Chapter 325 – The Formidable Yan Yunyu

“I apologize for disturbing your refined mood.”

“Um…”

Looking at Dongfang Ya’s despondent and defeated state, Mu Lin felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Ahem, Master, you’re overthinking it. My growth wouldn’t have been possible without your guidance.”

After offering plenty of comforting words, Mu Lin finally managed to pull Dongfang Ya out of her state of shattered worldview.

Once Dongfang Ya recovered, everyone sprang into action.

Si Ye, Yan Yunyu, and others went to contact their families, preparing to have their clans increase resource investments to collect Heaven Grade Gang Qi for Mu Lin.

At the same time, they also selected some prominent families under the Aristocratic Families, intending to obtain resources from them. This was also a way to expand Mu Lin’s influence and have more people rally behind him.

Of course, this approach had both advantages and disadvantages. Accepting investments from others meant that when they encountered danger, Mu Lin would also have to lend them a hand.

Moreover, after establishing some personal connections with them, Mu Lin would inevitably need to spend some effort building closer relationships with these people.

Fortunately, Mu Lin was not alone. Negotiations, social interactions, and even determining who was qualified and who could be helped could all be entrusted to Yan Yunyu and Si Ye. Most of the time, he only needed to make a brief appearance.

In fact, Mu Lin didn’t even need to appear in his Main Body—a Substitute Paper Figure could handle everything.

Earning vast resources so effortlessly made Mu Lin sigh with gratitude that Yan Yunyu and Si Ye had been of tremendous help to him.

“In matters of social connections and interpersonal relations, they surpass me tenfold. With their assistance, I can not only obtain more resources, but also do so comfortably, without worrying about being schemed against… Wonderful!”

“But I must remain vigilant. Their reasons for helping me are different from Chu Lingluo’s. Lingluo is completely devoted to me, body and soul. Even if I fall into destitution, she would not abandon me. But Yan Yunyu and Si Ye are different… I cannot slack off in improving my strength. No matter what schemes others may devise, as long as I am powerful enough, I can use Overwhelming Force to Subdue All Techniques.”

…

Yan Yunyu and Si Ye’s actions brought Mu Lin peace of mind, and they themselves found joy in their busyness—while Mu Lin cared little for social connections, they valued them greatly. After all, that was power. For humans, it was a potent remedy second only to personal might.

Not to mention, they could also benefit from it.

Among them, Si Ye gained cultivation resources for herself.

Mu Lin was not stingy. As long as they could meet his cultivation needs, he would not interfere if the two women obtained the cultivation resources they required from the gathered wealthy families.

Of course, the prerequisite was not to go too far—having Yan Yunyu and Si Ye work together, rather than relying on just one person, was Mu Lin’s way of restraining them, making them supervise each other.

And the two women understood this well, always maintaining a posture of rivalry.

…

While helping Mu Lin, Si Ye gained resources. In contrast, Yan Yunyu gained influence and fortune. By leveraging Mu Lin’s reputation as the ‘Future Celestial Master,’ she now gathered immense fortune.

With this fortune, her advancement speed even surpassed Yan Zhanpeng’s in one fell swoop, catching up to Xue Ying, who possessed a special Spirit Tool.

“A favorable wind borrows its force, sending me soaring above the clouds… Following Brother Mu is the best decision I’ve made in my life. Perhaps, with Brother Mu’s help, I too can glimpse the realm of the Celestial Master, just like my ancestors.”

Thinking this through, Yan Yunyu redoubled her efforts.

To secure more resources, she even dared to argue with the Yan Family’s Clan Elders and even clashed with her own kin.

—Upon returning to her clan to seek investment, Yan Yunyu happened upon a joyous occasion.

“What’s going on? Why is the clan so cheerful?”

Noticing the unusual atmosphere at home, Yan Yunyu immediately pulled aside a sister to inquire.

The girl she stopped was named Yan Linglong, whose eyes held a hint of unease and deep-seated envy.

This resentment stemmed from the fact that Yan Linglong was the legitimate daughter of the Yan Family. In the past, although Yan Yunyu was also a member of the Yan Family, as a concubine-born daughter, she had to strive on her own at the Anping Dao Palace.

If her efforts failed, she would be treated as a tool for marriage alliances, becoming a concubine for some powerful figures.

Yan Linglong, however, was arranged by the family to directly enter the Jade Purity Sect for cultivation.

The difference in status meant that whenever Yan Yunyu encountered her before, she could only bow respectfully and offer greetings.

In fact, Yan Yunyu had even served as Yan Linglong’s follower for a time—when aristocratic young ladies went out, they always traveled in groups. In such gatherings, some were the vibrant flowers, while others were the supporting leaves.

Undoubtedly, Yan Yunyu had previously been the supporting leaf, needing to curry favor with Yan Linglong, following behind her and attending to her every need.

Of course, there had been no conflict between them before. The shrewd Yan Yunyu had kept a low profile within the Yan Family, and due to her dedicated efforts to please, Yan Linglong had even supported her with some initial resources.

However, as the saying goes, “You fear your friend’s suffering, yet you also fear their success.”

The rivalry and scheming among young women can be even fiercer than among men.

If Yan Yunyu had remained weak, Yan Linglong would have kindly helped her. But now, their statuses had been reversed.

When Yan Yunyu, who had once only followed her around, pulled her aside to ask questions, Yan Linglong had no choice but to respond with a pleasant demeanor. This shift in status naturally made Yan Linglong somewhat uncomfortable.

What made her even more envious was that Yan Yunyu had achieved this reversal not through her own efforts but simply by luckily aligning herself with the right person, thereby surpassing her in family status. How could she not feel jealous?

Despite her inner frustration, Yan Linglong did not show it. Instead, she replied with a bright smile:

“Oh? Didn’t you know? When the Grave Lord’s Realm opened, our Yan Family also conquered a Secret Realm and obtained a Spirit Tool, along with several Heavenly Treasures. The Clan Elders and the family head have decided not to lock these gains away in the treasury but to distribute them.”

“Right now, our brothers and sisters are gathered here, eagerly preparing to compete for them… Do you also have thoughts of competing, sister?”

“A Spirit Tool!”

Yan Yunyu’s eyes lit up at first, but she soon furrowed her brows.

‘So the family didn’t even inform me about this… Well, it makes sense. Since following Brother Mu, I haven’t paid much attention to family affairs. Besides, the family values sons and daughters differently.’

‘A Treasure like a Spirit Tool can serve as a family’s foundation. The clan wouldn’t give it to me, who is destined to marry out, nor would they use it to curry favor with Brother Mu. Naturally, they wouldn’t bother informing me.’

Even Prince Liang and his ilk wouldn’t easily hand over a Spirit Tool to Mu Lin, let alone the Aristocratic Families.

However, while the clan was unwilling to give, Yan Yunyu was determined to fight for it.

As soon as she expressed this attitude, the courtyard filled with many Yan Family disciples immediately erupted.

“Yan Yunyu, don’t go too far! Demanding that the family provide spirit tools and rare treasures—are you even a member of the Yan Family anymore?”

“Remember one thing: your surname is Yan, and your roots lie with the Yan Family!”

“Hah, I’ve always heard that a married-off daughter is like spilled water—irretrievable. I didn’t believe it before, but now I’ve seen it for myself.”

“Yan Yunyu, you’re not even married yet, and you’re already scheming to take things out of the family. If you do marry, are you planning to empty the entire Yan Family?”

The Yan Family disciples glared angrily, their faces flushed with indignation as they hurled accusations at Yan Yunyu.

Among them, Yan Zhanpeng was the most dissatisfied.

The clan’s precious resources were limited. If Yan Yunyu took more to give to Mu Lin, it meant he would receive less. Under such circumstances, how could his mood possibly be pleasant?

Yan Yunyu sensed this gaze, but she paid it no mind.

“I am indeed a member of the Yan Family.”

“If you know that, you should think more about the family. You should be asking Mu Lin for the Clone Cultivation True Intent Diagram instead of siding with outsiders and constantly moving the family’s resources elsewhere.”

“Hah…”

Yan Yunyu laughed at this, a derisive and mocking laugh.

“It’s precisely because I’ve always thought about strengthening the family that I’ve given some treasures to Brother Mu… In his hands, these treasures are a thousand times more valuable than in the hands of you useless lot!”

“Moreover, this spirit tool competition isn’t for Brother Mu—it’s for myself.” This was a lie, but to reduce resistance within the clan, she had no choice but to say it.

“As you all say, I am a member of the Yan Family, and therefore, I am also qualified to participate in this spirit tool competition.”

“???”

“You plan to participate yourself?”

As soon as Yan Yunyu spoke these words, most of the Yan Family disciples present were stunned, their expressions turning strange.

They hadn’t expected Yan Yunyu to not use Mu Lin’s name to make demands but to personally step forward instead.

After the initial shock came ridicule.

“You?”

“Overestimating yourself!”

“Hah, I admit Mu Lin is strong, but he is him, and you are you. How dare you say you’ll compete with us? Have the flattery from others made you so arrogant?”

Everyone mocked Yan Yunyu’s claim, and some even showed signs of preparing to take action.

This reaction wasn’t due to the Yan Family disciples being foolish or reckless, but because resources were limited, and the path of cultivation required struggle.

Mu Lin was powerful, and Yan Yunyu would benefit from it. The Yan Family might also benefit, but that was in the future. For that, the Clan Elders and family heads of the Yan Family could wait.

They were already strong, with lifespans spanning centuries, and they had no need for resources at the Gang Sha or Mortal Shedding Stages. Having no desires made them resolute, so they could invest in Mu Lin’s future.

But Yan Zhanpeng couldn’t wait, and neither could the other Yan Family disciples. After all, this was their prime time for cultivation, the period when they progressed the fastest. Falling behind even a single step meant lagging further and further. Unwilling to be left behind, they had no choice but to compete—even if it meant offending Mu Lin. For the sake of their future paths, they had to press forward.

In the past, the imperial examinations were like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge. Cultivation was the same, if not even more brutal.

Of course, while he was prepared to compete, he wouldn’t offend Mu Lin to the point of no return.

“Defeat Yan Yunyu, just make her lose face a bit. As long as she isn’t seriously injured, Mu Lin won’t be able to say anything—after all, this is our Yan Family’s internal affair. Moreover, Yan Yunyu is the one who actively chose to compete; we didn’t force her.”

Before taking action, Yan Zhanpeng had already thought through many things, even rehearsing in advance how to conclude this matter.

However, despite all his considerations, he never once pondered one thing—whether he could actually defeat Yan Yunyu.

And it wasn’t just him; none of the other Yan Family disciples had ever entertained the thought that they might not be able to defeat Yan Yunyu.

After all, what Yan Yunyu was known for was her exceptional cunning, her ability to navigate complex situations with ease, and, most importantly, her good luck. No one had ever paid attention to her strength, nor had anyone ever experienced it firsthand.

Even by Mu Lin’s side, she had always been seen as a burden.

Thus, many believed Yan Yunyu was overestimating herself.

Some of the young women around Yan Linglong, along with Yan Yunyu’s former close friends, were jealously remarking, “She actually said she wants to compete based on her own strength? Has she lost her mind?”

“Exactly! Her status within the clan has indeed improved, but does she not realize that all of this relies on Mu Lin—Young Master Mu? What does any of that have to do with her?”

“A concubine-born daughter is just a concubine-born daughter. The moment she gains a little favor, she becomes so arrogant. Someone like her doesn’t deserve to follow Young Master Mu. If you ask me, the family should support Sister Linglong—you’re the one most suited for Young Master Mu.”

“Don’t speak nonsense…”

“Hehe, indeed, we shouldn’t speak nonsense. Mu Lin’s talent is certainly high, but the Ge Family’s Yuanbai is no less impressive. Besides, while Mu Lin’s future may be bright, he is still too impoverished right now. If Sister Linglong were to marry him, who knows how much hardship she’d have to endure?”

Ge Yuanbai was also a prodigy of the Southeast Region and Yan Linglong’s fiancé. Thinking of her future husband’s talent and status, Yan Linglong felt a surge of confidence.

“With my full support, my husband could become the head of the Ge Family. No matter how powerful Mu Lin is, he is still just one person. As the Madam of a family head, my status will undoubtedly surpass yours.”

…

Because she had risen through luck rather than strength or even effort, many within the Yan Family looked down on Yan Yunyu and deeply envied her.

At this moment, Yan Yunyu’s former friends were speaking sarcastically, and Yan Zhanpeng and others were mocking her for overestimating herself.

However, just as they were sneering, a “boom” echoed as a majestic aura suddenly erupted from Yan Yunyu.

That overwhelming presence, like a towering mountain or a vast sea, immediately silenced many.

Yet, compared to the physical pressure, the shock to their minds was even more severe.

“Sha… Sha Refinement… This can’t be real! How can you possibly have achieved Sha Refinement?!”

(End of Chapter)