

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Chapter 38: Tower of Illusions, Fourth Level, Spring Fountain Realm Demons

When Mu Lin approached, Zong Xiu gathered around.

“Brother Mu, you’re back. What happened earlier…”

Seeing Zong Xiu had pieced things together, Mu Lin didn’t hide it. He slumped his shoulders and said, “Exactly as you guessed. Teacher Dongfang Ya summoned me. She told me to stay low and avoid stirring trouble.”

Zong Xiu nodded emphatically. “You did act too boldly back there—”

But before he could finish, Mu Lin cut in.

“However, Teacher Dongfang Ya also promised me something. If others provoke me first, I can report directly to her.”

The sympathy on Zong Xiu’s face evaporated in an instant, leaving only naked envy.

“Damn! How’d you get so lucky?”

“I wish I had connections like that!”

Just as Mu Lin intended, Zong Xiu now believed Teacher Dongfang Ya favored him—and that this protection would last. A clever deception. Yet technically, Mu Lin hadn’t lied. He’d only omitted being used as her pawn, which couldn’t be revealed anyway. Every action stayed within plausible boundaries.

“By the way, Brother Zong,” Mu Lin changed subjects smoothly, “you seemed troubled earlier. What’s wrong?”

Vague questions were safest. Let others fill the gaps. If Teacher Dongfang Ya investigated later, he’d shrug—just rumors, he’d say. Nothing to do with him.

Meanwhile, Zong Xiu sighed. “What else? We tried climbing the tower again.”

“Failed?”

“Cleared the first level. Stuck at the second.” Zong Xiu groaned. “The Tower of Illusions’ trials are brutal!”

After a moment, he perked up. “Oh, but we weren’t alone. Ji Xue and Yan Yunyu attempted it too. Both wanted to conquer the fourth level first. Both failed.”

Mu Lin absorbed this.

So the top climbers—Ji Xue and Yan Yunyu’s teams—hadn’t passed the third level. That suggested a drastic difficulty spike at the fourth.

“Spring Fountain Realm demons must guard the fourth level,” Mu Lin mused. “Nothing else would stop them.”

Zong Xiu added, “Yan Yunyu’s so desperate, she’s hiring temporary teammates with Spirit Stones. The sum she’s offering—”

Mu Lin’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, the reward can’t cover that cost. Unless…” He snorted. “Right. For rich aristocratic children, face matters more than coins.”

Past-life memories surfaced—starlets buying fame, smearing rivals. Compared to that, Yan Yunyu’s Taoist Palace-approved hiring seemed tame.

The offer tempted him. But Mu Lin knew better. With his flawed Spiritual Roots, no elite like Yan Yunyu would ever choose him.

“Forget it, there’s no rush; overeagerness isn’t good for business. Let’s wait until the tower challenge in seven days. If I perform well, she’ll hire me without me going to her.”

After talking with Zong Xiu, Mu Lin left.

Just as he’d expected, since he hadn’t asked Zong Xiu to keep it quiet—and because Zong Xiu believed spreading news of his friend being under Teacher Dongfang Ya’s protection would reduce Mu Lin’s troubles—the story quickly circulated.

Once this spread, though classmates cursed Mu Lin’s luck and burned with envy, none dared cause him trouble.

Unbeknownst to Mu Lin, word of Teacher Dongfang Ya’s favor even reached Yan Yunyu.

“What? Mu Lin has caught Teacher Dongfang Ya’s attention?”

Yan Yunyu was startled. Knowing Teacher Dongfang Ya’s status, she couldn’t help feeling a flicker of jealousy.

Her maid Xiao Xue replied calmly, “Yes. After some students grew complacent in the Formal Class, Teacher Dongfang Ya used Mu Lin’s entry to shake things up. He didn’t resent being used—instead, he fully supported her efforts to push others. That’s likely why she values him.”

The explanation sounded plausible. Familiar with Teacher Dongfang Ya’s temperament, Yan Yunyu scoffed, “How… fortunate for him.”

Xiao Xue continued evenly, “Should we prioritize recruiting him?”

Yan Yunyu shook her head immediately. “No. Cleverness means little in a world where strength reigns supreme.”

…

Mu Lin remained unaware of Yan Yunyu’s assessment. But upon returning to class, he noticed something odd.

Though Yan Yunyu had announced hiring talents with Spirit Stones, only mid-tier Formal Class students flocked to her. The true elites clustered around Ji Xue instead.

At first puzzled, Mu Lin soon understood.

“This world is perilous. As Taoist Palace students, we’ll eventually face battlefield killing. Stronger teammates mean better survival odds. Ji Xue cleared the tower’s third level alone—matching Yan Yunyu’s entire team. Allying with Ji Xue means climbing higher and living longer.”

Even Mu Lin would choose Ji Xue first. Crucially, while Yan Yunyu was a wealthy legitimate daughter, Ji Xue’s status matched hers—with equal resources.

‘Yan Yunyu offers nothing Ji Xue lacks, but Ji Xue’s strength is irreplaceable. No wonder elites gather around her.’

Dismissing the matter as irrelevant, Mu Lin focused on what truly mattered.

“Today, my Black Water Mystic Serpent Cultivation reaches its awakening advancement!”