Chapter 408

Chapter 408: Mu Lin: You’re surrounding me? No, I’m the one surrounding you!

So many rare treasures made everyone covetous—even Mu Lin himself felt tempted. A wild thought kept circling in his mind:

"What if I killed myself a few times? Could I claim some of that bounty?"

If even Mu Lin felt swayed, it proved the dragon clan’s legendary wealth wasn’t just empty talk.

When multiple Dragon Kings and Dragon Lords joined forces, the treasures they offered shook the entire world.

Countless water tribes, monsters and evil spirits, minions of evil gods, demon sect disciples, and free cultivators stared hungrily at Mu Lin’s image. To these ambitious cultivators, Mu Lin had become a walking treasure vault—a prize ripe for taking.

Though aware of Mu Lin’s power, hordes of cultivators still flooded toward Moon Water City. Wealth tempts hearts—this universal truth held firm.

Most importantly, few humans or demons shared Ao Huan’s sharp judgment to recognize Mu Lin’s terrifying strength. Many reasoned simply: even if Mu Lin ranked first in talent among the human race, he remained at the Transformation stage. Therefore, other prodigies could still defeat him.

"Mu Lin’s human, not divine. He might beat one opponent, even a hundred—but a thousand? Ten thousand? Impossible!"

"Purple Mist Flower! This spirit flower vanished from our Family Inheritance millennia ago! With it, I can finally master our secret technique!"

"A ten-thousand-year longevity spirit herb! Servants! Fetch this herb for our Ancestor at all costs!"

Drawn by dragon transformation secrets, rare treasures, or spiritual weapons, cultivators swarmed Moon Water City after the dragon clan’s announcement. The crowd included both opportunistic scavengers and genuine powerhouses—like the resurgent Gold Crow’s Heir, the Holy Golden White Tiger, and disguised descendants of evil gods.

This gathering of Transformation cultivators made many pessimistic about Mu Lin’s fate.

"With so many challengers, Mu Lin’s doomed."

"Never cross the dragon clan. They didn’t even move a finger—just used their riches to turn the world against him."

"Such wasted talent. If he’d shown restraint and captured dragons instead of killing them, he wouldn’t be in this mess."

Moon Water City buzzed with such conversations, some elder cultivators smugly criticizing Mu Lin’s recklessness. Yet despite widespread doubt in his survival, three days passed without a single challenger.

…

This odd standoff made sense upon reflection. While Mu Lin’s predicament seemed dire, all acknowledged his strength. Most believed he’d only fall after hundreds of battles exposed his weaknesses—which meant hundreds of Transformation cultivators being defeated. Given Mu Lin’s lethal response to provocation, this equated to hundreds of deaths.

No faction could stomach such losses. As for the cultivators themselves?

"We came for riches, not to die."

All waited for others to test Mu Lin first, hoping to spy weaknesses from the sidelines. Sadly for them, everyone shared the same cunning plan.

The predicament of three monks having no water to drink befell them.

What made some frown deeper was that upon reaching the Transformation stage, their power couldn’t be considered weak.

This meant they possessed enough strength to control their own destinies.

Thus, those unwilling to act couldn’t be forced by even the most powerful beings.

And so, the swarm of cultivators eager to challenge Mu Lin fell silent, none daring to be the first to strike.

Once again, Mu Lin alone intimidated countless cultivators.

His overwhelming presence even drew mocking laughter from his supporters.

“Pfft… You lot swore Mu Lin would lose, that Lord Mu Lin would perish. I thought you were all so fearless, yet not one of you dares face him!”

“Hah! Cowards like you defeating Lord Mu Lin? Keep dreaming.”

“Trashy Golden Crow offspring—all bark, no bite. They tremble and hide when Lord Mu Lin appears…”

“Biggest cowards are the Dragon Palace water tribe. ‘Water overlords’ with ten-thousand-year inheritance? Ha! Their Dragon Prince got slain, yet they cower instead of avenging him. Useless lot…”

Truth was, those praising Mu Lin weren’t all human race admirers. Many stirred rumors, lifting some while crushing others to provoke hotheaded talents.

They hoped these prodigies would battle Mu Lin, testing his limits for them.

The taunts… proved ineffective.

Ao Yi’s gruesome end taught everyone: acting rashly against Mu Lin meant death. That man ignored status or backing—cross him, and he’d slaughter you without blinking.

…

The Transformation cultivators’ caution even wrinkled Dragon King Ao Zun’s brow.

Ao Tao, whose son died miserably, glared with bloodshot eyes, itching to command water tribe cultivators against Mu Lin.

“My son’s dead! Why should those vermin live? Every clan must send Transformation cultivators to avenge him!”

Less about vengeance, more about dragging others into his grief—Ao Tao wanted the water tribes to bury their young alongside his son.

Ao Zun vetoed this.

“Direct orders are clumsy. Bereaved families would heap frustration upon us—unacceptable.”

Seeing Ao Tao’s twisted expression, he added hastily, “But we won’t ignore this. Ao Huan! Spread word: the first ten to challenge Mu Lin gain rewards if they uncover his secrets—even if they lose.”

“Bribing them with treasures… Understood.”

Ao Huan turned to leave, but before deactivating the water mirror, a messenger rushed in with shocking news.

—In Moon Water City, a Transformation cultivator had clashed with Mu Lin.

Not some provoked outsider seeking death, but Mu Lin himself—actively challenging others.

“???”

“Madness! Surrounded by countless Transformation cultivators, he’s picking fights instead of lying low?!”

Mu Lin’s boldness stunned the Dragon Palace water tribe.

Moon Water City’s cultivators gaped in equal disbelief.

Hearing Mu Lin’s voice directly challenging them from the air, many cultivators wore perplexed expressions.

"How dare he?"

"Doesn’t Mu Lin realize he’s surrounded? If he kept quiet, he might’ve lived longer. Provoking us now will only kill him faster!"

Some couldn’t understand his actions, while others mocked his audacity and recklessness.

"Truly the man who dared slaughter the Dragon Prince. His aura makes it feel like he’s surrounding us, not the other way around."

"I feel it too… insane arrogance!"

Some marveled while others glanced at the Demon Clan’s magic ape. Mu Lin had challenged no weakling but a rising star among demons.

This was intentional. His attacks on demons and evil spirits weren’t just for revenge – he sought to grow stronger.

With the Slaughtering Blade and Crimson Holy Grail, Mu Lin could steal others’ powers for himself.

Like Ao Yi, whose vitality, magic, and soul got devoured by the Slaughtering Blade before becoming Mu Lin’s tools.

After claiming the soul, Mu Lin scrubbed its consciousness clean using Chaos Origin Essence and Black Abyss water, leaving a blank slate.

He then crammed that empty Dragon’s soul full of Flames of Revenge.

"Boom!"

The soul fused with vengeful fire became a twisted dragon spirit under Mu Lin’s control – a Transcendent entity at the peak of Transformation.

Ao Yi’s stolen magic and vitality also enriched the Crimson Holy Grail’s reserves.

True dragons carried genetic Templates. Though bloodline restrictions prevented full analysis, the Grail extracted fragments of draconic secrets.

Using this Dragon blood, Mu Lin could now mass-produce Dragon-blooded demons through the Grail – another formidable force.

"With the Slaughtering Blade, Crimson Holy Grail, and Soul Binding Chains… Each kill weakens my foes and strengthens me."

This turned every surrounding Transformation cultivator into ripe crops in Mu Lin’s eyes. Now he swung his sickle to reap.

…

Few knew Mu Lin grew stronger through slaughter. His bold attack amid encirclement made observers deem him insanely arrogant.

After their murmurs died down, all eyes turned to the magic ape. The primate hesitated, unwilling to be others’ pawn.

But Mu Lin gave no choice. "By answering the dragons’ call, you’ve become my enemy. Refuse my challenge? You can’t."

"Buzz!"

Mu Lin’s will lifted part of Yin Soil’s restrictions, forcing the ape’s soul reflections into that realm. Simultaneously, a crimson-flamed long knife stabbed at the emerging shadow.

The magic ape, once proud of its talent, sneered coldly. "You think I fear a mere Transformation cultivator?" It roared, unleashing its full power-

-only to freeze mid-roar. Its explosive aura shattered like glass.

"???"

Before anyone grasped what happened, the ape’s head lolled. Its body thudded to earth. The young demon had abruptly "fallen asleep."