Chapter 143 – Guidance from the Silent Master Meng Rui

These twins, who had awakened their own intelligence, had angrily confronted Mu Lin several times in the courtyard, calling him a fool.

And now, Mu Lin was about to place collars on them, becoming their master.

“Sister, big sister… are we going to become tools of this fool… Master Mu Lin? Is there really no other way? We could beg—”

“Quiet.”

Hua, the more mature one, stopped Butterfly, who still clung to a sliver of hope. She sighed and forced a smile, saying, “Don’t be too afraid. Perhaps Mu Lin… our master… is kind-hearted and will forgive our past disrespect.”

While Flower and Butterfly had come to accept reality, there were still those who could not.

That person was not Qin Yuan. Though he had exhausted all his methods and failed to defeat even one of Mu Lin’s Paper Figures, leaving him somewhat disheartened and defeated, he acknowledged his loss with genuine respect.

The one who struggled the most to accept this was Zuo Li. Originally smiling as if everything was under his control, he now felt as though his world had crumbled.

“Why? The prophecy said Qin Yuan would win. The leader’s prediction couldn’t possibly be wrong…”

He was questioning his life, searching for where things had gone awry.

Meanwhile, his companion also furrowed his brow.

“Young Master Zuo, since Qin Yuan isn’t first and hasn’t obtained the Puppet Twins Flower and Butterfly, what should we do?”

“After all, as you said, Flower and Butterfly are crucial, related to the Phantom Realm of Anping City…”

These words left Zuo Li silent for a while. In the end, he refrained from making a decision on his own and said, “Don’t rush. I’ll go back and consult the leader before deciding what to do.”

…

With the assessment concluded, Master Meng Rui, having witnessed a treasure like Mu Lin, lost all interest in idle conversation with the others.

Immediately, she summoned Mu Lin to the rear courtyard.

The first topic they discussed was the matter of the Starlight Paper Figure.

“What requirements do you have for the Paper Figure… feel free to elaborate.”

Hearing this, Mu Lin did not hold back.

“Master, you only need to help me craft the paper. I’d like to do the final Paper Folding myself. Additionally, I hope the Paper Figure can retain the characteristics of Year-End Paper alongside its Stellar Attribute.”

“Year-End and Stellar—that’s simple. The Ancient Tomb Ruins contain many Stellar Attribute treasures buried as grave goods. With a bit of refinement, I can produce the paper you need. Any other requirements?”

“If more can be added, then add a touch of dynastic fortune—the thicker, the better.”

“Hmm, dynastic fortune?”

This answer somewhat exceeded Master Meng Rui’s expectations, but after glancing at Mu Lin, she said nothing further, merely nodding and replying, “Understood.”

With that, she clapped her hands, summoning Flower and Butterfly to her side, and said to Mu Lin, “From now on, they are yours. Besides combat, these two possess some basic skills in artifact forging, talisman crafting, and Puppet-making. You may command them as you wish.”

These words left Mu Lin with a somewhat peculiar expression. He opened his mouth, unsure whether he should ask.

However, his hesitant demeanor caught Master Meng Rui’s attention, prompting her to say directly, “If there’s something you don’t understand, speak plainly.”

“Yes, Master.”

After responding, Mu Lin cautiously asked, “Master, didn’t you say that to master the art of Puppetry to a profound level, one must treat Puppets as family, friends, and companions? Then what about these two…”

Though Mu Lin didn’t speak the words aloud, Master Meng Rui understood them—why would she, being as she was, willingly give away two puppets?

To this, Master Meng Rui smiled faintly and said, “I do indeed regard puppets as family, but not every puppet qualifies. Only the most perfect creations can become my family.”

“…”

These words left Mu Lin silent. Only then did he recall one thing: in this feudal society, people were never equal, separated by strict class barriers.

Influenced by this mindset, most people in this world divided humanity into several tiers.

Now it seemed that not only were people categorized, but Puppet Masters also classified their own puppets.

The best, most exquisite, and most painstakingly crafted works would be cherished and cared for by Master Meng Rui, treated like family or children.

But ordinary creations? Such masters wouldn’t even spare them a glance.

As Mu Lin remained silent, Master Meng Rui spoke again.

“Of course, Flower and Butterfly have decent growth potential and are considered half-family to me. Giving them to you or Qin Yuan isn’t a careless discard—it benefits them as well.”

“I have many matters demanding my attention, and whether for combat or assistance, I have numerous puppets at my disposal.”

“Because of this, I lack the energy or time to look after Flower and Butterfly and upgrade them.”

“If they stayed by my side, they would only ever serve as servants, with little chance for growth.”

“On the other hand, you and Qin Yuan might be able to nurture them properly.”

Flower and Butterfly needed a Puppet Master who would care for them meticulously, while Mu Lin and Qin Yuan were still weak and required Flower and Butterfly’s protection. It had to be said that Master Meng Rui’s arrangement was indeed sound; in a way, this was a mutual convergence.

Having resolved his inner doubts, Mu Lin was about to leave.

However, his departure was halted by Meng Rui.

Perhaps as a test, or perhaps to draw closer to Mu Lin and fulfill her duty as a teacher, she didn’t let him leave. Instead, she said:

“I recall you learned the Adamantine Force Talisman Array from me. Draw it here, and I’ll give you some guidance.”

“Huh?”

These words caught Mu Lin off guard, and he instinctively replied, “Haven’t you already seen the Adamantine Force Talisman Array I drew?”

“When did I see it?”

Seeing Master Meng Rui’s genuine confusion, Mu Lin thought for a moment and then proceeded to inscribe the Mighty Jiao Dragon – Adamantine Force Talisman Array before her.

Well, it was less like writing and more like painting.

Under Mu Lin’s brush, every stroke and line of the Adamantine Force Talisman Array resembled a Jiao Dragon traversing the sea, majestic and awe-inspiring.

His brush moved like dragons and snakes, with strokes as firm as iron and as graceful as silver hooks.

Under Mu Lin’s depiction, the Adamantine Force Talisman Array was transformed into a vivid scene of a Jiao Dragon stirring the sea.

As Mu Lin devoted himself wholeheartedly to drawing the talisman array, Master Meng Rui’s expression shifted from calm composure to wide-eyed astonishment.

Just as Mu Lin had suspected, when Master Meng Rui first asked him to draw the Adamantine Force Talisman Array, it was partly a test and partly an attempt to offer guidance and goodwill.

In her mind, even if Mu Lin was exceptionally talented, a little over a month would at most allow him to reach a proficient level with the Adamantine Force Talisman Array.

This level of Adamantine Force Talisman Array was riddled with flaws in Master Meng Rui’s eyes. With just a casual glance, she could spot Mu Lin’s shortcomings and offer guidance.

“After witnessing my abilities, the likelihood of Mu Lin taking me as his master will be even higher…”

However, holding such thoughts, Meng Rui stood up in astonishment the moment Mu Lin made his first stroke.

“It’s actually conceptual essence—something only Master Grade Talismans utilize…”

“But one month, Master Grade!”

“How is this possible?”

“Could it be that I was too engrossed in crafting puppets and lost track of time? This isn’t one month later, but a year later… No, even a year is too short…”

Meng Rui knew full well that her sense of time wasn’t disordered, but achieving Master Grade in a month was too fantastical, completely beyond her imagination. She could barely accept reaching Master Grade in a year.

Yet, before she could snap out of her existential doubt, she realized that the Adamantine Force Mu Lin was writing was entirely different from her own.

Observing the overwhelmingly domineering aura of the Jiao Dragon and sensing the completely distinct writing technique and conceptual essence compared to the Adamantine Force she had taught, Master Meng Rui immediately understood: Mu Lin had not only elevated the Adamantine Force Talisman Array to Master Grade but had also sublimated this talisman array.

And this was something even she had not accomplished.

“Master Grade in a month, and even sublimating the talisman array… Hah, I must still be dreaming…”

The situation before her was too far beyond reason, prompting Master Meng Rui to withdraw all her consciousness into her Main Body and employ various methods to examine the state of her Divine Soul.

Then, she discovered that her Divine Soul was completely normal.

This meant that everything she had witnessed was real, and this realization left Master Meng Rui in silence.

(End of Chapter)