Chapter 230 – The Lord of Desolation

The deaths of some disciples left their parents weeping in sorrow, while others also felt a pang of shared grief.

But soon, they could no longer afford to dwell on such matters… Through the water mirror, everyone learned of the dangers lurking in that anomalous land and realized that their own children were also in peril.

Under such circumstances, how could they spare the energy to care about others?

Among those filled with worry were Chu Lingluo’s mother, Si Ye, and the Fourth Clan Elder of the Yan Family.

However, in the blink of an eye, the anxiety in their hearts dissipated.

Lingluo and Yun Yu were indeed not strong, and their chances of survival in such a dangerous place were slim.

But while they were weak, Mu Lin was strong.

With a casual glance, they noticed that Mu Lin had already gathered his troops and was charging toward the locations of Chu Lingluo and Yan Yunyu.

“Sigh… Thankfully, there’s Mu Lin.”

Si Ye, who had breathed a sigh of relief, now genuinely felt that it was truly wonderful for her daughter to be able to marry Mu Lin.

At the same time, others approached Si Ye and the Fourth Clan Elder of the Yan Family, hoping they could contact Mu Lin inside and ask him to rescue their own children.

…

Unaware of everything happening outside, Mu Lin was currently rushing toward the locations of Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo while interrogating the ordinary person he had just captured.

Meanwhile, Zhao Shi was filled with panic.

The middle-aged man named Zhao Shi was an ordinary merchant near Linyang City.

He had no idea how he had ended up here.

He only remembered that on his way home that day, in a hurry, he had taken a shortcut.

Then, as he walked, he suddenly found himself in this perilous wilderness.

“Are you sure you know nothing?”

Faced with the sinister and imposing Ghost Messengers and the army of Yin soldiers beside them, cold and lifeless as corpses, Zhao Shi was utterly terrified and dared not conceal anything.

“Sir, I truly know nothing. I only arrived here not long ago…”

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added, “Ah, right, sir! I recall that in recent days, there have been rumors in Linyang City about people disappearing nearby.”

“However, the major clans and the authorities in the city have been dismissing it as mere rumors…”

Before he could finish, Mu Lin’s eyes narrowed within the Nether Spirit Coffin.

“So this matter isn’t just a crisis in the wilderness—it’s also connected to reality? It feels like it’s going to be troublesome…”

Limited by a lack of information, after some thought, Mu Lin came up with nothing.

Seeing this, he decided not to dwell on it any longer.

“Forget it. Whatever conspiracy there may be, let’s find Yun Yu and Lingluo first.”

With that thought, Mu Lin sped up once again.

“Whoosh…”

As the Doppelganger·Ink Dragon drove the fierce winds, Mu Lin’s army of Yin soldiers flew like the wind toward Chu Lingluo’s location.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Mu Lin’s Yin soldiers arrived before a deep, shadowy forest.

The forest was not large, but it was eerily sinister and unsettling.

Through the eyes of the Yin soldiers, Mu Lin clearly saw that although the trees lacked lush foliage, they inexplicably cast an oppressive gloom over the area.

Moreover, countless withered corpses hung from the branches.

“Lingluo’s aura is right here.”

Thinking this, Mu Lin did not immediately enter. Instead, he turned his gaze to the side.

There, several disciples were gathered together, anxiously watching the withered wood while warily eyeing Mu Lin’s army of Yin soldiers.

Among them were Mu Lin’s acquaintances Lin Qi, Hua Xingyu, and the Fox Spirit Bai Zhi.

At this moment, they seemed rather like startled birds.

Only when a Yin soldier stepped forward on its own initiative, approached them, and greeted them did these people finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“I am Mu Lin. What are you doing here? Also, have you seen Lingluo?”

“Whew, it really is you.”

As the Yin soldier voluntarily revealed its origin, some sighed in relief, while others began to explain their predicament.

Fox Spirit Bai Zhi said, “Young Master Mu Lin, we were just teleported into this withered wood forest and barely managed to escape. But along the way, some went missing and got trapped in the withered wood forest. We were just considering what to do.”

“???”

This response left Mu Lin momentarily stunned, and he instinctively replied, “What is there to consider? Go in and rescue them!”

As soon as he spoke, Mu Lin noticed that whether it was Fox Spirit Bai Zhi, Hua Xingyu, or Lin Qi, all of them looked somewhat embarrassed upon hearing his words.

At first, Mu Lin didn’t understand. He remembered clearly that during the first trial, these people had been very brave, daring to confront even certain death…

Halfway through his thoughts, Mu Lin realized.

  ”I almost forgot—this isn’t a test anymore; it’s reality.”

“In a test, dying is just dying, but out here in the wilderness, death is truly final.”

The phrase “facing the fear of death” sounds simple, but few truly dare to do it. Otherwise, the word “hero” wouldn’t be so precious.

Moreover, although their fellow disciples were friends, they weren’t necessarily important enough for them to risk their lives to rescue them.

In fact, even Mu Lin himself couldn’t claim to dare face the fear of death.

Fortunately, as a Paper Artisan, he could fight without directly confronting death.

Thinking this, Mu Lin stopped pressuring them.

“My apologies.”

Having said that, Mu Lin paid them no further mind and instead commanded his Netherworld Soldiers to charge into the withered wood forest.

However, just as Mu Lin had given up on expecting anything from Lin Qi and Hua Xingyu, something unexpected happened.

Seeing Mu Lin’s Netherworld Soldiers preparing to charge into the withered wood forest, Lin Qi and Fox Spirit Bai Zhi gritted their teeth and actually stepped forward on their own initiative.

Fox Spirit Bai Zhi said, “Young Master Mu, I’ll accompany you.”

Lin Qi added, “Me too.”

The two who stepped forward made Mu Lin raise an eyebrow.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“No, we must go. My companions are there.”

It must be said that while humanity has its cowards, it also has its brave souls.

Of course, it was also because Mu Lin was strong enough that they dared to follow him inside.

…

“Since you insist, then come in. Come to the very center of the Netherworld Soldiers.”

Having the Netherworld Soldiers open a path, Mu Lin let Fox Spirit Bai Zhi and Lin Qi inside.

At the same time, “Rumble…”—the sound of hooves thundered like thunder as they charged toward the withered wood forest.

As they advanced, Bai Zhi spoke to Mu Lin with lingering fear, “Young Master Mu, you must be careful. This place is full of anomalies.”

“First, the trees here possess a disorienting ability, capable of creating illusion realms akin to ghost walls, making it impossible for anyone to escape. Previously, we went through great effort just to get out.”

“Second, these trees cannot be attacked. Once attacked, we will be afflicted by inexplicable curses.”

“Also, even if we do nothing, we may suddenly find ourselves hanging from the trees, and those trees have the ability to suppress and absorb mana, qi and blood…”

Fox Spirit Bai Zhi was doing her best to explain the dangers and anomalies of this place to Mu Lin.

In truth, even without her explanation, Mu Lin had already sensed it.

The forest was not large; at full speed, Mu Lin’s army of Yin soldiers should have easily passed through. Yet, three minutes had passed, and Mu Lin and the others were still wandering within the woods.

At the same time, several of Mu Lin’s Yin Soldiers and Ghost Messengers had gone missing.

And on those large trees, a few withered Paper Figures had appeared.

It could only be said that the Withered Wood Forest, which made Lin Qi and Hua Xingyu hesitate to enter, indeed had its tricks.

Meanwhile, unknown to Mu Lin, after they passed, some trees would suddenly reveal eerie faces.

These faces, surprisingly, retained consciousness and were communicating with each other.

“Assistant Priest, the situation has changed. These are not the offerings we prepared; they are people who barged in recklessly.”

“Moreover, judging by their attire, they are most likely not ordinary people but children of nobility. Provoking them could bring great trouble… Assistant Priest, why don’t we just let them go?”

Among those eerie faces, some thought it better to avoid trouble and let Mu Lin and the others leave first.

But others were unwilling to do so.

“What is there to fear? So what if they are children of nobility? We have the protection of the gods. Even if we kill them, they wouldn’t dare seek revenge.”

“And don’t you think this is our opportunity?”

“Following the routine and using ordinary humans as offerings won’t earn us much merit, nor will we receive many rewards. But if we kill them and offer their flesh, blood, and souls to the great Lord of Desolation, Your Majesty will surely reward us… This is our chance to rise.”

These words swayed some, but others felt wary of Mu Lin, who commanded the Netherworld Soldiers.

“What you say is right, sir, but the person who entered this time seems strong and difficult to deal with. Why don’t we let him go and find someone else?”

“No. The greater the storm, the more valuable the fish. Precisely because that guy is strong, offering him to the Lord of Desolation will earn us greater blessings.”

At this, the Assistant Priest sneered coldly and said, “As for his strength… Hah, if it were anywhere else, I might worry. But by willingly entering the Forest of Desolation, he is seeking his own death.”

“This is a manifestation of the great Lord of Desolation’s power, a sanctuary for nurturing Servants of the Gods. Hehe, here, even a Prodigy is nothing. I am the one who controls everything!”

(End of Chapter)