Chapter 478

Chapter 478: Powers of Life, Derived from Blood

"Life adapts to its environment and begins new evolution under harsh conditions. In previous eras, modern life evolved through gradual steps."

From single-celled organisms to multi-cellular beings, then invertebrates, vertebrates, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and birds… life’s evolution progressed stage by stage.

Of course, through vast stretches of time, not all lifeforms achieved successful evolution – many perished directly in hostile environments.

"Life’s transformation requires multitudes of individuals and generations, spanning tens of thousands to millions of years for gradual changes."

Truly, life proves complex, its evolution demanding numerous conditions.

Fortunately, the powers of life could accelerate this process.

While recalling his past knowledge of biological evolution, Mu Lin initiated his operations.

Rather than acting immediately, he summoned his guide Yue Ling and requested a drop of blood.

"Could you give me a drop of blood?"

"…Fine."

Though unclear about Mu Lin’s intentions, Yue Ling – permeated with Death Energy – indifferently surrendered a blood droplet.

After obtaining Celestial Spirit tribe blood, Mu Lin didn’t start cultivation immediately. Through the connection between his Substitute Paper Figure and main body, he expended massive magical energy to send a drop of his vital blood into the starry void.

"Hum!"

Mu Lin then merged his vital blood with Yue Ling’s, employing powers of life to make it grow rapidly.

He was crafting a soulless body through life powers, preparing to implant his Substitute Paper Figure’s soul Mark.

Truthfully, the optimal approach would be using only his own vital blood to create a body perfectly suited to his combat power.

But he remembered this trial aimed to win approval from the Celestial Spirit tribe’s Goddess of Life.

Though the goddess claimed she’d choose her successor solely based on final battle results, Mu Lin knew demonstrating care for her tribe would earn favor.

Within her Divine Kingdom, the Goddess could employ countless methods to subtly influence outcomes if she wished.

Thus Mu Lin blended Yue Ling’s blood with his own, seeking to create a body bearing Celestial Spirit lineage.

"One candidate from another tribe, another carrying her people’s blood – you can’t claim complete impartiality."

"Besides, this vessel won’t be wasted. Celestial Spirit blood should merge better with life powers… This avatar will serve long-term use."

High-level Deities rarely maintain single forms, preferring multiple vessels. This proved necessary – the mightier the being, whether cultivator or Deity, the more environmental requirements constrained them. Entering foreign Divine Kingdoms or worlds weakened both True Lords and Deities alike.

"Alien worlds and differing Divine Kingdom rules suppress foreign Deities, blocking their command over local energies."

While limiting, this also brought advantages – within their own domains, True Lords and Deities could unleash 300% combat power as baseline.

Like Mu Lin himself – leaving his native world would weaken him considerably, but within it, his strength multiplied tenfold. Backed by such power, he’d even dare challenge forbidden places.

This situation meant that neither True Lords nor Deities allowed their true forms to leave their domains lightly.

True Gods especially—those who had built their Divine Kingdoms—would remain inside them for eternity unless unforeseen events occurred.

Though their main bodies stayed confined, True Lords and Deities still required means to act beyond their domains. Thus, they created avatars to represent different aspects of themselves.

Mu Lin needed even more avatars than most.

His hell system required countless avatars as foundational pillars to sustain its structure.

Hence, Mu Lin never feared creating more avatars, so long as they remained entirely under his control.

"Yama is my avatar. Zhong Kui and Cui Yu, leaders of the civil and military judges, are extensions of my will. Even Zhu Long merely represents another facet of my being."

"Adding another avatar from the Celestial Spirit tribe changes nothing… These avatars lack independent thought, and I’ll never permit divided souls with free will to exist."

While pondering this, Mu Lin channeled immense vitality from his powers of life into the vital blood, shaping it into a soulless embryo.

He soon noticed the embryo’s formation progressed sluggishly.

This was inevitable—the energy within Mu Lin’s body exceeded normal limits, containing multiple superlative forces. Ordinary energy couldn’t hasten the growth of an embryo bearing his vital blood.

Fortunately, mastery over nuclear fusion—particularly controlled nuclear fusion—meant Mu Lin lacked many things, but never energy.

When basic energy proved insufficient, his true form created a Strong Magnetic Field and forged a sun from spiritual energy. Through the connection between his main body and avatar, torrents of solar energy flooded into his projection.

Boom!

Nuclear fusion unleashed staggering quantities of energy. Converted through his powers of life, this deluge became vitality that surged into the vital blood embryo.

Hummm!!

Crackle…

The colossal energy altered the environment, making plants blossom wildly around Mu Lin.

These mutations inevitably drew observers’ attention.

Each passing second, Mu Lin channeled energy equivalent to an Earth Immortal’s full power.

Such relentless, overwhelming force demanded attention… and fear.

_’I knew his tricks wouldn’t be straightforward…’_

_’Curse him! Where does this energy come from?’_

"This can’t continue! With that much power, I’ll lose. Must disrupt him—"

All present understood the adage about absolute power overwhelming skill. They knew what catastrophic results might follow when such energy fueled the powers of life.

Yet despite their dread, none attacked—the Goddess of Life fused with the Cang Feng Tree had turned her gaze upon them.

Challenging a True God within her Divine Kingdom? None dared.

Instead, exchanged glances forged silent agreements. When battle erupted, they’d strike Mu Lin together.

_’That Mu Lin’s too powerful. Without joining forces, we’ll all fall…’_

Mu Lin sensed their wary alliance but ignored it. Success meant he could crush all opposition.

He kept refining his Celestial Spirit body, undistracted.

Half an hour later, the constant flow of energy finally made the body grow into its teenage form.

At this sight, Mu Lin promptly transferred the split soul fragments and Mark from his Substitute Paper Figure into the new flesh.

With real flesh now, Mu Lin noticed the unique traits of the Celestial Spirit tribe.

—They resembled humans, but their key difference wasn’t extra eyes or horns. Their true uniqueness showed in the spiritual patterns covering their skin.

Take Yue Ling, Mu Lin’s guide. Moon-like patterns decorated her forehead and body.

These patterns strengthened their bond with the world, making it easier to grasp natural laws. Some Celestial Spirits even gained innate magic through these markings.

Mu Lin’s current body now bore dense, intricate patterns. Unlike ordinary Celestial Spirits, his markings formed special characters at key points.

"A race born with spiritual patterns? Truly blessed by nature."

"Still too fragile, though…"

Closer inspection revealed Mu Lin’s patterns centered around a great sun symbol on his chest.

The blazing sun emblem spread branching lines across his entire body like a tree diagram—a fusion of great sun’s laws and powers of life.

Above his brows, sun patterns shaped an eye symbolizing Gazing at the Heavens ability.

His left palm bore the Root Word "Purify"—a blend of Holy Salt’s cleansing and solar power.

The right palm faintly showed the character for "Force", embodying his grasp of gravity.

This sun-marked Celestial Spirit form appeared formidable. Yet Mu Lin frowned. His full powers included not just Embodiment of Calamity – Great Sun, but also death energy, hellscapes, dominion-wielding willing heart fire, and void-like Heavenly Techniques of Darkness.

Their absence stemmed not from choice—the Celestial Spirit vessel couldn’t contain his entire essence despite its strength.

"Even with powers of life, temporary clones can’t manifest my full might," he mused, displeased.

His dissatisfaction contrasted sharply with the awestruck Celestial Spirits around him. Even Yue Ling’s usual calm cracked.

Earlier, the tribe had resisted Mu Lin’s leadership like Britons rejecting a foreign ruler. Only imminent doom and respect for Goddess of Life prevented rebellion.

Some radicals preferred extinction over foreign rule, planning to die when their goddess fell rather than live under others.

Yet now, every gaze confirmed the impossible—this reborn figure radiated their tribe’s essence. However they looked, Mu Lin now stood unmistakably as their kin.