Chapter 328 – Da Luo Mi Tian Qi

The requirement for so much Gang Qi made Mu Lin frown slightly, but he did not feel despair.

First, thirty-three… ninety-nine or more was the upper limit. If he had to settle, thirty-three would be enough.

Second, Mu Lin could attract investment from others by demonstrating greater value.

For example, in the upcoming North-South War, if Mu Lin participated, he was confident he could take down a Mortal Shedding cultivator. Such strength would be enough to secure more resources from the aristocratic families of the south.

Third, a method Mu Lin had just thought of—he could sell positions in the True Spirit Karma Diagram.

With a guaranteed Mortal Shedding cultivation, many aristocratic families would be willing to marry their daughters to him, bringing along substantial dowries.

However, of these three methods, the first and third would lower his potential, so Mu Lin would not choose them.

As for the second, it went against his principles, so he did not want to choose it either.

“Indeed, life is full of disappointments. Even I cannot have everything go my way.”

Frowning, Mu Lin began pondering which plan to adopt.

“Or perhaps I should pursue a fourth option—venture into various secret realms, ruins, and distant skies myself to search for different types of Gang Qi?”

This plan actually had some feasibility. After all, Mu Lin did not require a specific type of Gang Qi; as long as it reached Heavenly Grade, he could accept and easily integrate it.

With such broad tolerance and the convenience of hundreds of Substitute Paper Figures searching together, spending several years or even over a decade, Mu Lin could accumulate enough Gang Qi—this was also the common method used by ordinary cultivators without family backgrounds.

However, this plan would take far too long.

A longer timeframe meant more risks and unexpected events, especially with the Doomsday Calamity approaching.

“This is the worst option…”

Just as Mu Lin was racking his brains, Yan Yunyu brought him good news.

Upon learning of Mu Lin’s situation, the Yan Family not only did not retreat but increased their investment, offering forty-nine Heaven Grade Gang Qi at once.

“So much? Such a big gamble?”

To be honest, the Yan Family’s actions surprised Mu Lin.

After all, Mu Lin was only the Future Celestial Master, not the Celestial Master. If he were to fall midway, the Yan Family would suffer a huge loss.

Thus, Mu Lin felt that the Yan Family’s actions amounted to a major gamble.

Yan Yunyu, however, was not surprised.

“Brother Mu, ninety-nine portions of Gang Qi also mean your foundational attributes are ninety-nine times that of others. Mana is the foundation of everything, and with such profound mana alone, you can overwhelm others.”

“Not to mention, you have Substitute Paper Figures, making it difficult for you to die. As long as you act cautiously, investing in you carries little risk.”

At this point, Yan Yunyu added somewhat awkwardly, “Also, not all Heavenly Grade Gang Qi can be refined. Many types are too dangerous or lack suitable cultivation methods. Our Yan Family cannot sell such Gang Qi. In our treasury, there are many Heavenly Grade Gang Qi that have been stored for centuries…”

She did not finish, but Mu Lin understood her meaning.

Although those Gang Qi were of high grade, if no one could refine them, they were essentially useless. Most of the forty-nine portions the Yan Family offered fell into this category, making it a form of waste utilization.

Thus, what they had given was actually not much.

Prompted by Yan Yunyu’s reminder, Mu Lin realized that it wouldn’t be difficult for him to gather ninety-nine types of Gang Qi, or even more.

“Such useless Gang Qi isn’t exclusive to the Yan Family. Other aristocratic families also have many accumulated Heavenly Grade Gang Qi stockpiled. While they can’t use it, I can.”

Having made his decision, Mu Lin immediately instructed Yan Yunyu to collect them.

“Understood, Brother Mu. I will gather such Gang Qi.”

…

After speaking with Yan Yunyu, Mu Lin settled down near Jade Lake Dao Academy and the Tower of Time.

Most of his time was spent sending numerous clones into the Tower of Time to comprehend cultivation methods—although Mu Lin’s many mystical arts and cultivation methods had all been integrated into the True Spirit Karma Diagram, this didn’t mean they had disappeared. These cultivation methods could be practiced by Mu Lin either holistically, enhancing the True Spirit Karma Diagram as a whole, or separately.

Of course, practicing them separately meant focusing solely on elevating a single divine position.

Fortunately, Mu Lin had enough Substitute Paper Figures that even when practicing separately, he could cultivate all the methods simultaneously.

“Hum…”

Thus, time flowed steadily by as Mu Lin cultivated.

Soon, three days passed.

While Mu Lin was quietly in seclusion, outside Jade Lake Dao Academy, the battles between the southern prodigies and northern prodigies grew increasingly fierce.

—In just these three short days, the southern and northern prodigies had fought over a hundred times within Yuzhou City.

However, the results were quite unfavorable for the southern prodigies.

Out of one hundred and nine battles, the southern prodigies had only won eleven times; the rest were all victories for the disciples from the Northern Wastelands.

“Is the gap really that big?”

Seeing Mu Lin’s confusion, Dongfang Ya, who had informed him of the battle details, frowned and said, “There’s no helping it. Most of our southern prodigies grew up within Dao Palaces, sects, or families. They’ve hardly experienced any real combat, and most of their training has been conducted within the Tower of Illusory Heavens.”

“In contrast, the elite from the north who have grown to this point have all survived several life-and-death crises.”

“More crucially, most of those prodigies began cultivating early and possess Forbidden Power within their bodies. Although this power has caused them immense suffering and continues to plague them to this day, putting them in constant peril of death, it also means each of them has one or two hidden trump cards.”

After explaining the external situation, Dongfang Ya added, “For the next few days, you’d better not go out… These battles have left many southern authorities feeling humiliated. They urgently need some victories to save face, and those people might very well come looking for you.”

This did make Mu Lin narrow his eyes, but he soon shook his head and said, “I haven’t undergone Mortal Shedding yet. Even if I were to step forward, I probably couldn’t change the situation, could I?”

“You could… After all, this north-south conflict is ultimately a dispute, not a civil war. As such, there are still rules for the battles within Yuzhou City. Most of the time, it’s matching age against age. If you were to take action, the cultivators you’d face would only be those under eighteen years old.”

Hearing this, Mu Lin instantly relaxed.

If it were only those under eighteen, even if they possessed Forbidden Power, Mu Lin had absolutely no fear.

‘Forbidden Power is indeed terrifying, but it’s not like I don’t have any myself.’

After relaxing, Mu Lin realized that the current situation actually presented an opportunity for him.

When the prodigies of the Southeast Region were all defeated, if Mu Lin emerged out of nowhere, sweeping all before him with unmatched prowess, he would inevitably gain the support of some of the region’s ruling powers.

At that time, let alone Gang Qi, even a Spirit Tool would be within Mu Lin’s reach.

Moreover, Mu Lin had a way to convince himself.

“I am the greater picture. The crises of this world, as long as I grow strong enough, I can overcome them single-handedly. Therefore, nothing in this vast, fleeting world is more important than my growth.”

Such a statement might sound domineering and arrogant, but it truly reflected Mu Lin’s thoughts, and he was indeed capable of achieving it.

Thus, when left with no other options, Mu Lin would truly act this way.

Fortunately, the current Mu Lin was not lacking in resources. Even ninety-nine portions of Gang Qi were now within his grasp.

This also allowed Mu Lin to calmly observe the battles outside.

Soon, however, Mu Lin had no mind to dwell on such trivial matters.

Yan Yunyu returned with a large quantity of Gang Qi.

After taking over the Gang Qi from Yan Yunyu, Mu Lin also understood why the Yan Family had stockpiled these Gang Qi—they were indeed excessively dangerous.

Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi, Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang, Calamity Heaven Qi… most of the Gang Qi Yan Yunyu brought from the Yan Family belonged to these three types.

Among them, Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi was the most supreme Gang Qi in the world, even touching upon the concepts of existence and nothingness.

By absorbing this Qi, Mu Lin could completely conceal his presence from the heavens and earth, from the world, and even from the memories of all people.

He could also use the power of existence and nothingness to utterly erase a person’s Mystical Arts, or even their very existence, making them vanish completely.

“Truly worthy of Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi. It can permanently erase a person’s existence or cast a vast, all-encompassing lie upon the world. Such abilities are indeed terrifyingly powerful.”

Yet, despite such formidable Gang Qi, the Yan Family had not utilized it, naturally because… it was extremely difficult to refine.

Refining Gang Qi required a Qi Refiner’s Divine Soul to directly confront the Gang Qi and endure its baptism.

Due to the nature of Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi, any existence that came into contact with it risked complete annihilation.

The power of existence was the foundation of a person, and even erasing a fraction of it would permanently diminish a Qi Refiner’s potential and strength, with almost no possibility of recovery.

Such risks meant that almost no one dared to refine this type of Gang Qi. Those who attempted it either vanished completely, leaving not even their names behind, or suffered irreparable damage to their potential and limits, becoming utterly mediocre.

To be honest, without the True Spirit Karma Diagram, Mu Lin would not dare to attempt it either.

Even now, Mu Lin harbored a trace of concern.

“Will this Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi erase my True Spirit Karma Diagram as well?”

“It shouldn’t be possible. My True Spirit Karma Diagram has already surpassed Heaven Grade, reaching the level of myth. Even Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi cannot erase it.”

“It can be governed and controlled.”

Shifting his gaze from Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi, Mu Lin turned to the other two types of Gang Qi.

The nature of Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang was also extraordinary. It could assimilate the soul spirits of others, merging them with Mu Lin’s own soul spirit. This could be considered a devouring trait. By integrating this trait, Mu Lin could continuously elevate the limits of his Divine Soul by devouring soul spirits.

However, like Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi, the difficulty of fusing with it was exceedingly high.

When absorbing and fusing with it, Mu Lin’s Divine Soul and memories would become intertwined. Without a strong will, it would be impossible for him to regain clarity.

The final Calamity Qi, however, was not as dangerous during fusion.

Yet, it was the one most cultivators least wanted to fuse with.

In this world, calamities exist. When fusing with Calamity Qi, it would be as if a god of misfortune had possessed the cultivator, bringing endless disasters.

What was even more frustrating was that after fusion, although calamities no longer arrived abruptly, Gang Qi was not something that could be refined and then ignored. In the future, cultivators would still need to cultivate and gain insights.

To enhance this Gang Qi and strengthen their own Divine Soul, cultivators who refined Calamity Gang Qi would have to continuously experience various calamities.

This could be described as: wherever there was a calamity, the cultivator would have to go there.

“Isn’t this just extreme recklessness?”

Who would willingly refine such Gang Qi?

(End of Chapter)