Chapter 348

Chapter 348: First Battle, Dragon Clan

“You want to take over? I haven’t lost yet!”

When Mu Lin proposed to step in, Blood Cherry became the most resistant.

She didn’t consider herself defeated and believed she could fight several more rounds.

While Mu Lin understood her stance, he disagreed.

“Victory is possible, but there’s still a thirty percent chance you’ll die here…”

Blood Cherry shook her head freely. “I know blades show no mercy. Since walking the cultivation path, I’ve never feared Life and Death.”

“But I refuse to let you die pointlessly here.”

“…”

Mu Lin’s intense focus on safety warmed Blood Cherry’s heart.

Yet she couldn’t fully embrace his combat philosophy.

“This battle matters. If we shrink from Life and Death in mere matches, how will we face true life-or-death struggles?”

To Blood Cherry, the great way demanded striving through mortal peril to grasp survival’s thread. Without his Attribute Panel, Mu Lin might’ve shared this view.

But with the panel and numerous self-preservation skills, his outlook had shifted.

“You’re mistaken. For me, there’s no such thing as Life-and-Death combat. Against any foe, I keep reserves and crush them with tenfold – no, hundredfold – strength.”

Mu Lin’s creed was clear: fortify defenses, stockpile resources, bide time for dominance. He focused on cultivation growth to ensure every battle became bullying through overwhelming power.

“Hmm…”

Blood Cherry initially frowned at this philosophy, considering hundredfold superiority cowardly and impractical.

Then she recalled Mu Lin’s monstrously solid foundation.

Others couldn’t maintain such crushing advantages, but Mu Lin needed no special efforts. Simply fighting peers let him exert hundredfold pressure.

Crucially, his Substitute Paper Figures looked utterly lifelike. By deploying these carefully, he avoided dangers and high-level enemies, ensuring only equal-tier confrontations.

“As ruler, you can ‘avoid standing under crumbling walls.’ But I…”

“With the Slaughtering Blade, you could command armies instead of frontline combat. I won’t stop you becoming a warrior rather than general or Lord of the Blood River – but not yet. When you’ve mastered high-level resources and plateaued, I’ll send you to battlefields even if you resist.”

“Now you still need growth – whether in essence, Blood Servants, or other skills. This isn’t your time for death matches.”

“…True. This isn’t my moment for desperate battles.”

Under Mu Lin’s reasoning, Blood Cherry yielded.

He didn’t mind her earlier defiance. Subordinates unafraid to risk their lives pleased him. Though aiming to become Lord of Mount Tai and Emperor of Lidu, Mu Lin had no desire to be a tyrant.

Some raised objections, but Mu Lin would accept reasonable suggestions.

…

Their conversation took place through spiritual thoughts, making it swift.

Within moments, they finished talking. Blood Cherry stepped off the fighting arena platform while Mu Lin descended slowly atop a paper crane.

“He’s finally here.”

“Beating Mu Lin will end this.”

“You think you can beat Lord Mu Lin? Keep dreaming! Without his mercy, you’d struggle against Blood Cherry herself…”

“Right! Lord Mu Lin will crush you all!”

Mu Lin’s arrival marked the final battle, stirring excited whispers among the young talents surrounding the arena.

Meanwhile, the demons and monsters watched Mu Lin with wary eyes.

After witnessing Yan Yunyu and Blood Cherry’s displays, they understood Mu Lin’s fearsome reputation.

If even his subordinates wielded such power, how strong must he be? None dared imagine.

Now, even the proudest demons showed grudging respect, strategizing how to oppose him—for they knew humans and monsters could never coexist peacefully.

Clashing over resources and racial rivalry was inevitable.

After all, those not of our kind cannot be trusted.

Thus, Mu Lin, humanity’s rising star, became their natural enemy.

“That’s Mu Lin? He looks ordinary. Black Tiger, why’s he got you so spooked?”

Li Jingjing, the White Tiger, tilted her head, studying the unremarkable-looking young man.

The Golden-Winged Tiger spoke up for his companion, the black fierce tiger.

“Appearances deceive. If Black Tiger fears him, he’s formidable. But worry not—with my holy beast inheritance, I’ll shred any foe.”

“We’ll see if you keep that boldness after facing his true power…”

“I fear no enemy!”

…

While most of the Demon Race regarded Mu Lin warily, a few lounged carelessly amid the tension.

One voice dripped with bored arrogance:

“Finally. The earlier bouts nearly put me to sleep. Let’s hope this finale entertains.”

Another haughty tone answered:

“I found that dragon-blooded woman from last fight interesting. Her combat power’s passable. Gui Quan—tell that human I’m taking his maid as my guard.”

“…As you command, Master.”

This speaker’s contempt held chilling legitimacy—for he wasn’t human or common monster, but a true dragon.

Unlike other races, the dragon clan had never been completely conquered by humans.

Even though humans held a dominant position on land, the sea’s supremacy remained firmly with the dragon clan.

Many inland waters also hid numerous dragon clan agents.

It could be said the dragon clan was a powerful race capable of rivaling humans.

With their ancient inheritance and vast treasures, their foundation might have even surpassed humanity’s.

What truly set them apart was humanity’s lack of a permanent ruler—royal families rose and fell, leaving no true sovereign.

The Dragon Palace, however, stood unchanging. All aquatic races served as subordinates, while true dragons alone ruled absolutely.

This deep-rooted hierarchy kept dragons elevated above all.

To curb rebellion, ease frustrations, and bolster their numbers, the dragon clan offered a path upward.

The Dragon Gate—or the Transformation secret technique—was their grand scheme.

Any creature could transform into a dragon, gaining equal status upon success. This dangling prize turned aquatic races from foes into hopeful aspirants dreaming of joining the ruling class.

Though irrelevant to current events, this system bred arrogance among dragons.

Those who ascended from humble origins or lived millennia understood caution and restraint.

But egg-born dragons, pampered by flattering subordinates, grew wildly conceited.

Ninth Princess Ao Xuan and Seventh Prince Ao Yi typified this—they casually dismissed humans as inferiors.

Their attitude made the leading Dragon King frown. He knew while some humans worshiped dragons, true talents feared none.

Yet he chose not to scold Ao Yi, deciding instead to let conflict teach them humility.

*‘Words teach poorly. Let consequences be their lesson.’*

“Still, Mu Lin likely can’t defeat Ao Yi… Troublesome.”

The Dragon King doubted his nephew could lose. Not from underestimating Mu Lin, but due to true dragons’ overwhelming advantages.

Egg-born dragons incubated in premium high-level resources hatched directly into the Transformation realm—Ao Yi and Ao Xuan’s current cultivation.

Their eggs also granted bloodline inheritance, gifting them mighty spells at birth.

More enviably, true dragons lived three thousand years. Mere growth and rest would elevate them to Earth Immortals in their prime—combat-ready titans with peerless bodies, innate magic, and Dragon Palace treasures. A single dragon could overwhelm ten, even a hundred humans.

This power fueled their arrogance. Their oceanic retreat stemmed not from defeat, but inability to match humanity’s numbers in prolonged wars.

Viewing humanity as a collective threat, they scorned individuals.

*“Dragons reign supreme among equals.”*

This creed ran deep. Though Mu Lin was strong, the Dragon King believed Ao Yi would prevail even at equal cultivation—let alone being a tier higher.

*‘Should I hint humans to gang up on Ao Yi?’*

…

Unaware of being used as a whetstone for dragon pride, Mu Lin stepped onto the arena facing the blind swordsman.

“Yield,” Mu Lin advised quietly. “You can’t win.”

“Save your pity!” Northern aristocrats bred grit, and this swordsman attacked despite knowing the odds.

Experience told him he’d get one chance. He took it instantly.

“Buzz!”

His eyes blazed as disintegration forces shredded Mu Lin’s body… scattering it into fragments.

“???”