Chapter 347 – Final Boss: Mu Lin Prepares to Strike

“Hiss…”

The dead return, death reborn—those slain by Xue Ying would transform into her servants, rising again to fight for her. Such a sight naturally evoked shock, terror, reverence, and longing.

Opposite Xue Ying, Su Xiong, his body covered in cracks, had already halted his advance.

Having reached his physical limit, he had initially stepped onto the stage with a resolve to die, intending to repay the Northern Aristocracy with the last of his strength, after which they would protect his family.

However, Xue Ying’s power had turned his desperate struggle into a joke.

If he died in battle, her strength would likely not diminish but instead grow stronger through slaughter.

Thus, he naturally dared not die so easily.

As his opponent hesitated, the Southern Aristocracy also stared in astonishment at the resurrected Black Sword, uneasily remarking:

“Xue Ying, and that Demon Blade in her hand—were they always this powerful?”

This statement was immediately refuted.

“Impossible. If Xue Ying were truly this strong, why didn’t she show it before? Moreover, if she possessed such terrifying power, the Ge Family might not have allowed her to pledge allegiance to Mu Lin.”

“If it’s not her, then it must be… Mu Lin. Lord Mu Lin can not only elevate the Cultivation Level of his subordinates but also allow their abilities to transform, advance, turning them into peerless Prodigies…”

Before the Cultivator could finish speaking, tears of envy were already welling up in his eyes.

He wanted this ability too.

“Raising Cultivation Level, transforming abilities, and even seeking Lord Mu Lin’s healing for severe injuries… Hahaha, such a wonderful thing exists in this world? I must be dreaming.”

“Damn, with these conditions, even a pig could become a powerhouse.”

“I’m not envious, I’m not envious… I heard the Joyful Union Sect has a Cultivation Method that allows one to cultivate into a celestial being, freely switching between male and female forms. I wonder if that’s true…”

A few days ago, before Xue Ying pledged allegiance to Mu Lin, she was considered talented but nothing extraordinary. Her defeat at the hands of the Northern Aristocracy had already shown she was not among the top-tier prodigies.

Yet, after she pledged herself to Mu Lin, everything changed.

Three days—just three days—not only had her Cultivation Level risen, but her foundation had become astonishingly solid. What was even more terrifying was that she had gained a fearsome ability.

These transformations left many scions of the Aristocratic Families green with envy, their faces contorted with jealousy.

Among them, the most deeply shaken and affected were the Clan Elders and family heads of the Aristocratic Families.

Three days prior, when Yan Yunyu displayed formidable strength, they had already felt tempted.

However, due to Yan Yunyu’s lack of combat awareness, they hadn’t seen much potential. At that time, they still had reservations, uncertain whether such an investment would yield returns.

After all, empowering their own daughters required a Spirit Tool.

But today, Xue Ying’s transformation dispelled all their doubts.

“Such strength, such change… No, we must marry one of our daughters to him.”

As before, merely investing in Mu Lin left the Aristocratic Families with lingering concerns. After all, with current investments, whether Mu Lin would assist in the future and to what extent was entirely beyond their control—it all depended on Mu Lin’s character.

If he had a good temperament, it would be fine, but if Mu Lin were to say something like “Feed the Young Master a cake,” they would be in trouble.

However, Xue Ying’s transformation had opened a new path for them.

“Marry off our legitimate daughters and invest in them. That way, my daughter could also become a powerful figure.”

“This wouldn’t just extend my daughter’s lifespan and improve her life. When the family faces danger, my daughter would certainly not stand idly by… Hmm, we should find some legitimate daughters who have good relations with the family to send over.”

The heads of the Noble Clans were moved, and the legitimate daughters of the Aristocratic Families also had their eyes gleaming with ambition.

Powerful figures represented authority, status, and, most importantly, longevity.

If given the chance, who wouldn’t want to become a powerful figure?

Don’t assume that women have little desire for power. The fierce struggles in the imperial harem have long proven that as long as one is human, they harbor a desire for power.

At this moment, some legitimate daughters of Aristocratic Families directly addressed their fathers and elders: “Father, even if I were to rely on Mu Lin, I would still think of the family and act in its best interests.”

However, such legitimate daughters were immediately rejected by the Elders and clan heads.

Those Clan Elders were not foolish, nor did they think Mu Lin was a fool.

Therefore, they believed Mu Lin would not nurture someone whose heart lay elsewhere.

“Someone whose heart is divided—half for the family and half for Mu Lin—would be the best candidate… Hmm, they should also be intelligent. With such qualities, Mu Lin would have no shortage of beauties around him. To gain his attention, one must be clever.”

…

While many Aristocratic Families were contemplating marrying off their daughters, Prince Liang could no longer remain idle.

Previously, he had assumed that his daughter’s noble status and the generous dowry she could bring would make him less anxious.

But now, seeing the burning ambition in the eyes of the Noble Clans, he understood all too well that if he delayed any longer, Mu Lin would soon be surrounded by dozens of noblewomen.

With so many noblewomen from Aristocratic Families vying for his attention, his own Lingsha would struggle to stand out.

Moreover, in the past, marrying Ji Lingsha to Mu Lin was not a necessity, as there were plenty of other suitable matches for her.

But now, things were different. Other Prodigies did not possess Mu Lin’s ability to elevate everyone around him.

Thus, it was no longer Mu Lin who needed Ji Lingsha, but rather the latter who needed Mu Lin.

Thinking this, Prince Liang immediately turned to Uncle Fu beside him and said, “How can we ensure Lingsha marries him, preferably as his principal wife?”

Uncle Fu did not object to this proposal, which essentially amounted to offering his daughter. Having watched Ji Lingsha grow up, he also wanted the best for her.

In this dangerous and turbulent era, relying on a powerful figure who could also help one grow stronger was the best outcome.

Therefore, he fully agreed with this decision.

After a moment of contemplation, Uncle Fu said, “I recall that the Prince’s Residence treasure vault contains a precious artifact—the Void-Crossing Ship.”

Upon hearing this, Prince Liang raised an eyebrow.

Prince Liang’s Manor had not always been in decline; it too had its glorious days. Although the Prince Liang of that generation did not harbor the grand ambition of rebellion like the East Sea King, he was still ambitious, eager to explore distant seas, sail into the stars, and even venture into other realms.

For this reason, that generation’s Prince Liang crafted several treasures, one of which was the Void-Crossing Ship.

This was a treasure ship imbued with spatial expansion arrays, capable of carrying a million soldiers in one go and possessing the ability to traverse space, covering tens of thousands of miles in a single leap.

Beyond its immense capacity and load-bearing strength, this treasure ship also boasted formidable defenses and numerous offensive capabilities.

Such a treasure ship could be considered one of the foundational assets of Prince Liang’s Manor, serving as a supreme military treasure. It had also been Prince Liang’s hope for overcoming the recent calamity.

Yet precisely because this treasure ship was so powerful, Prince Liang was reluctant to part with it.

“I need to consider this further.”

…

Regarding the formidable abilities bestowed by Mu Lin, cultivators from the south were largely elated and invigorated, contemplating how to participate and share in the benefits.

Northern cultivators, however, felt differently. Observing Xue Ying’s abilities, they found themselves troubled.

“What should we do? How do we counter Xue Ying?”

“First, have Su Xiong withdraw. Also, for the upcoming battles, cultivators below the Realm of Gang Sha Unity should not participate. The opponent’s raw strength is too great, and her abilities are too terrifying. Sending weaker fighters onto the arena will only bolster her power. From now on, battles should be conducted by cultivators at the Realm of Gang Sha Unity.”

Upon hearing this, many cultivators turned their gaze toward the eleven individuals standing to the side.

They were the cultivators under eighteen from the Northern Aristocracy who had reached the Realm of Gang Sha Unity, now representing their hope of defeating Xue Ying and Mu Lin.

Burdened with such expectations, these individuals showed no signs of timidity.

“I’ll go.”

The one who stepped onto the arena this time was a swordsman with black cloth covering his eyes, appearing as though he were blind.

Yet, though his eyes were covered, his perception remained unimpaired.

“Kill!”

As soon as he took the stage, Xue Ying issued the command, ordering her Scarlet demonic monsters, numerous Asuras, and Scarlet Knights to launch a full assault.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

“Boom…”

The charge of countless Scarlet demonic monsters surged before Xue Ying like a crimson tidal wave.

The wave rolled forward, seemingly capable of sweeping away everything in its path.

Then, with a sharp shriek, a single slash from the Blind Swordsman tore a gaping hole through the crimson wave.

Moreover, that sword aura, after shredding countless demonic monsters, continued its relentless flight toward Xue Ying, its power undiminished.

“Bang!”

Finally, this sword aura was blocked by the resurrected Black Sword.

After the interception, Black Sword, whose eyes held no light but only battle intent and killing intent, swiftly surged forward.

What made the Blind Swordsman frown was that the charging Black Sword not only retained its original swordsmanship but also bore the terrifying Forbidden Power of death burning upon its form.

“Both swordsmanship and the Forbidden Power preserved… truly fearsome.”

Saying this, the Blind Swordsman showed no intention of retreating. Instead, he continuously swung his longsword, unleashing one mighty sword aura after another.

Under the onslaught of these terrifying sword auras, the crimson wave formed by the Scarlet demonic monsters was repeatedly slashed and torn apart. Numerous three-headed, six-armed Asuras were sliced to pieces before they could even get close.

Even the Scarlet Beiwei Army, charging forward in tight formation, had its battle array shattered by a single sword strike.

With just one longsword, the Blind Swordsman single-handedly held back the charge of thousands of Scarlet demonic monsters.

This sight caused Xue Ying to narrow her eyes.

“With your eyes veiled, your perception becomes even sharper. Whether it’s the weaknesses of demons or military formations, you can quickly find and easily cleave through them. I must admit, you are strong. Unfortunately, ordinary slashes are useless against me.”

Unlike Yan Yunyu, Xue Ying possessed a high level of combat awareness, easily discerning the opponent’s abilities.

While offering praise, she was not particularly concerned about these traits.

The reason for this was…

Ding!

As the blood-colored blade behind her trembled, the scarlet demon that had been sliced apart by the sword qi immediately came back to life.

Then, these revived bodies began to writhe and draw closer to one another. As long as the severed parts made contact, they would merge back together.

Even if the separated parts were too far apart, it didn’t matter.

The broken limbs, heads, or internal organs would randomly combine, transforming into various aberrant demons.

If there were no scattered bodies nearby, the severed parts would wriggle and evolve into smaller demons.

Like blood-red crows, mosquitoes, or even eyeballs sprouting tentacles…

“Roar…”

Once reactivated, these monsters would roar and charge toward the Blind Swordsman once more.

Thus, the crimson tide surged endlessly, launching wave after wave of assaults against the Blind Swordsman.

No matter how sharp his sword qi, he could not completely destroy the scarlet demons.

Such a battle left him feeling strained.

Soon, an even more troubling situation arose: Black Sword charged forward.

Possessing the combat skills of his former life and wielding Forbidden Power, he was not an opponent the Blind Swordsman could defeat with a single strike.

What made the Blind Swordsman frown even more was that Xue Ying also began to advance slowly.

Though she did not attack, the Blind Swordsman had already sensed her speed—violent and swift as Thunder.

He was certain that if he revealed even a single opening, Xue Ying would strike like Thunder, closing the distance and ending him with a single slash.

Thus, with her watching intently from the side, the Blind Swordsman dared not give his all. Instead, he had to reserve at least half of his strength to guard against her.

Black Sword was already formidable, and with the endless tide of scarlet demons surrounding them, the Blind Swordsman had to divert at least half of his focus to his surroundings.

This dire situation naturally made his position increasingly difficult and precarious.

After just thirty breaths of combat, countless wounds had appeared on his body.

This predicament made one thing clear to him.

“I cannot drag this out any longer. If I do, I will lose even without Xue Ying taking action.”

Realizing this, the Blind Swordsman immediately activated his Forbidden Power… He removed the black cloth covering his eyes.

Hum…

As the cloth fell away, a pair of crystal-like eyes appeared before Xue Ying and Mu Lin.

These eyes were beautiful, exquisite, with only one flaw—the crystal-like pupils were covered in countless fine cracks.

Well, the description of “crystal-like beautiful eyes” was Mu Lin’s assessment. For Xue Ying, what she felt was terror and a sense of impending death.

Under the gaze of those eyes, Xue Ying felt an inexplicable sensation, as though she had no defenses left.

Her hardened dragon scales and the Central Wuji Sha now seemed as fragile as paper.

The next moment, something even more terrifying occurred.

As a flash of light flickered in the Blind Swordsman’s eyes, a sharp “crack” echoed, and her body abruptly split into several pieces.

“Is this… Space Slash? Can he unleash Space Slash with just his eyes?”

The sudden attack startled Xue Ying, but though alarmed, she remained composed.

Immediately, she commanded numerous Scarlet monsters to block her front, while she herself relied on their formidable vitality to regenerate her split body.

At the same time, she activated the Paper Figure given to her by Mu Lin, continuously transferring away her injuries.

While Xue Ying was saving herself, the Blind Swordsman was naturally unwilling to let it end there.

“Crack!” “Crack!”

Having already used his ability, he no longer held back, instead glaring repeatedly, causing everything before him to split apart.

“Rip!”

Thus, the Scarlet monsters blocking his path would abruptly tear apart, while Xue Ying kept summoning more Scarlet monsters to shield herself.

The battle between the two reached a stalemate.

Now, it depended on whether Xue Ying could endure this onslaught or if the Blind Swordsman would falter first—using Space Slash was not without cost.

The cracks in his eyes were continuously multiplying, and these cracks were even spreading to other parts of his body.

If this continued, his eyes and his body could shatter completely.

Of course, it was also possible that Xue Ying’s head would be torn into countless pieces.

And Mu Lin’s Substitute Paper Figure – Others could not entirely transfer away another person’s injuries.

Thus, in this battle, Xue Ying faced the risk of death.

It could only be said that Xue Ying had grown stronger, but due to her overly weak foundation, she now only had the qualification to fight against Gang Sha Unity, but the outcome remained uncertain.

Well, this was also related to the fact that the Gang Sha Unity cultivators from the north were exceptionally powerful.

“Sigh.”

Such a scene made Mu Lin sigh.

“I originally wanted to take it easy, but it seems I still have to step in.”

Yes, Mu Lin was already preparing to intervene. Although the possibility of Xue Ying’s demise was low, she was, after all, a subordinate he valued highly, and it concerned the Spirit Tool Blade of Slaughter. He could not let Xue Ying die like this.

His sigh and his intention to intervene also caused the Blind Swordsman’s body to stiffen.

By now, even the northern Prodigy, who had previously looked down on southern cultivators, acknowledged one thing: Mu Lin was strong, terrifyingly so.

The Blind Swordsman had no thoughts of defeating Mu Lin.

However, while a chill ran down his spine, he and the many northern cultivators also felt a surge of excitement—the thrill of finally reaching the final boss.

“As long as we defeat him, this battle will be our victory, the north’s victory!”

(End of Chapter)