Chapter 198 – Manipulating Everything

After comprehending the true essence of combat within the Yin Eight Gates, Mu Lin no longer used paper figures to engage enemies. All of his paper figures were now employed solely to lure anomalies.

Soon, more anomalies were drawn by Mu Lin to the vicinity of Yuan Ce, Chu Hongxuan, Yan Zhanpeng, and others.

Red Umbrella Anomalies, Nuo Mask Anomalies, pig-headed butchers with human bodies… numerous anomalies left Chu Hongxuan and his companions flustered and overwhelmed, suffering greatly.

Under the siege of these anomalies, disciples of the Jade Lake Dao Academy were continuously perishing.

They were not weak—flames, frost, gales, sword control… a dazzling array of spells were unleashed from their hands.

Most of them here possessed the cultivation level of Gushing Spring and could be called Prodigies in remote Dao Academies.

Yet, as strong as they were, the anomalies in this city were even more formidable and unpredictable.

More crucially, anomalies feared neither life nor death. Under their relentless, suicidal assaults, soon, the ordinary disciples of the Jade Lake Dao Academy had fallen in large numbers.

Witnessing this, Mu Lin was not satisfied.

Within this vast city projected by the Tower of Illusory Heavens, there were not only mindless evil spirits but also numerous demons and monsters.

Now, these demons and monsters were also being lured or driven by Mu Lin toward the humans.

“Kill, fight, and perish together.”

Like a puppet master looming over the entire city, Mu Lin regarded humans and demonic monsters as puppets, intending to manipulate them into mutual slaughter.

This aspect proved slightly more challenging. Although demons and monsters were malevolent, they possessed intelligence.

Because of their intelligence, when faced with powerful humans, they would also feel fear and attempt to flee. It was not as simple as Mu Lin luring them before humans for them to engage in battle.

In fact, when Mu Lin drove anomalies to gather humans and demons together, under the pressure of the anomalies, the two sides actually began to show intentions of cooperation.

“Let’s join forces against the enemy and kill the anomalies first. Otherwise, we’ll all die!”

“…Agreed.”

Watching the disciples of the Jade Lake Dao Academy ally with the demons and monsters from the Tower of Illusory Heavens, the group observing from outside wore extremely peculiar expressions.

“Is this even possible?”

“I’ve watched the Jade Lake Dao Academy’s assessments over ten times. I thought after seeing so many assessment scenarios, I had witnessed every possible situation. But humans and demons joining forces—this is truly the first time I’ve seen it.”

“Who isn’t…”

While their expressions were peculiar, the observing group also grew increasingly attentive toward Mu Lin.

These people naturally understood that the occurrence of such an inconceivable event as humans and demons allying was due to the immense pressure Mu Lin had imposed on everyone.

They also realized that since Mu Lin could lure anomalies to attack humans, he could certainly lure anomalies to attack demons as well.

The value of such an ability was immense, with someone even remarking, “Mu Lin alone is worth half an army.”

While marveling, the crowd also cast increasingly envious and jealous glances toward the Clan Elder of the Yan Family Fourth Branch.

Yan Yunyu’s good relationship with Mu Lin was undoubtedly a windfall for the Yan Family.

At the same time, some also envied Chu Lingluo’s mother—not everyone knew that Chu Lingluo’s mother had once tried to separate the couple.

Seeing the Chu Family’s legitimate daughter consistently staying close to Mu Lin and maintaining a rather intimate relationship, many specifically came forward to congratulate Chu Lingluo’s mother.

However, the more people offered congratulations, the more unpleasant Chu Lingluo’s mother’s expression became.

Regret gnawed at her heart like a venomous serpent.

Beside her, Wei Jing’s sarcastic and provocative words only deepened the gloom on her face.

“So powerful, Si Ye, your daughter really found herself a fine husband.”

“I heard they met when they were still insignificant. I imagine their relationship must be very close, and your daughter is sure to become the principal wife.”

“To single-handedly suppress the Jade Lake Dao Academy—even if he relied on external forces—such talent is still once in a century. I truly envy you. The Chu Family managed to secure such a talent without much effort at all, hehe…”

The cutting remarks made the palace-robed young woman’s chest heave with anger.

…

Unaware of the dispute outside and with no mind to pay it any attention, Mu Lin did feel some pressure from the alliance between demonic monsters and humans.

But soon, he stopped caring.

Humans and demons were fundamentally different; their disparate races made it impossible for them to cooperate wholeheartedly.

Especially since this sudden alliance meant humans and demons were entirely unfamiliar with each other.

With his Grandmaster-level Painting and Grandmaster-level Origami, the paper figures Mu Lin brought to life could vividly imitate others, allowing him to easily sow discord.

Just as now, when Yuan Ce led his subordinates to fight alongside the demons, at the most critical moment, one of the demons suddenly flicked its wrist and attacked Yuan Ce’s companion.

That person was not weak, but being weakened by the anomaly’s attack and caught off guard by the demon, he met his demise.

“No, save me…”

With a cry cut short, the human died, his body dragged into the black mist by the demon.

“?!”

The sudden turn of events immediately enraged Yuan Ce and the others.

“Bastards, what are you doing!”

Faced with Yuan Ce’s fury, some demons cried out, “We’re innocent! We didn’t mean to attack. It must be that despicable mastermind sowing discord!”

“Right, we’re not stupid. Why would we turn on each other now?”

“Exactly, we demons value our reputation the most. We’d never betray anyone or lose control suddenly. Even if devouring you humans could greatly enhance our strength, we’d suppress our desires.”

“Yes, yes, we demons are the best… Wait, no, we demons are best at betraying others, have no reputation at all, and lose control all the time. You’re not a demon!”

“Fool, you’re the one who’s not! I was trying to deceive the humans, deceive them, understand?… Oh no, I let it slip!”

“…”

Listening to the demons’ chaotic words and recalling their notorious reputation for being untrustworthy and prone to losing control, Yuan Ce fell silent.

He wasn’t entirely sure whether the demon earlier was a paper figure impersonated by Mu Lin or if a demon had genuinely lost control.

What troubled him even more was that he didn’t know how to cooperate with the demons in battle anymore—after all, betrayal, loss of control, and lack of credibility… these were behaviors even the demons themselves acknowledged.

Just as he remained silent, matters worsened further. Some demons were cunning, while others were bloodthirsty. At that moment, a Yaksha with bloodshot eyes was killing everyone in sight.

No, it wasn’t just killing humans—it was slaughtering demons and monsters as well.

Such indiscriminate killing plunged the scene into utter chaos.

“Damn it…”

Then, amidst the chaos, demonic monsters suddenly ambushed humans, and some humans, in turn, began killing the demonic monsters.

“I can’t take it anymore. These damned monsters don’t deserve to fight alongside us. I’m going to kill them all.”

The humans’ actions enraged the demonic monsters.

Hmm… Some wise humans also stepped forward, shouting:

“Don’t fight! Everyone, stop fighting! That person isn’t real. It’s that despicable Mu Lin sowing discord…”

These words made some demonic monsters pause, but more, driven by bloodlust, engaged in battle with the humans.

As they fought in chaos, a demonic monster approached the wise man who had been shouting “Stop!”—intending to ask what to do.

However, when the two drew close, thud—another assassination occurred on the scene.

And what exhausted Yuan Ce was that this time, it wasn’t a demonic monster suddenly attacking a human.

Instead, it was the human who had been repeatedly shouting “Stay calm!” and “Don’t fight!” who abruptly struck, assassinating the approaching demonic monster.

This scene left him utterly speechless.

“Bastards, I told you not to fight, and you actually listened? How stupid. You deserve to die here.”

“You bunch of leftover scum, I’ve been holding back for a long time.”

“Since we’re all going to die anyway, it doesn’t matter. Killing one is breaking even, killing two is a huge profit…”

As the human mocked, seeing the demonic monsters’ hostile gazes, another person stepped forward, shouting loudly:

“Don’t fight! Everyone, stop fighting! That person is an imposter. I’m the real one… really, you have to believe me!”

He urged the demonic monsters to trust him, but clearly, they didn’t believe him—nor dared to.

Even the rational demonic monsters were skeptical, while the irritable, bloodthirsty ones, stirred by the scent of blood, could no longer restrain themselves and fought fiercely with the humans.

Such chaos left Yuan Ce feeling powerless.

He knew all too well that this was all Mu Lin’s doing—sowing discord—but knowing was useless.

The demonic monsters didn’t trust humans, and humans didn’t dare trust demonic monsters.

Even he himself couldn’t trust the demonic monsters… nor could he trust other humans.

(End of Chapter)