Chapter 219 – Seven-Star Demon Slayer Sword and Yin-Yang Energy Bottle

Forging the Seven-Star Sword with the power of the Northern Dipper Seven Stars and granting the Zhong Kui phantom the ability to slay ghosts and subdue demons—this series of operations sparked numerous inspirations in Mu Lin.

Soon, he thought of other methods to complete Zhong Kui.

“For Zhong Kui, his two strongest myths are slaying ghosts and demons, and the other is devouring ghosts.”

“Devouring ghosts is simple; the difficulty lies in digestion… What ability do I have to grind down ghosts and transform them into something beneficial?”

After careful consideration, Mu Lin indeed recalled an ability he already possessed—the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array.

This Heaven Grade Array could undoubtedly grind down evil ghosts and wandering souls, transforming them into Yin energy.

Even better, as an array centered on Yin and Yang, it could invert Yin and Yang and shift life and death. Therefore, it was possible to purify the baleful qi and resentment of malevolent ghosts using the Yin-Yang Millstone and convert them into soul-nourishing spiritual energy.

At that point, with the Northern Dipper Seven-Star Sword for attack and the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array for digestion, who would dare say such a Zhong Kui was fake if Mu Lin claimed he was real?

“I actually managed to manifest Zhong Kui…”

“However, the ghost-devouring ability still needs optimization.”

Mu Lin realized that his Zhong Kui was not a True Person but a God-Monarch nurtured through the God-Monarch Summoning Art.

Besides summoning such a God-Monarch for battle, he could also channel its power into himself, granting him unparalleled might.

This might was not just spiritual energy but also divine abilities. At that time, Mu Lin would also possess the ability to devour ghosts.

However, having grown up watching the Monkey King, Mu Lin knew that not everything could be devoured.

The Lion Spirit and Princess Iron Fan had taught him the tragic consequences of recklessly swallowing enemies.

“So, this ability needs modification, but what should it become…”

After another burst of inspiration, an image of a bottle appeared in Mu Lin’s mind—the Yin-Yang Dual Qi Bottle!

“That Golden-Winged Great Peng’s bottle is based on Yin-Yang Dual Qi, and my ability is similar. The bottle can grind down enemies, and my Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array can do the same. Although my ability is a super simplified version, the principle is the same. Therefore, I can create a bottle centered on the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array…”

“A bottle isn’t aesthetically pleasing; a gourd would be better. With the Seven-Star Demon Slayer Sword in one hand and a wine gourd in the other, it would be exceptionally stylish.”

As Mu Lin focused his thoughts, the visualized image of Zhong Kui in his mind gradually became extremely solid, and its appearance also changed.

His features remained unchanged—still imposing enough to terrify children.

But now, he held a Seven-Star Demon Slayer Sword in his hand, and a crimson wine gourd hung at his waist.

At this point, Mu Lin had cultivated the God-Monarch Summoning Art to the level of Master, and his Dharma Image—Zhong Kui—was fully perfected.

By common reasoning, as long as no accidents occurred, this version of Zhong Kui would be the final, stabilized form.

However, just as Mu Lin thought this, an accident often arrives unexpectedly.

The only thing Mu Lin was grateful for was that this accident turned out to be a good thing for him.

“Hum…”

As a sacred, vast, ancient, and rustic aura emerged, the will of the Human Dao favored him once again.

Being favored twice by the will of the Human Dao surprised Mu Lin, but upon careful consideration, it seemed entirely reasonable.

As the aggregate of all human spirituality, Alaya, the Human Dao will naturally focus on prodigies, the strong, and heroes among humanity, silently blessing all things beneficial to the Human Dao.

And now, Mu Lin is one of the most outstanding prodigies in the Southeast Region. As such, he is inherently prone to attracting the attention of the Human Dao’s will.

Not to mention, in this dangerous era, Mu Lin has once again elevated the City God method, specifically designed to subdue demons, exterminate ghosts, and safeguard the peace of the Human Race.

Indeed, Mu Lin’s Zhong Kui Dharma Image can be considered an advancement of the City God.

After all, Zhong Kui belongs to the Netherworld and holds a higher status than the City God. In the eyes of the Human Dao’s will, Mu Lin creating such a Dharma Image undoubtedly signifies that he is walking the path of saving humanity.

Under these circumstances, it is quite reasonable for the Human Dao’s will to appear and reward Mu Lin.

Though, even if it were unreasonable, Mu Lin wouldn’t care.

He is pragmatic and knows what is most important to him.

“Great Human Dao’s will, I hope to place all blessings upon the Crimson Wine Gourd!”

“Preferably based on the Two Forms, derived from the Eight Trigrams, transforming it into a Demon Refining Pot, an Eight Trigrams Alchemy Furnace…”

Though uncertain if it was feasible, Mu Lin continuously shouted loudly in his consciousness, hoping to determine the direction of the blessing.

The reason for this was that Mu Lin clearly knew that neither the Seven-Star Demon Slayer Sword nor Zhong Kui himself was as important as the Crimson Wine Gourd condensed by the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array.

Admittedly, if the blessing of the Human Dao’s will descended upon the Seven-Star Demon Slayer Sword, it could enhance the sword’s power.

If infused into Zhong Kui himself, it could further elevate his status—both would strengthen Mu Lin’s abilities.

However, whether it was offensive capabilities or overall strength, Mu Lin could gradually improve them through other cultivation methods. Even now, he lacked no ordinary resources.

What he lacked was the ability to quickly refine resources and transform them into his own strength.

For this reason, when condensing his Yin God Dharma Image, Mu Lin chose Zhong Kui over Black and White Impermanence, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, or Day and Night Patrol Gods—what he valued was the ability to devour.

Thus, he hoped the Human Dao’s will would strengthen this aspect of his abilities.

…

Mu Lin prayed, and to his relief, the Human Dao’s will truly responded.

Though there was no sound or specific reply, Mu Lin genuinely sensed a vast, ancient, sacred, and majestic power emerging from the unseen and merging into the Crimson Wine Gourd.

After three breaths, this aura completely dissipated, and the grand Human Dao’s will vanished from Mu Lin’s sensing.

However, by this point, Mu Lin no longer had the mind to pay attention to these matters. All his focus was on the Crimson Wine Gourd, which now felt as real as ever.

After sensing it with his divine sense, uncontrollable joy blossomed on Mu Lin’s face.

“Haha, hahaha, hahahaha…”

Overwhelmed with excitement, Mu Lin couldn’t help but burst into wild laughter.

It was no wonder he reacted this way, as the Human Dao’s will was quite generous this time, responding to all of Mu Lin’s requests.

“Refining ghosts, refining demons, gathering treasures to form pills—my treasure gourd can now accomplish all of this.”

Previously, Mu Lin’s gourd had the ability to capture ghosts and refine them.

However, at that time, the power of his Wine Gourd depended entirely on the strength of his Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array.

However, because Mu Lin was not overly proficient in this Heaven Grade array—at least not to the level of a Master—although he could grind ghosts to nothingness, he could only do so to Malevolent Ghosts of the same grade as himself. Any higher, and they could break the Wine Gourd and escape.

Moreover, at that time, all Mu Lin could do was grind them away; he could not transform them into pure Yin energy.

But now, this limitation was gone.

Although its core remained the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array, the Crimson Wine Gourd, blessed by the will of the Human Dao, could now refine Malevolent Ghosts and Specters into pure soul energy.

This energy could be absorbed by the Dharma Image Zhong Kui, and even Mu Lin’s Main Body could absorb it.

Furthermore, the flesh and blood of demonic monsters could also be ground away and refined by Mu Lin’s treasure gourd through the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array.

In addition, Mu Lin’s treasure gourd could also be considered a Mystic Treasure for confronting enemies.

“The current Wine Gourd is extremely sturdy. Once something is sucked inside, the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array restricts and annihilates it. Not only cultivators at the Spirit Pool or Spirit Sea Realm of the same level as me, but even Malevolent Ghosts and demonic monsters at the Sha Refinement or Gang Condensation level may not necessarily escape.”

“It’s just a pity that its ability to trap and annihilate is strong, but its suction force is not very great. To deal with demonic monsters at the Condensing Gang and Refining Sha level, what I need to consider is not its power, but how to get such monsters into the gourd.”

Undoubtedly, this was difficult, but Mu Lin realized he was not entirely without opportunities.

“I have Stabilize. As long as I can immobilize the demonic monsters for just a few breaths, I can suck them into the gourd, and then they are completely finished.”

(End of Chapter)