Chapter 293 – Controlling the Black River: Dissolving All Things

“Heaven cannot cover my eyes, earth cannot bury my heart…”

“I am the king above kings, the god above gods. I shall dominate all, command all…”

“Death, anomalies, all that exists shall be governed by me, orchestrated by me!”

“My lord, you are the master of death, the destination of heroic souls, the Great Emperor of Lidu who rules the Netherworld…”

As he stared at the fallen ink jiao in the river, Mu Lin, along with the Paper Figures in the Netherworld Law Domain and the Other Shore Flower Sea, continuously chanted and sang, fueling Mu Lin’s Vow-Power Heart Lamp.

Such chanting indeed caused Mu Lin’s Vow Power Heart Flame to blaze once more.

This flame even broke through the constraints of the Black River, allowing Mu Lin’s control over the Evil Jiao to reach 21%.

Although, under these circumstances, the Evil Jiao remained under the dominion of the Black River, and Mu Lin could not do much.

“But it is enough…”

Thinking this, Mu Lin suddenly activated the third characteristic of the Vow Power Heart Flame—the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade, or rather, the Royal Crown.

As a king, the power of his subjects is also Mu Lin’s power.

Thus, through this characteristic, Mu Lin could borrow and utilize the power of his subordinates.

For instance, he had once borrowed Chu Lingluo’s power to unleash the Tree Realm Descent and the Sumeru Great Buddha.

He had also borrowed Yan Yunyu’s power to burn fortune and encounter treasures.

Now, what Mu Lin borrowed was naturally the power of the corrupted ink jiao.

“The king shall bear, the king shall command…”

“Drip, drip…”

Since the ink jiao had merged with the Black River Water, borrowing the power of the Evil Jiao meant borrowing the power of the Black River Water.

In other words, the black river water began to erode Mu Lin’s body.

Externally, this manifested as Mu Lin’s entire body becoming damp, with droplets of black river water continuously dripping from him.

“Drip, drip, drip…”

These droplets soon formed a small puddle around Mu Lin, and after landing, the Blackwater continued to spread outward.

“What is this?”

This sight startled Yu Fa, who immediately retreated.

His reaction was correct.

Only after gaining slight control did Mu Lin realize the true ability and terror of the Black River.

First was its spatial characteristic. As Mu Lin had previously speculated, the Black River Water contained the ability of spatial expansion. Outwardly appearing as a pond, its interior could expand into a vast lake.

Beyond spatial expansion, this Blackwater also possessed the ability of ‘spatial connection.’

Through a special connection, the puddle at Mu Lin’s feet could link with the Black River. If he placed objects or ghosts into the puddle, they could be transmitted into the Black River.

Space was the first characteristic of the Black River. Beyond that were erosion, pollution, suppression, transformation, and dissolution.

Erosion and pollution were easy to understand—these were powers possessed by all anomalies and higher beings.

The heaviness of the river water was the external manifestation of its suppression characteristic.

As for transformation, water has no constant form. The Black River could shape its waters into all things—the numerous vengeful spirits and Malevolent Ghosts within the Black River were all formed from transformed water.

Indeed, because the Black River’s depths suppressed several anomalies—true sources of anomalies, not merely monsters or items tainted by anomalous energy.

Due to the Anomaly Source’s characteristic of being indestructible and immortal, the monsters conjured from the Black River water are not only manipulated by the Black River itself but also infused with the powers of other Anomalies. This is why the dangers of the Black River are so varied and mysteriously unpredictable.

All of the above are the perils of the Black River. In Mu Lin’s view, the most dangerous among them is dissolution.

The Black River water can dissolve all things. At this moment, the constant dripping from Mu Lin’s body is a result of his Mana being continuously dissolved.

In addition to the dissolution of Mana, Mu Lin’s skin is turning pale and wrinkled, as if soaked in water for too long—a sign that his physical strength and even his life essence (lifespan) are being dissolved.

It is only because Mu Lin has the numerous substitutes from the Netherworld Law Domain transmitting energy to him that he has not been completely digested by the Black River water and turned into a puddle of Blackwater in a short time.

Although, at present, he is not in a good state either.

The continuous dissolution strengthens the Black River water. Once it grows powerful enough to reach a certain limit, the transmission of Mu Lin’s Mana will ultimately fail to keep up with the dissolution speed of the Black River water. At that point, he will still be completely digested.

Fortunately, the Black River has no such opportunity.

“Substitute, damage transfer!”

With a single thought from Mu Lin, the Black River water eroding his body was entirely transferred to a Paper Substitute.

At the same time as the Black River water was transferred, a “roar” echoed, accompanied by a Dragon Roar, and Mu Lin’s Paper Substitute transformed into a half-Jiao Dragon, half-human monster.

In this state, the Paper Substitute possesses the ability to summon wind and rain and command vast bodies of water.

Dragons are born rulers of the waters, overlords of rivers and lakes.

Although the Black River water is mysteriously unpredictable, it is ultimately water. With the innate talents of dragon-kind, it can still exert a certain degree of control over the Black River water.

It must be said that dragons are called perfect beings for a reason.

…

Transforming into a Jiao Dragon can slow down the erosion of the Black River water on the Paper Substitute.

However, this time, Mu Lin did not allow the Paper Substitute—Ink Jiao—to completely resist the Black River water. Under his command, the Paper Substitute—Ink Jiao—actively began to merge with the Black River water.

This fusion gradually transformed the Paper Figure—Ink Jiao—into an aberration within the river, and it slowly ceased to obey Mu Lin’s commands.

Witnessing this, Mu Lin narrowed his eyes, and Dominion Flame erupted from his gaze:

“Submit to me!”

With his glare, Mu Lin once again wrestled with the Black River for control over the corrupted Ink Jiao.

And this time… Mu Lin prevailed.

The Black River is indeed powerful, but its strength lies in its vast, surging waves—a force as immense as a world, far beyond what Mu Lin’s current power can withstand.

However, Mu Lin is now on the riverbank, not within the Black River itself.

Although the Black River can transmit its power through spatial properties, the puddle before him is still small, and its connection to the Black River is not deep. This narrow channel prevents most of the Black River’s power from being transmitted.

“If I can’t deal with the vast Black River, I can certainly deal with you!”

Driven by this mindset, Mu Lin used all his strength to burn and refine the corrupted Paper Figure—Ink Jiao with his Vow Power Heart Flame.

In the end, Mu Lin succeeded. The corrupted Paper Figure—Ink Jiao before him returned to his control. Using it as a barrier, Mu Lin indirectly gained command over the Black River water.

To fully dominate and control the Black River Water, while commanding the Paper Figure – Ink Jiao, Mu Lin had a sudden inspiration and took out a Talisman—the Sky-Scraping Spell – Blank Divinity!

Using this Talisman as the core, Mu Lin fused it with the Paper Figure – Ink Jiao and the Black River Water.

The fusion of these three indeed triggered a peculiar transformation.

“Hum!”

A unique aura of power emanated from the Paper Figure – Ink Jiao.

“Is this… divine might? Has my Paper Figure become a Deity?”

“No, the Ink Jiao before me is no longer just a Paper Figure. What sustains its existence, aside from my power, is the Black River Water. As long as the Black River Water does not run dry, it will not easily perish. Thus, it can now be considered a Black River Dragon Lord?”

“Hmm… Only by completely mastering the power of a great river or a major waterway can one be called a Dragon Lord. The current Ink Jiao has only grasped a faint trace of the Black River’s power and has not been acknowledged by the entire Black River. At most, it can only be called a Hebo.”

The transformation from a Paper Figure – Ink Jiao to a Black River Hebo can be considered a form of sublimation.

Of course, this sublimation comes with both benefits and drawbacks.

The benefit is that Mu Lin’s Ink Jiao – Hebo can wield the Black River Water, which corrodes all things, against enemies.

The drawback, however, is that while the Black River’s power is immense, it is also chaotic and disordered. The Paper Figure – Ink Jiao, which relies on it, is constantly at risk of corruption and demonization.

Fortunately, Mu Lin had countermeasures for this.

First was the Source Rune “Stabilize,” inscribed on the forehead of Ink Jiao – Hebo, which greatly enhanced its resistance.

Next, Mu Lin reforged Hebo’s body using Mana fused with Central Wuji Sha.

Finally, there was the matter of controlling distance.

As long as it did not linger in the Black River for extended periods, and as long as the size of the puddle was controlled according to its strength, avoiding deeper connections with the Black River, Mu Lin’s Ink Jiao – Hebo would not be easily tainted.

Thinking this, Mu Lin commanded Ink Jiao – Hebo to enter the Black River.

—He had no choice but to enter, as Mu Lin still needed to cross the river.

Fearing unexpected changes, he needed to test Ink Jiao Hebo’s resistance to the Black River.

“If this experiment fails, I will only lose a Substitute Paper Figure. As long as the Black River exists and my abilities remain, I can continuously create Black River Hebos.”

“But if I don’t conduct the experiment and allow my Main Body to enter the Black River, any mishap would put me in grave danger.”

Since the potential loss was within acceptable limits, Mu Lin was quite bold during the experiment.

The final result brought Mu Lin great satisfaction.

His Ink Jiao – Hebo was not instantly corrupted upon entering the river. Instead, by virtue of its status, it managed to manipulate a portion of the river water and even the Wraiths within.

This outcome was not due to the Black River’s weakness but rather its… lack of intelligence.

Whether due to its innate nature, the price of suppressing the Anomaly Source, or the possibility that it once had a master who perished, the vast and boundless Black River before him, despite its immense power and malice toward all life, lacked a unified consciousness or specific intelligence.

Its actions were driven purely by instinct.

“That makes sense. If the Black River truly possessed intelligence, none of them, including Mingling Zi, would have been able to cross the river before.”

An intelligent Black River would not need to do anything else; simply raising towering waves or creating a massive whirlpool would easily capsize any ferry, sending everyone aboard to the riverbed.

Yet in the end, although Mingling Zi and his companions encountered some obstacles, they crossed with ease. This was precisely because the Black River lacked intelligence, acting only on instinct.

Now, Mu Lin’s Ink Jiao – Hebo was exploiting this very weakness.

If the Black River possessed intelligence and a master, upon discovering Ink Jiao – Hebo encroaching on its power, it would undoubtedly spare no effort to reclaim control over the ink dragon without a second thought.

It might even retaliate by corrupting Mu Lin.

Given the vast, boundless power of the Black River, Mu Lin would have no means of resistance, left with no choice but to sever ties to survive.

But due to its lack of intelligence, the Black River’s reaction was far slower.

When the ink dragon entered the water, because their origins were similar, the Black River Water did not react immediately.

Only after a full three to five breaths did it sense something amiss and begin to corrode Mu Lin in turn, attempting to seize control of Ink Jiao – Hebo.

Yet, lacking intelligence, although it launched this corrosion, it did not do so with full force.

Only the power from a small surrounding area was mobilized, directed toward Mu Lin for corrosion.

And because Ink Jiao – Hebo was also considered part of the Black River’s power, and its status was relatively high, the power from this small area could not seize control of Ink Jiao – Hebo in a short time—as long as Mu Lin was not foolish enough to let the ink dragon sink to the riverbed.

In fact, Mu Lin could even command the Black River waters in return, along with the specters, evil souls, and aberrations conjured from the river.

“Begone!”

As Ink Jiao – Hebo issued a majestic command, a portion of the specters and evil souls truly retreated. Of course, many more malevolent ghosts and specters closed in.

This chaos was yet another external manifestation of the Black River’s lack of intelligence, operating solely on instinct.

However, Mu Lin also noticed that as Ink Jiao – Hebo remained in the water longer, the turbulence of the Black River grew increasingly intense.

Clearly, even a Black River driven only by instinct was not easily dealt with.

“Ink Jiao – Hebo can enter the river, but it cannot stay long. The Black River’s instinct causes it to continuously strengthen its corrosive power when encountering obstacles… If it stays too long, not just me, but even a Mortal Shedding Adept, or even an Earth Immortal True Person, could perish here.”

Having confirmed this, Mu Lin actually breathed a sigh of relief.

This amount of time was more than enough for Mu Lin to cross the river.

However, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he glanced at Yu Fa, who had helped him.

“I already have a way to cross the river. You can follow behind me and come along, but let me make this clear: my method carries certain risks, and I may not be able to look out for you.”

For those who had helped him, Mu Lin did not mind offering some convenience.

Yet, after being questioned by Mu Lin, Yu Fa did not respond immediately.

He stared at Ink Jiao – Hebo treading the waves and returning to shore, his face filled with shock and awe.

“You… you actually control the Black River!”

Yu Fa was far from the only one astonished.

They had stood by the riverbank, sighing at the vastness, not daring to let the Black River Water, which dissolved all things, touch them in the slightest. Yet Mu Lin not only showed no fear but had even taken control of the Black River. How could they not be amazed by such a sight?

And the cultivators outside, because Mu Lin completed Sha Refinement in the time it takes an incense stick to burn and advanced to Gang Condensation in a single breath…

Due to these two incidents, they had already tried to estimate Mu Lin’s talent as highly as possible.

Yet even so, when they saw the Black River Water being controlled, the Clan Elders of the Aristocratic Families were stunned for a long moment.

“Is… is this still human?”

“I’ve always heard that when the world faces a crisis, in order to save itself, the world instinctively loosens its suppression, allowing Prodigies to emerge and ruins to open. But this talent is just too exaggerated!”

(End of Chapter)