Chapter 105 – Stealing Sky Burial City's Power

After assuming their divine offices, both the Little Girl Who Sold Matches and the Yaksha of Burial—these two… spirits—had experienced a noticeable increase in strength.

More importantly, the hostility on them had dissipated significantly, replaced by an added sense of dignity, making them somewhat easier to control.

“With official positions, these ghost soldiers and Yin messengers no longer require my mental effort to control. Instead, they become pillars and foundations of my power, strengthening my City God Domain. Since the City God Domain resides within my Sea of Consciousness, its enhancement indirectly strengthens my Mindscape. Thus, the more Netherworld Soldiers I have, the better.”

Thinking this, after manifesting the Civil and Military Judges, Mu Lin glanced at the few Ghost Messengers under his command and felt a sense of emptiness. With a thought, he acted.

With a “hum,” relying on the cultivation method he had practiced earlier, he reconnected with the Sky Burial City.

Then, a torrent of Sky Burial Power descended from above, mingled with some of the anomalous forces of the Evil Spirits.

In the past, as soon as these forces arrived, Ghost Money would drift through Mu Lin’s Mindscape, accompanied by wailing cries filling the air.

These changes were external manifestations of the anomalous forces invading his Mindscape.

As the anomalous forces continued to encroach, the people visualized by Mu Lin would become eerie and terrifying, slipping out of control.

The tools he visualized would also turn ominous and forbidden.

But now, everything was different.

As the anomalous forces invaded, the City God Temple within Mu Lin’s Mindscape radiated a dazzling divine light.

“Boom!”

This light suppressed both the Sky Burial Power and the anomalous forces, ensuring that even after the channel opened, Mu Lin’s Mindscape remained largely unchanged.

Of course, this wasn’t because Mu Lin’s City God Power surpassed the Sky Burial Power or the anomalous forces, but because his connection to the Land of Sky Burial was still weak.

At this moment, the anomalous forces flooding into his Mindscape were limited, allowing him to suppress them—though not without effort:

“Hmm… it’s still somewhat strenuous. Moreover, without the support of Earth Veins and national fortune, I can’t hold on for too long…”

As he frowned and persisted, the influx of Sky Burial Power grew stronger. Over time, as the power accumulated, some objects and humans on the streets were eventually corrupted by the Sky Burial Power, transforming into malevolent spirits and cursed items.

Driven by hatred for the living, these cursed objects and malevolent spirits all surged toward the City God Temple.

They could sense that the only living presence was hidden within the City God Temple.

With a “creak,” the doors of the City God Temple were pushed open, and a horde of malevolent spirits flooded in.

Then, as they entered, a commanding voice rang out from the statue of the City God.

“Audacious! Kneel!”

“Boom!”

With this command, a prison-like, solemn pressure descended abruptly.

Under that terrifying pressure, some of the weaker malevolent spirits, freshly corrupted, were truly intimidated into kneeling.

Even the stronger ones had their arrogance suppressed.

This was the Dharma Domain of the City God—both divine and spectral, combined with the authority recognized by the Human Dao. This imbued the City God’s domain with a hint of heavenly and earthly majesty, exerting unimaginable restraint on malevolent spirits. More importantly:

“Outside, without sufficient mana, I cannot fully unleash the City God’s power. But here in the Mindscape, the stronghold of the Netherworld City God, I can exert its authority to the fullest.”

“Moreover, as malevolent spirits, you dare provoke a City God aligned with the Netherworld? Truly, you refuse the open road to heaven and instead force your way through the gates of hell!”

Under the suppression of Mu Lin’s City God Domain, the malevolent ghosts’ strength was drastically weakened. Then, without Mu Lin even needing to act, the Yellow Turban Warrior who had just been converted into a Ghost Messenger flung out the Soul-Binding Chains in his hands.

“Wail…”

“Ah!!”

Whether through lashing strikes or direct capture, those malevolent ghosts that could barely hold on were swiftly bound by the Soul-Binding Chains.

In the next moment, the City God’s Authority activated, transforming these malevolent ghosts. Mu Lin was blatantly stealing the power of Sky Burial City, converting the evil spirits tainted by Sky Burial Power into Ghost Messengers and Yin Soldiers.

“This is far easier than my painstaking meditation. Moreover, Ghost Messengers and Yin Soldiers transformed this way are stronger than those converted from ordinary malevolent spirits, since Sky Burial Power is itself a formidable force.”

Of course, while Sky Burial Power is potent and can harm enemies, it also risks backfiring. To ensure this power would not rebel, as Mu Lin embodied the City God and transformed these malevolent spirits, the Arrogance Heart Lamp flew over from a side hall and hovered in the City God’s hand, radiating brilliant light.

“Boom!”

The spreading light imprinted a flame brand of absolute domination onto the malevolent spirits.

With the City God’s transformation and the Heart Lamp’s suppression, under this dual restraint, Mu Lin could finally feel somewhat at ease.

“By stealing power from the Land of Sky Burial, I can quickly replenish the troops under the City God’s command.”

“It’s just a pity that while this can increase the proficiency of Mindscape – Sky Burial – City God Art, it can only raise it up to one-third of the proficiency limit at most.”

As is well known, the stronger the Cultivation Method, the higher the required resources and aptitude.

“After advancing to Heavenly Grade, and then to mid-Heavenly Grade, my Mindscape has grown stronger, but correspondingly, the requirements to enhance it have also risen.”

“Under normal cultivation, I would need to establish a temple and cast a golden statue in a location, becoming a true City God. Then, during my tenure, I would have to protect the peace of the land, guide wandering souls, capture malevolent ghosts, and fulfill my duties flawlessly.”

“Furthermore, I would need to guide humans to believe in me, offering me faith power. By absorbing and refining it, my Dharma Domain would strengthen. Only through such persistent cultivation could I evolve from a County City God to a Province City God, advancing from a Manifest Blessing Earl to a Lingyou Marquis.”

It can be said that normal City Gods face many restrictions, but the benefits of becoming one are evident. Instant control over a region aside, coexisting with the state and achieving immortality alone drives countless people to madness.

Moreover, some City Gods can transcend national fortune to become part of history, meaning that even if a dynasty falls, the City God will not perish.

However, despite its many advantages, this method also comes with numerous restrictions, making it unsuitable for Mu Lin.

Fortunately, relying on his Proficiency Panel, even without serving as a City God, he can continue to enhance the power of Mindscape – Sky Burial – City God Art.

Additionally, he can benefit from both sides: regular cultivation increases his proficiency, and when eradicating malevolent spirits or fulfilling his duties, his proficiency also grows.

As Mu Lin thought this, he realized that the proficiency of his Mindscape was increasing abnormally—far too quickly.

When converting malevolent ghosts and evil spirits tainted by Sky Burial Power into Ghost Messengers and Yin Soldiers, Mu Lin’s proficiency surged at three times the normal rate.

“Why so fast… Wait, I remember that among the City God’s duties are guiding departed souls and capturing malevolent ghosts… Sky Burial Power seems to fall under the category of evil spirits and malevolent ghosts.”

“So, I don’t need to build any temples or craft golden statues at all. As long as I keep stealing power from Sky Burial City, my City God Domain will keep skyrocketing?”

The terrifying Sky Burial City had actually become his own lifeblood supply—a situation Mu Lin had never anticipated.

…

Although he considered acting as a thief and continuously stealing power from Sky Burial City, the reality was that while the City God could exert full strength within the Mindscape, without the support of national fortune and Earth Veins, Mu Lin’s endurance was still insufficient.

After stealing for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Mu Lin began to feel somewhat drained.

Fearing mishaps, the weary Mu Lin decisively severed the connection between his Mindscape and Sky Burial City.

Yet even in just that short time, Mu Lin achieved remarkable results. Now, the City God’s hall within his Mindscape was no longer empty.

Not to mention the Civil and Military Judges standing on either side, the combined number of Ghost Messengers and Yin Soldiers was no longer just a handful but had reached seventeen in total.

With numerous soldiers and officers in place, the City God Domain became even more imposing and stable.

This made Mu Lin nod in satisfaction:

“A few more times like this, and my City God Domain will be perfected…”

“‘Steal a hook and you die as a thief; steal a kingdom and you become a prince.’ If I were to devour the entire Sky Burial City, could my Mindscape, through ‘theft,’ become Fengdu City?”

After careful consideration, Mu Lin felt this was highly possible, and the thought ignited a fervor within him.

Of course, alongside his excitement, he remained vigilant.

“Right now, I’m just a petty thief. The Land of Sky Burial won’t care, or even notice. But as my strength grows and I steal more power, Sky Burial City will definitely notice and retaliate… I still need to be cautious.”

…

After advancing, aside from stealing power from Sky Burial City to perfect his City God Domain, Mu Lin also attempted to cultivate the Taiyin Life-Nurturing Scripture in the latter half of the night.

With the help of Moonlight Jade Dew, his Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi increased somewhat.

However, without Dawn Purple Qi, he was utterly unable to balance yin and yang, transforming the Life-Nurturing Qi from a gaseous state into a liquid one.

Only after several hours, when the sky brightened, did Mu Lin finally draw over a wisp of purple qi, merging it with the Life-Nurturing Qi within his body.

Then, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Mu Lin understood why, despite the Paper Artisan Lineage’s ability to balance yin and yang, most Paper Artisans still tread the wicked path, cultivating themselves into beings neither human nor ghost.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to improve; it was simply that the purple qi between heaven and earth was too scarce.

Only at dawn each day would purple qi manifest.

In that brief time, the purple qi Mu Lin could draw amounted to just a single wisp. Although this wisp was of extremely high quality, capable of transforming seven portions of Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi, it was a mere drop in the ocean compared to the vast amount of yin qi within his body.

He would need at least several years to fully convert all the yin qi within him.

The time required was far too long, something Mu Lin could not tolerate, and other Paper Artisans could not bear it either.

Thus, most Paper Artisans ultimately had no choice but to walk a single path to its end, cultivating only Yin energy.

Mu Lin’s situation was slightly better—he could spend money.

Using the Spirit Stones earned from painting Adamantine Force, Mu Lin immediately sought out Yan Yunyu and asked her whether there was a method in the world to store Purple Qi.

The answer, naturally, was yes.

“Purple Qi? Dao-Containing Stones can store Purple Qi.”

“Then help me buy a batch.”

After speaking, fearing that the Spirit Stones in his hand might not be enough or that Yan Yunyu might not put her full effort into it, Mu Lin also gave her a reassurance.

“My Cultivation Method realm has already broken through to the third stage. As long as my Mana Cultivation catches up, I can immediately advance to Gushing Spring. The reason I want Purple Qi is to allow my Mana to undergo transformation.”

“And once I advance to Gushing Spring, I have absolute confidence that I can seize the title of Dao Palace First!”

These words indeed made Yan Yunyu’s eyes light up.

Although, after securing a fallback plan, she was no longer fixated on becoming Dao Palace First, if she could have both, she naturally wanted them all.

“Leave everything to me. This humble one will deliver the Dao-Containing Stones in the shortest time possible.”

(End of Chapter)