Chapter 44 – Paper Figure Curse

“I have obtained the ability for clones to cultivate!”

Upon confirming this, Mu Lin’s fists involuntarily clenched tightly.

Were he not in the training ground, he might have even shouted and cheered with excitement at this moment.

It was no wonder he was so elated, for the benefits that clone cultivation could bring him were truly immense.

“Huff…”

Due to his excitement, Mu Lin took several deep breaths in succession before finally suppressing the agitation in his heart.

Afterward, he once again focused on sensing his Substitute Paper Figure. This time, he discovered that with the advancement of his cultivation method, he had not only gained the ability for clones to cultivate.

Other abilities had also received significant enhancements.

First was the core ability of the Substitute Paper Figure—transferring injuries. At the 2nd Realm proficiency level, Mu Lin could only transfer thirty percent of his main body’s injuries to the Substitute Paper Figure.

Now, that thirty percent had increased to fifty percent. Moreover, if he activated the altar to amplify the power of the Substitute Paper Figure, Mu Lin could raise the injury transfer rate from fifty percent to eighty percent in one go.

“This turns a fatal injury directly into a minor one… Unfortunately, transferring injuries requires a vessel, and I only have one Substitute Paper Figure. As a result, a fatal injury can only be transferred once… Hmm?”

Initially, Mu Lin believed he could only transfer injuries once, but soon, he realized something was amiss.

After quietly contemplating for a moment, Mu Lin joyfully discovered that with the advancement of his cultivation method, the number of his Substitute Paper Figures had increased.

Currently, Mu Lin could store two Substitute Paper Figures within his dantian.

This also meant that even an injury as severe as a shattered heart could be transferred twice consecutively.

More importantly, having two Substitute Paper Figures meant Mu Lin could create two clones to assist him in cultivation.

[Substitute Paper Figure (Innate Spell), 3rd Realm Expert (1/8100), Traits: Clone Illusion (two clones), Injury Transfer (fifty percent)]

…

The function of creating clones to aid in cultivation was integrated within the Clone Illusion ability.

“Confusing enemies, coordinating in battle, clone cultivation… This ability is no less significant than injury transfer. No wonder the Substitute Paper Figure spell places Clone Illusion and Injury Transfer on equal footing.”

After marveling at this, Mu Lin immediately took out a lifelike paper figure and gently blew on it.

“Huff…”

With a breath of Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi, the paper figure in Mu Lin’s hand was instantly activated.

Thanks to the lifelike Paper Crafting technique and Master Grade painting skills, the paper figure Mu Lin folded was nearly indistinguishable from his main body.

Moreover, his extraordinary painting and Paper Crafting skills ensured that the expressions on the paper figure’s face were not stiff but rather resembled those of a living person.

When such a paper figure was activated by Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi, it naturally became identical to Mu Lin.

However, in the past, the paper figure still had flaws—though invisible to the naked eye, cultivators and demonic monsters could distinguish enemies using supernatural senses beyond mere sight.

After all, the material of the paper figure was still paper, and it lacked a living soul as well as Qi and Blood. Although Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi could roughly simulate some aspects due to the convergence of the Three Treasures of Essence, those with keen perception could still detect differences.

But now, things had changed.

As Mu Lin exhaled the Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi, the substitute within his dantian flowed along with this breath into the lifelike paper figure.

The connection between the substitute and Mu Lin was far more intimate. At this point, even those with extraordinary perception would find it difficult to distinguish whether Mu Lin or the paper figure before them was real and which was fake.

And this was precisely its function—to confuse the enemy.

The concept of joining forces to fight enemies was also easy to understand. The substitute paper figure was formed from a large amount of Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi, possessing energy and even a portion of Mu Lin’s Divine Soul. As a result, the paper figure before him also had formidable combat power and could assist Mu Lin in battle.

Both of these functions were highly useful. However, at present, Mu Lin was more focused on the third function of the substitute paper figure—cultivation.

“…What a pity.”

After some experimentation, Mu Lin bitterly realized that his understanding of the substitute had not yet reached its limit. Because of this, the substitute paper figure was not capable of cultivating everything.

For instance, it could not cultivate the fundamental Cultivation Method—it lacked complete meridians within its body.

“To simulate meridians, one would need to be at least a 4th realm Master.”

Since the paper figure’s Divine Soul was bestowed by Mu Lin and had no origin of its own, it was also incapable of meditation.

“This would require at least a 5th realm Grandmaster… No, I will never allow it to develop consciousness.”

It was not uncommon for clones to gain consciousness and attempt to turn the false into the real. Mu Lin had no desire to create trouble for himself.

Especially in this world, where anomalies were numerous and evil spirits lurked everywhere, the risk of a split soul falling into corruption was extremely high. Mu Lin had no intention of inviting unnecessary trouble.

“A pure energy substitute, controlled by my main body, devoid of consciousness, capable of blocking injuries and even serving as a sacrifice—this I can accept.”

“But a clone that develops its own Divine Soul? I’d rather not.”

Shaking his head, Mu Lin realized that, due to his unwillingness to allow the Divine Soul to develop consciousness, his meditation techniques could only be cultivated by himself.

As for the fundamental Cultivation Method, it could not be cultivated for the time being, as the clone lacked meridians.

“So, all the clone can do now is cultivate mystical arts?”

Even the cultivation of mystical arts could not be sustained indefinitely. The clone’s release of spells consumed Mana, and once its Mana was depleted, the substitute would naturally cease to move.

“However, this doesn’t seem to be an issue exclusive to the substitute. Even my main body consumes Mana when releasing spells. Once my Mana is exhausted, my main body would also be unable to cast spells.”

The function of spell release… was still useful, as it saved time.

Due to the need to cultivate the fundamental Cultivation Method, even if Mu Lin had Mana within his body, he lacked the time to continuously release spells.

Now, this inconvenience was gone. Mu Lin could cultivate while simultaneously having his substitute practice spells.

“But doing so would deplete the Mana within my body in no time… Indeed, clones, especially multiple clones, are best suited for those with vast energy reserves within their bodies.”

After lamenting this regret, Mu Lin was not overly disappointed, as he had discovered what the substitute was most suited to cultivate.

Paper Crafting, Painting, Calligraphy.

These skills required neither Mana nor meridians. Once the clone was summoned, Mu Lin could have them practice for an entire day!

This was what he thought, and this was what he did. Soon, one substitute was bestowed with a split soul by Mu Lin and sent aside to craft paper figures.

Another substitute was dispatched by Mu Lin to cultivate spells.

The spell being cultivated was not the Substitute Paper Figure—without the cooperation of a physical body, this spell could not be performed.

What Mu Lin had the substitute cultivate was the Paper Figure Curse.

The so-called Paper Figure Curse is the legendary practice of “stabbing a small figure.”

—Cut out a paper figure, then use the blood of the cursed person to write the True Name and birth details of the one to be cursed on the paper figure. After a Ritual, Mu Lin could establish a mystical connection between the paper figure and the cursed person. Subsequently, when he harmed the paper figure with a knife or needle, it would be equivalent to harming the cursed person.

“Harming with blades or needles is merely the most basic method. Once the connection deepens, I can use the paper figure as a medium to unleash some malevolent Spells, such as the Blood Soul Curse, the Decay Curse, or the Nightmare Method…”

“As for the cumbersome process of the Paper Figure Curse, there are ways to simplify it. With profound mastery of Mystical Arts, much of the need for True Names, blood, and birth details can be eliminated. Cultivating it to perfection, all I need is to capture a wisp of the enemy’s aura, and I can curse them from afar!”

(End of Chapter)