Chapter 360

Chapter 360: The Power of Xuan Huang’s Energy, Creating Worlds

The Chu family acted out of their desire for divine status and fear of alienating Mu Lin.

Prince Liang also moved. Though hesitant before, witnessing Mu Lin’s achievements deepened his uncertainty.

No one could blame him—the Sky Ferry was invaluable, a cornerstone treasure of Prince Liang’s residence. Giving such a treasure as dowry pained him.

Ultimately, Fu Bo’s words tipped the scales:

"Praised by southern aristocrats while suppressing the northern ones, Mu Lin now stands as humanity’s greatest. Such individuals emerge once in thousands of years…not every age births a genius who dominates an era."

"This is our chance—our last. If Ling Sha fails to wed him now, she never will."

"……"

Prince Liang couldn’t argue. To ordinary folk, royal status mattered. But to true powerful beings? Princes were common—over a dozen across nineteen states, plus foreign and lesser clans, totaling thirty nobles.

The Great Spirit Dynasty housed powerful clans and sects rivaling or surpassing royal households. Royalty wasn’t supreme.

Had Mu Lin fully matured—a peerless sage—Prince Liang’s residence might’ve lost all chance to approach him.

"Sigh. You’re right. Delaying further will cost us Mu Lin."

……

While the Chu family and Prince Liang’s residence schemed, other powerful clans also stirred. Some sent gifts, others women; lesser heirs even pledged service. As an unparalleled genius, Mu Lin found kindness everywhere.

He ignored the girls but cherished the resources—especially the essence.

"Enough gathered. Time to accelerate refinement! My Transformation advancement approaches."

With this thought, Mu Lin’s consciousness plunged into his inner sea. There, a colossal painting spanned the firmament—his True Spirit Domain Chart.

No longer mere text, intricate illustrations now adorned it.

Central stood Yama Hall, where a crowned Yama sat regally. Civil and military judges flanked him, with ghost officials and Yin soldier generals below.

Beyond lay Fengdu City—a somber black metropolis radiating stern majesty. Within marched countless Beiwai Army soldiers, Yin soldiers masking their faces, amplifying the city’s lethal aura.

The grand and solemn town wasn’t the entire picture. Beyond it flowed a sinister dark river encircling Fengdu City like a moat, branching into numerous tributaries that permeated the True Spirit Domain Chart. The wilderness outside displayed blood pools, endless fields of enchanting Manjusaka flowers, and stretches of grave mounds.

This True Spirit Domain Chart represented the culmination of Mu Lin’s cultivation journey, each illustration corresponding to his acquired cultivation methods. His current visit to the inner sea’s chart wasn’t for mere admiration.

With focused intent, Mu Lin’s consciousness flew toward the chart. His spirit merged with the illustration, his figure appearing within its boundaries. Anyone observing would’ve marveled at the two-dimensional image transforming into three-dimensional reality.

Within the chart’s realm, everything felt tangible – the great city with its central hall, Beiwai Army soldiers patrolling streets, and distant vistas of Other Shore Flower sea. Crimson demonic creatures clashed with Asuras in wilderness battles beyond Fengdu’s walls. Though dreamlike, elements held genuine substance – at least partially.

This partial reality stemmed not from Mu Lin’s cultivation strength, but from the high-level resources he’d refined. The Xuanqing’s essence and Earthly Yellow’s Evil he’d processed could combine into Xuan Huang’s energy – primordial force said to birth creation itself. While others might not achieve primordial regression through this energy, Mu Lin succeeded.

The True Spirit Domain Chart fused all Mu Lin’s techniques, including the Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral visualization method. Originally creating mere illusions through spiritual projection, the technique gained potency through Manjusaka’s Life and Death Illusion power – enabling soul imprisonment and city-scale hallucinations. Yet illusions remained illusions, vulnerable to Mu Lin’s mental state.

Everything changed with yin-yang convergence. Xuan Huang’s energy infused the chart like skeletal framework, grounding Mind Image · City of Heaven’s Funeral’s visions in partial reality. The incomplete merger limited this reality’s scope, requiring supplemental elements for full secret world formation.

Mu Lin’s design drew from past-life concepts. Additions like Manjusaka, Infinite Chains, Crimson Holy Grail, Slaughtering Blade, and black river water completed the chart’s structure – enhancing its power while increasing danger.

"I could now call myself the lord of a world, albeit a rough and simpler version."

Shifting from illusion to reality brought Mu Lin significant advantages. Most crucially, maintaining the illusory hellscape had previously drained his spiritual thoughts and energy. Now, the actualized hell secret realm instead empowered him. Once fully established, carrying the True Spirit Domain Chart would grant Mu Lin inexhaustible strength as long as the secret realm endured.

The world-suppression effect proved equally valuable. Infused with Xuan Huang’s energy, the True Spirit Domain Chart had become tangible like a treasure weapon. It now mimicked legendary artifacts capable of trapping foes within itself.

"This chart bears my essence entirely," Mu Lin observed. "Within it, I command absolute control, unleashing triple my normal combat power. Enemies suffer differently—their abilities get sealed by Infinite Chains, their resolve eroded by the Other Shore Flower sea and black river water, while the realm’s spiritual energy rejects them. Even peak adversaries could barely muster half their strength here."

Though formidable, the chart carried risks. As the core of his cultivation methods, any damage to it would cripple Mu Lin’s foundation. Total destruction would erase his cultivation entirely.

"Trapping enemies inside seems unwise—Brother Monkey’s tales warn against reckless devouring. Still, projecting Illusion and Reality to shape favorable battlefields remains viable."

The True Spirit Domain Chart’s evolution through Xuan Huang’s energy delighted Mu Lin, marking his progression toward merging with a world. "This shall become the heart of my future hell realm," he resolved.

Outside the Time Secret Realm, Mu Lin refined vibrant energy streams, guiding their yin-yang convergence to produce more Xuan Huang’s energy for his chart. Simultaneously, his numerous clones scoured the Time Secret Realm—some practicing techniques, others studying its spatial laws.

Having created his secret realm, Mu Lin instinctively understood its growth potential through absorbing stray dimensional fragments. However, forcibly assimilating the Time Secret Realm risked backlash and diluted Leadership. Instead, he sought to unravel its mysteries first.

"The Time Secret Realm’s laws prove frustratingly profound," he mused, clones pacing through its shimmering corridors.

While Mu Lin cultivated, nobles schemed to approach him, and greater powers beyond the north-south divide stirred in shadowed councils.

They discussed how Mu Lin’s total victory affected both sides’ situations and how to respond.

In the southern aristocrats’ meeting room – the same grand hall with the same attendees – all the family heads and elders now wore smiles instead of worried frowns.

"Excellent. Mu Lin didn’t disappoint. His complete victory improves our position. Even if we lose every future battle, we’ve got something to show now."

"Better than improving our position, I’m thrilled to see those rude northerners humiliated! They came swaggering in only to get crushed by one man. What a spectacular failure!"

"Serves them right! Acting so high and mighty while looking down on us southerners – they brought this misfortune on themselves."

The mood remained light as they chatted casually. Their partial recovery even made potential future losses feel less bitter.

Though truth be told, this was just consolation talk. They’d prefer winning every battle.

Everyone knew the harsh reality – apart from Mu Lin, Southern Prodigies stood no chance against northern scholars. When strength fails, even unwillingness to lose changes nothing.

Just as some were writing off future battles, a voice interrupted:

"What if Mu Lin fights again? Could he beat northern Transformation prodigies?"

Silence gripped the room. Days earlier, suggesting a seventeen-year-old challenging thirty-somethings would’ve drawn ridicule. Now, after Mu Lin’s repeated miracles, no one dismissed the idea outright.

After consideration, hope emerged.

"Mu Lin summoned multiple Transformation combat powers before. Though early-stage manifestations, their abilities were formidable. Numbers could give him victory."

"True, he might not crush northern talents like before, but he could hold his own."

Eyes lit up around the table. Thanks to Mu Lin, they already dominated the Young Group. If he helped salvage Youth Group battles too, the North-South conflict could become their victory. The arrogant northern aristocrats’ plundering tactics would collapse completely.

But cold water soon doused their excitement:

"Good plan, but you’re forgetting – Mu Lin has power, not obligation. Last time, we manipulated northern hostility to make him act. Now they’ll avoid provoking him, and he’ll likely stay out."

Frowns spread through the room. Some grew displeased with Mu Lin.

"Reckless and irresponsible! Needs to learn respect…"

Many old-timers clung to seniority. Mu Lin’s ties to Yan and Chu families brought both benefits and enemies – their rivals naturally opposed him. The current speaker was Yan family’s opponent, aiming to hinder Mu Lin’s growth.

Before he finished, the door slammed open. A panting elder rushed in, ignoring the irritated crowd.

"Emergency! Northerners are bringing Mu Lin lavish gifts! They want to recruit him!"

Chaos erupted. Chairs scraped as everyone jumped up. Their partial recovery relied entirely on Mu Lin. Losing him wouldn’t just reverse their gains – it would make everything worse.