Chapter 9
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Chapter 9: Origami of the Four Realms, Masterpiece
The logical thinking skills developed in his past life allowed Mu Lin to ponder deeply during cultivation, grasping fundamental principles of practice.
Yet such thoughts soon became irrelevant.
The fish oil paste was losing its potency!
As its effects waned, Mu Lin’s channel to perceive the external world gradually narrowed.
After completing just one cultivation cycle, the paste’s power vanished completely from his forehead.
He’d reverted to being an ordinary mortal incapable of sensing spiritual energy.
“Channels forced open by external aids close when the aid fades. Now I understand why Zong Xiu’s group didn’t achieve immediate advancement in perception.”
Mu Lin resisted reapplying the paste. A single Spirit Stone bought only one bottle containing nine uses—too precious to waste. Instead, he focused on recapturing his earlier sensations, hoping to reconnect with heaven and earth without further expense.
After closing his eyes for an hour of meditation, he surrendered.
Nothing.
Reluctantly, he applied the paste again.
Still, no connection formed.
The repeated applications left his forehead chilled and aching.
“Foreign substances always harm the body. Can’t push further…”
Abandoning energy perception, he returned to folding paper figures.
*Rustle… rustle…*
By the Taoist Palace’s dismissal time, his origami skill reached Level 3 Mastery (300/360).
“This progresses faster than cultivation methods. If only…”
After organizing his paper creations, Mu Lin carried a stack of White Paper home.
He rested instead of cultivating, eyes shut until moonrise.
Midnight’s silver glow found him gazing upward.
“What power does vitality of the living hold?”
Moonlight streamed through his opened window as he smeared fish oil paste on his brow.
Time to test the Great Yin Living Scripture.
The paste worked instantly—spiritual energy flooded his awareness.
He now sensed the difference: daytime’s warmth versus night’s cool flow, particularly those moon-pale specks humming with potential.
He drew the silvery energies inside his body, guiding them through complex meridians.
Failure.
The Great Yin Living Scripture’s pathways proved far more intricate than the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique. Worse, the paste’s effects expired before he completed one cycle—the closing channel left him seething.
“No, I can’t get angry, mustn’t get angry… but I’m still furious!”
In his sullen mood, Mu Lin hastily performed a meditation session of Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral before drifting into sleep.
While his two spiritual energy cultivation methods lagged, Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral progressed rapidly. Three meditation sessions boosted its progress to Level 2 Proficiency (303/800) – a speed second only to his origami skill.
Each meditation drained his mental energy, requiring half a day’s rest before resuming. Yet with origami, he could reach Level 4 Master in mere days if focused. However, dismissing it as non-essential, Mu Lin prioritized other tasks, leaving his origami skill stagnant at Level 3 Mastery.
“Though neglected, its simplicity means I’ll still reach Level 4 by tomorrow morning…”
Muttering this, Mu Lin fell asleep.
Dawn arrived. After consuming a bowl of Spirit Rice, Mu Lin hurried to the classroom. As usual, he applied fish oil paste and practiced Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique. Though his cultivation progress inched forward, sensing external spiritual energy remained elusive.
Frustrated, he shifted to Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral. Upon imprinting another concept into his mind, a splitting headache forced him to rest before turning to paper folding.
*Rustle rustle rustle*
Within an hour of meditation, he completed the remaining progress, pushing origami skill to Level 3 Mastery (360/360). As always, maxing the proficiency granted fresh insights into the next stage.
This time, the epiphany lasted longer – nearly half an hour – before clarity returned. Now, Mu Lin understood not just efficient folding, but how to imbue paper creations with artistry and lifelike vitality. His origami now matched master calligraphers and painters, as confirmed by the proficiency panel:
【Origami: 4th Level Master (1/1080) Trait: Masterpiece, Lifelike】
*Rustle rustle rustle*
Still riding the afterglow of insight, Mu Lin instinctively crafted a paper figure. To his surprise, this one carried feminine grace, standing out starkly among his previous stiff, lifeless creations. Placed among others, it resembled a slumbering miniature person.
“…”
“Never thought I’d become an artist. In my past life, this skill alone could’ve sustained me. Pity this world values strength above all.”
With a sigh, he abandoned paper figures – mastering them no longer boosted proficiency. Testing revealed Level 4 Master required folding new items with artistic merit.
After the figure, he folded a paper flower. The first attempt was competent but lacked artistry. The second improved yet remained ordinary. Only on the third try did a white paper blossom radiate winter-plum elegance, earning +1 proficiency. Repeating the same design yielded no further gains.
“Progressing beyond Master is a hundredfold harder… Understandable. Novice, Proficient, and Mastered tiers reward effort, but true Mastery demands sparks of inspiration.”
“That’s why masters are rare. Grandmasters? In my past life, entire eras passed without one. Such heights require not just talent, but epochal circumstances.”
“Without the proficiency panel, I’d struggle to reach Master, let alone Grandmaster.”
