Chapter 209 – Mu Lin: Holy Race? I'm Here to Fight Them

“Do you know her?”

This inquiry was directed both at Chu Hongxuan and his companions, as well as at Yan Yunyu.

And Yan Yunyu was the first to respond.

“I’ve heard of the Feather Clan. When they arrived, they boasted about allying with us as partners, and even said they would make us suffer, to show humanity the might of the Feather Clan. Moreover, their temperament is extremely arrogant. They didn’t mingle with other Foreign Races but have always acted independently.”

At this point, Yan Yunyu’s expression turned somewhat complicated as she added, “I originally thought that those who spoke like this were ignorant frogs at the bottom of a well, but now it seems I was the one with a limited perspective.”

The strength of the Feather Clan had not only greatly shocked Mu Lin but also startled Yan Yunyu.

Meanwhile, among the nearby Merfolk Tribe, Baili Xiuling reacted upon hearing the term “Holy Race.”

“Young Master Mu, I know about the Holy Race. Compared to ordinary humans, the so-called Holy Race is largely composed of individuals who have transcended the mundane, and their talents are exceptionally high. Even an ordinary member of the Holy Race could be considered a minor prodigy among humans.”

“These transcendent talents mean that the Holy Race frequently produces powerful individuals, possesses formidable strength, and is guarded by superpowered beings.”

Hearing this, Mu Lin’s confusion only deepened rather than being resolved.

“Hah, if the Holy Race is so powerful, then why is humanity still the dominant force ruling the land?”

Upon hearing this, Baili Xiuling quickly replied, “Because of numbers. While the Holy Race has superior talents, their populations are mostly small. The larger ones number no more than a million, while the smaller ones may have only a thousand or so members. With such small numbers, they cannot rule the land and even dare not easily wage war against humanity.”

“Therefore, most of the Holy Race live far away from human settlements.”

“At the same time, the Holy Race has its own troubles, while humans must contend with demons and monsters and guard against forbidden lands. Thus, in most cases, humans do not specifically seek conflict with the Holy Race.”

Hearing this, Mu Lin understood. The Holy Race was not something that had suddenly emerged; it had always existed. However, their distance from humanity meant ordinary people rarely encountered them.

Moreover, their extraordinary talents made the so-called Holy Race inherently arrogant and unwilling to interact with ordinary humans.

And if the entire race had transcended the mundane, possessed outstanding talents, and had a solid foundation, it was no surprise that the Feather Clan would produce a super prodigy. However: “No matter who you are, you should not be so arrogant as to kill in front of me.”

“Hum!”

The Feather Clan was arrogant, but Mu Lin, who possessed an invincible will, was even more haughty.

To start with a commanding tone of questioning and then immediately take action showed complete disregard for him.

For someone so arrogant, Mu Lin would not indulge them.

“Boom!”

With his aura fully unleashed, Mu Lin immediately stirred his mana, unleashing a massive Thunder.

The blazing Crimson Lightning struck Tian Yun but did not harm her. However, this Thunder attack clearly declared Mu Lin’s stance.

This Crimson Lightning also stunned Tian Yun, who had not expected to be attacked.

After a long moment, she finally reacted, her face twisting with madness as she muttered toward Mu Lin:

“Hah, you dare to attack me first. It seems my Holy Feather Clan is being utterly underestimated.”

Stared down intently, Mu Lin showed no fear. With electric light surging in his eyes, he took a step forward and stood before the crowd, speaking coldly:

“No, killing someone right in front of me—it’s clearly me who’s being underestimated.”

The two locked eyes, neither yielding, and a tense atmosphere enveloped the scene.

However, this tension did not last long. In the next moment, Tian Yun, her face twisted with madness, suddenly appeared before Mu Lin like a fleeting shadow.

“Underestimate? No, I’ve never cared about you at all!”

With a slightly crazed laugh, she gripped a Light-Flame Spear and thrust it fiercely toward Mu Lin’s heart.

But she was fast, and Mu Lin was no slower.

As she moved, Mu Lin clenched his fist tightly.

In the next instant, with a crackling sound, propelled by electric currents, his fist shot toward Tian Yun’s head like thunder and lightning.

“Boom!”

In fact, as he threw the punch, Mu Lin made no attempt to block the Light-Flame Spear, instead shifting aside, as if intending to perish together with Tian Yun.

Such a reckless, life-risking fighting style stunned Tian Yun for a moment, but soon her expression returned to its frenzied state. Without hesitation, she continued thrusting the Light-Flame Spear toward Mu Lin’s chest.

“You can’t scare me!”

“Thud!”

Since neither held back, in the end, Tian Yun’s Light-Flame Spear pierced through Mu Lin’s chest and abdomen, shattering one of his hearts.

But Tian Yun did not fare well either. Mu Lin’s domineering fist, propelled by electric currents, landed squarely on her head.

“Bang!”

The overwhelmingly fierce punch deformed her head, and her entire body was sent flying eight hundred meters away like a cannonball.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

As she was sent flying backward, she crashed through countless houses along the way. Meanwhile, Mu Lin’s face turned pale.

His chest and abdomen had been torn open by Tian Yun’s Light-Flame Spear, leaving a gaping hole. Through the opening, everyone could clearly see that Mu Lin’s heart had been shattered.

Such a severe injury made Chu Hongxuan and Yan Zhanpeng realize Tian Yun’s terror. After transforming into a dragon monster, Mu Lin’s defenses had not weakened—in fact, they had strengthened. Yet even under such conditions, he had been pierced through the heart by a casual strike, sending chills down the spines of Chu Hongxuan and Yan Zhanpeng.

While these two Prodigies were wary of Tian Yun, Chu Lingluo and Yan Yunyu were worried about Mu Lin’s injuries.

“Brother Mu… sob, sob…”

“I have medicine here…”

Shouting, the two wanted to treat Mu Lin, but before they could approach, he waved his hand and said, “Cough, cough, I’m fine. It’s just a minor fatal wound.”

“???”

Mu Lin’s indifferent attitude left Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo stunned.

They had never before seen the words “minor” and “fatal wound” combined like this.

Beside them, Yan Zhanpeng also wore a strange expression, feeling he had gained insight into Mu Lin’s abilities.

‘Long-range curses and summons—Mu Lin is indeed strong, but close-quarters combat is his weakness. If facing him as an enemy, the best approach is to close the distance as quickly as possible and eliminate him…’

To deal with Mu Lin, Yan Zhanpeng was gathering intelligence.

However, before he could finish gathering the information, he witnessed an astonishing scene—the wound on Mu Lin’s chest was rapidly healing.

No, this could not even be called healing; it was more like erasure.

In the blink of an eye, Mu Lin’s shattered heart reappeared, and the gaping hole in his chest closed up. When it was all over, Mu Lin looked as if he had never been injured at all.

“Huh?”

Such terrifying speed of recovery immediately stopped Chu Lingluo’s tears from flowing.

Beside her, Yan Zhanpeng instantly tore apart the information he had gathered in his mind, leaving behind a warning:

‘Close combat isn’t Mu Lin’s weakness either. Also, when dealing with him, killing him once might not be enough—you’ll need to do it several times…’

…

While others were stunned by Mu Lin’s regenerative ability, Mu Lin himself appeared indifferent.

With the Substitute Paper Figure and such a miraculous skill, Mu Lin never cared about trading injuries or even risking his life in a fight.

However, even though his injuries had healed, Mu Lin showed no sign of joy. In the distance, the collapsed building trembled violently, and then a figure brimming with sharp momentum burst through the debris and soared back into the sky.

Mu Lin was unharmed, and Tian Yun, who had been struck violently in the head by his punch, also suffered little damage.

Only a trace of blood appeared on her forehead.

And this trace of blood made her take Mu Lin seriously for the first time.

  ”To actually make me bleed—you’re quite impressive.”

After saying this, she leisurely flew back toward Mu Lin while declaring arrogantly, “Originally, I only wanted to find Xue Ying. In this entire assessment, only she is worthy of being my opponent.”

“But now, you qualify as well. As a sign of respect, I will utterly crush you.”

“Boom!”

As her words fell, an overwhelming aura erupted from her body.

Amidst the explosive surge, Tian Yun clasped her hands together, assuming the posture of a maiden in prayer.

As she took this stance, an elusive, higher power suddenly manifested in the heavens, seeking to merge with her.

“Not good!”

“Attack together!”

Sensing this, not only did Mu Lin realize the danger, but Chu Hongxuan and Yan Zhanpeng did as well.

Without hesitation, Chu Hongxuan’s countless branches lashed out toward Tian Yun like a tidal wave. After a moment of hesitation, Yan Zhanpeng also joined the attack.

…

Tian Yun’s prayer-like posture made Mu Lin and the others sense a threat.

Outside, the Clan Elders of the noble families, the core members of the great clans who knew of the Holy Race’s existence, as well as those from the Demon Suppression Division and the military, also narrowed their eyes.

“Extreme Firmament Heavenly Domain—to be able to access this power at such a young age. The Feather Clan has produced a True Dragon as well.”

“Indeed. I recall that the Extreme Firmament Heavenly Domain involves the great power of time. The Feather Clan is truly fortunate. If humans could master this Heavenly Domain, we could nurture countless Prodigies.”

These words indeed stirred envy and jealousy in many, but some shook their heads and said:

“Let’s not consider it for now. In the past, the Extreme Firmament Heavenly Domain was indeed an immensely powerful force. But now, the true master of this Heavenly Domain is about to return. If we intervene now, we’ll be the ones taking the blame. If it weren’t for such complications, these arrogant birdmen wouldn’t have considered forming an alliance with us.”

While some feared the risks of the Extreme Firmament Heavenly Domain, others harbored different thoughts.

“No, I actually think we should give it a try. There are indeed risks this time, but remember—the greater the storm, the more valuable the fish. If we can withstand the original owner’s attack, the Extreme Vault Heaven will completely become ours.”

“So, I suggest cooperating with the Feather Clan. Of course, to avoid the returning enemy being too powerful, we can first secure some benefits, such as allowing our Human Race’s Prodigies to access the Extreme Vault Heaven in advance and obtain some power related to time.”

“This way, even if the plan fails, we’ll still have some gains.”

This proposal made some people laugh.

“General Gu, that’s exactly what the higher-ups think, which is why we didn’t refuse the Feather Clan’s offer of cooperation. However, these arrogant and stingy Feather Clan members treat the Extreme Vault Heaven as their sacred land and won’t let us near it. Achieving your plan won’t be easy.”

Hearing this, General Gu’s gaze turned cold. “Then we’ll make them hurt. Let these arrogant beings know they aren’t qualified to cooperate with the Human Race as equals. They can only accept humanity’s protection, and to receive that protection, they must pay a price.”

Clearly, even as calamity looms, humanity is not lacking in hardliners.

And just as naturally, while some are resolute, others seek compromise.

“Ahem, there’s no need to go that far.”

The speaker wore a bitter expression. “I’m not trying to boost their morale or dampen our own, but the Feather Clan maiden inside has clearly gained the power of the Extreme Vault Heaven—a great force related to time, allowing her to harness her future strength. With such an ability, the Disciples of our Jade Lake Dao Academy are no match for her.”

Surprisingly, General Gu of the Azure Dragon Legion did not refute this.

Evidently, he understood the terror of time-based power.

But soon, he spoke again. “That girl is indeed powerful, but our Human Race is no weakling either. The higher-ups have already devised a countermeasure. Just wait—during the second trial, we’ll show her the terror of humanity.”

…

In his words, General Gu of the Azure Dragon Legion showed no intention of compromise. At the same time, from his tone, everyone could tell he did not hold high hopes for Mu Lin and the others’ fate.

This wasn’t because he underestimated Mu Lin, but because the power of time was truly boundless.

Among the myriad laws, time reigns supreme, and space rules as king—this saying is no mere boast.

As it stood now, with Tian Yun’s summoning, that intangible force grew increasingly clear.

Thus, everyone witnessed another Tian Yun descending from the sky.

Moreover, the later Tian Yun was slightly older than the current one, and correspondingly, her strength was dozens of times greater.

By now, everyone understood—this peerless Prodigy of the Feather Clan could summon her future self to aid in battle.

The current Tian Yun was already at the mid-stage of the Spirit Sea. Her future self might even begin at the Sha Refinement stage. With such power, it was no wonder she dared to look down on Mu Lin and the others, viewing only Xue Ying as a worthy opponent.

Even Mu Lin understood how her strength had grown so rapidly.

“Summoning her future self while in a weaker state, then gaining her future Cultivation Level and insights—even if only temporarily—allows her to reap endless benefits. With such a cycle, it’s no wonder her strength grows so swiftly!”

One could only say she was yet another cheat-like existence.

“Hurry, kill her!”

“Don’t let her fully receive her future self.”

Upon sensing the danger, the people on the battlefield roared incessantly.

Chu Hongxuan, Yuan Ce, and others gave it their all, especially the former. His hundred-meter demonic monster body swung tens of thousands of branches, unleashing a torrent of strikes toward Tian Yun.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

The relentless barrage caused the air to explode and buildings to collapse.

The sheer destructive force was such that even Mu Lin doubted he could withstand it.

Yet, all of this was useless against Tian Yun.

The power of time not only allowed her to summon her future self but also enabled her to accelerate her present self.

Bullet time, or perhaps “Inherent Time Control.”

The Feather Clan, with their wings, were already exceptionally fast. Coupled with time acceleration, she became a true blur of light.

“Swish, swish, swish…”

“Impressive attacks, but too chaotic.”

She could even leisurely comment amidst Chu Hongxuan’s storm-like onslaught.

Such an elegant display left many utterly despairing.

They now understood why the Feather Clan dared to call themselves the Holy Race.

This scene brought a wild smile to Tian Yun’s face.

“Insects will always be insects. All of you will die.”

As she spoke, the future Tian Yun was nearly merging with the present one.

However, just as Tian Yun prepared to fuse with her future self and slaughter Mu Lin and the others, a distant, ancient, sacred, and sublime voice suddenly echoed across the battlefield.

“Stabilize!”

This sacred and sublime voice uttered only a single word.

Yet, that one word caused Tian Yun, who had always been arrogant, to change her expression drastically.

She discovered in horror that her future self, arriving from the future, was immobilized by a peculiar force, unable to descend any further.

“This is impossible. The power of time is invincible.”

(End of Chapter)