Chapter 47
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Chapter 47: Paper Figure Curse, Level 2
"This year’s first place is definitely mine!"
"Huh???"
Though her scheme progressed smoothly, Yan Yunyu felt an inexplicable hollow sensation while envisioning her victory.
After closing her eyes to meditate, she pinpointed the cause.
"Since I gave Mu Lin plenty of Spirit Stones and the Mighty One’s Demon-Subduing Map, he holds favorable feelings toward me. If I invited him, he’d probably join my team."
This reasoning held true. Mu Lin always regarded Yan Yunyu as a generous patron, making his acceptance likely.
Even now, Mu Lin planned to participate in the upcoming challenge, aiming for impressive results to secure his spot in Yan Yunyu’s team.
—Her offers outweighed even the academy’s rewards. Everyone adored such a lavish sponsor.
"But now I’ve practically shoved Mu Lin toward Lingluo. She can match my resources. If my plan works and they team up, Lingluo will fulfill all his needs. He won’t bother courting my favor anymore."
This realization brought Yan Yunyu a twinge of regret. She genuinely valued Mu Lin’s paper folding and painting talents.
Yet she swiftly dismissed this sentiment.
"Paper crafts and paintings remain trivial pursuits. My priority is claiming first place."
"Mu Lin’s skills are decent, but not worth desperate retention. Exchanging him for Lingluo’s withdrawal from the competition makes strategic sense."
No matter how she analyzed it, Yan Yunyu deemed Mu Lin’s abilities expendable. Sacrificing him brought no loss nor future regrets.
Thus her scheme marched onward.
Unaware of these machinations, Mu Lin buzzed with excitement over his Substitute Paper Figure’s advancement.
That night, while his main body cultivated the Great Yin Living Scripture, one duplicate honed paper folding, painting, and calligraphy—not mere practice, as these paper creations doubled as spell components. The duplicate mass-produced battle-ready paper figures, steeds, knives, and swords.
The second duplicate practiced the Paper Figure Curse.
Through continuous energy replenishment via the Great Yin Living Scripture, Mu Lin summoned his substitutes multiple times nightly.
Frequent manifestations extended his curse practice duration.
Coupled with his proficiency panel’s +1 progress per successful attempt, his technique reached Level 2 before dawn.
"Level 1 Paper Figure Curse requires complete true name, birth date, and vital blood to induce mere phantom pain (without lifelike paper figures)."
"At Level 2 Proficiency, the curse inflicts actual harm—wounds, illnesses, comas—though not instant death. Most mortal curse masters operate here, their tales defining common curse lore."
"Requirements relax at this stage: omit one element from true name/vital blood/birth date. Using my paper figures further reduces demands."
Mu Lin prized this curse for its synergy with paper folders.
—Qi Practitioners of his lineage avoided direct combat, deploying paper armies instead.
Summoners like Mu Lin supported from afar with spells.
But Vitality of the Living lacked elemental affinity, making their spells weaker than elementalists’.
Thus they employed curses through the Vitality’s human connection rather than elemental magic.
"The true advantage? Cursing requires no confrontation. Strike covertly from miles away."
The Yin Eight Sect’s long-standing inheritance and fearsome reputation were no accident.
Battling practitioners of the Paper Folding Lineage often meant exhausting oneself to destroy their paper figures, only to find the paper folder had vanished completely.
[Paper Figure Curse, Level 2 Proficiency (47/810), Trait: Demand Reduction]
…
After cultivating, Mu Lin entered brief hibernation to recover his injuries.
His face remained pallid from blood loss due to curse practice as he finally headed to the classroom.
He raised an eyebrow when Yan Yunyu arrived with yesterday’s transfer student Chu Lingluo shortly after he sat down.
"Why are they here?"
Mu Lin wore confusion, mirrored by Chu Lingluo’s blank expression.
As the green-haired girl opened her mouth to inquire, Yan Yunyu’s declaration froze her in place:
"This gentleman is Mu Lin – the one you’ve been dreaming about."
"Dreaming? Sister, what nonsense… Wait!!!"
Yan Yunyu’s calculated words initially baffled Chu Lingluo. When realization struck, shock bloomed across her innocent features.
"He’s the triple master of paper folding, painting, and calligraphy you mentioned? Impossible! He’s younger than me…"
Chu Lingluo’s disbelief went unchallenged. Even Yan Yunyu wouldn’t have believed Mu Lin’s artistic mastery without witnessing it firsthand.
_’His youth makes him perfect for my scheme.’_
Smiling slyly, Yan Yunyu pressed, "Doubtful?"
"Not exactly… but he’s so young…"
"Youthful, yes. But dear sister, geniuses exist."
Turning to Mu Lin, she continued, "You still owe me a large creation. Since Lingluo adores your art, I’ll transfer this debt to her."
Mu Lin shrugged.
"Fine. After the exam in few days, I’ll make it. Use this time to decide what you want."
His priorities stayed clear – cultivation came first, paper folding and painting being mere elective courses. The artwork could wait until after tower challenges.
Chu Lingluo nodded eagerly.
"Of course, Master Mu decides… But why does your Grand View Garden feel unfinished?"
"Oh? You noticed?"
Mu Lin blinked before admitting frankly:
"Limited skill. The perfect Grand View Garden needs one garden, one scene, one master. I can’t yet craft my envisioned Twelve Gold Hairpins…"
Their discussion flowed smoothly, Chu Lingluo’s artistic passion overcoming shyness. But while Mu Lin and his new patron agreed to delay, Yan Yunyu intervened.
Her plan required Mu Lin to anchor Chu Lingluo before Jing Yeming recruited the unpartnered girl. Delays risked everything.
Before Chu Lingluo finished speaking, Yan Yunyu acted.
No threats came – the cunning heiress knew better. A mid-grade Spirit Stone smacked onto the desk, slid toward Mu Lin with calculated nonchalance.
"My sister craves your art immediately. As her elder, I indulge this wish. Does this sincerity suffice, Young Master Mu?"
"……"
