Chapter 255 – Golden Era: Beiwei Army

Upon learning that clone cultivation could commence immediately, without the need for over a decade of arduous training and comprehension, the aristocratic families could no longer afford to worry about saving face. In no time, some noble daughters were arranged by their families to invite Mu Lin to banquets.

Even more than just the human aristocratic families were tempted; foreign races like the Fox Clan and the Feather Clan were also eager to give it a try.

As for the Merfolk Clan, who had already submitted, although Mu Lin had little time to attend to them, Yan Yunyu took good care of them, and the Clone Cultivation True Intent Diagram was also shared with them.

Naturally, these merfolk offered many treasures as tribute, and a group of them stationed themselves in nearby rivers, serving as Mu Lin’s Dao soldiers, ready to be dispatched at any time.

At the same time, the numerous powerful aristocratic families and foreign races seeking the “Clone Puppet·For Cultivation” did not rely solely on using feminine charms to tempt Mu Lin. Beyond beauty, they also offered large quantities of Spirit Stones and treasures.

And this provided Mu Lin with ample opportunity to utilize his burning fortune.

…

Within the Fushan Demon Fox Clan, the Clan Head was currently discussing matters with some fox elders. The first to speak was the Clan Head, who appeared somewhat weary:

“Our proposal was rejected by the Qingqiu Fox Clan.”

“Huh? Why? Mu Lin is clearly so outstanding.”

Some Clan Elders did not understand, but those who had accompanied the Demon Fox Clan Head on the trip were aware of and understood the reasons. Thus, the Seventh Clan Elder spoke up:

“Because there are more outstanding prodigies in the world than just Mu Lin. The world faces crises, but these are also opportunities. Amidst this overwhelming tide, countless prodigies have emerged.”

“On a solitary island in the East Sea, a Golden Crow has appeared, and the Dragon Palace has even given birth to three dragon sons, all of whom are True Dragons.”

“Beyond the seas, in the Ten Thousand Mountains, a White Tiger Star Lord and a Black Fiend Fierce Tiger have descended. Moreover, a Great Earth Demon Ape is gestating within an iron-magnetic Spirit Mine. Even within our Fox Clan, a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox has emerged.”

“These are all inherently divine beings, or at the very least, Divine Beings.”

Recalling the many pieces of information obtained during the trip to Qingqiu, the fox elder felt both awe-struck and a sense of having previously been like a frog at the bottom of a well, limited in perspective.

“In short, Mu Lin may not be weak. In the past, with a bit of effort, marrying a princess of the Qingqiu Fox Clan would have been acceptable.”

“But now, he falls somewhat short.”

As the Seventh Clan Elder explained, everyone gradually understood that, as the world sensed the crisis, countless heroes and prodigies had arisen in response. Currently, this was a Golden Age.

In the eyes of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, Mu Lin’s talent was not the most outstanding, nor was his affiliated faction the best. Therefore, they were unwilling to marry their daughters to him.

This left many Demon Fox Elders frowning.

“What about Mu Lin then? Do we just give up on him? His Clone Cultivation Method seems quite useful for our Fox Clan as well.”

“Of course not.”

Rubbing his forehead, the Clan Head of the Fushan Fox Clan spoke:

“If the Qingqiu Fox Clan is unwilling to marry off their princess, we’ll have to rely on ourselves. Isn’t there still a three-tailed Demon Fox in our clan? Have her pledge allegiance to Mu Lin.”

“Moreover, our trip wasn’t entirely fruitless. The Qingqiu Fox Clan gave us some treasures. These treasures, combined with Bai Lingling, should secure a place by Mu Lin’s side.”

“It’s just a pity that we won’t be able to take a leading role by Mu Lin’s side.”

As he spoke, the Clan Head of the Fushan Fox Clan took out some treasures. Among them were swords, bells, and some Spirit Medicine. If Mu Lin had been present, he would have noticed that a damaged Battle Flag was also brought out by the Demon Fox Clan Head.

On the blood-stained Battle Flag was a large character, “Wei.”” Though worn by time, leaving the flag damaged and its functions mostly lost, even so, an aura of iron-blooded killing intent still emanated from it.

Of course, if Mu Lin had been there, he wouldn’t have cared about the flag’s killing intent or its functions. Instead, he would have been shocked to discover that this damaged Battle Flag had accumulated a vast amount of Human Race fortune.

…

It is not uncommon for treasures to carry Human Race fortune. Official seals, imperial edicts, tiger tallies, and even some valuable and famous artworks, wonders, and ancient cities may be imbued with Human Race fortune. Human dynasties have never been singular. During dynastic transitions, while most of the previous dynasty’s fortune dissipates or transforms into the fortune of the current dynasty, some remains attached to relics from the former dynasty, preserved over time.

The damaged Battle Flag before them was undoubtedly one such relic. In the past, these treasures were scattered across various places. However, as Mu Lin ignited fortune to seek out treasures imbued with Human Race fortune, these items gradually converged toward him through various means.

The Fox Clan retrieving the damaged Battle Flag from their treasury and preparing to deliver it to Mu Lin was just one example. The Aristocratic Families, seeking to curry favor with Mu Lin to obtain Clones for cultivating Puppets, also brought out some ancient artifacts—vases, scrolls, ancient swords, weapons… Though the fortune lingering on these items was minimal, bit by bit, it accumulated. Gradually, Mu Lin felt that his City God was on the verge of materializing fully, needing only one final opportunity to manifest completely.

At that time, he would possess a true City God Domain and become the Manifest Blessing Earl of a city.

“I never expected the treasure-seeking technique to work this way. But who cares? I’m about to succeed!”

…

The imminent manifestation of the City God filled Mu Lin with joy during this period. Meanwhile, on the other side, when Master Meng Rui saw Mu Lin, she was utterly astonished. After staring at him in disbelief for a few moments, she turned to Dongfang Ya with a bewildered expression and asked, “Are you sure you’ve only been here for a month?”

Dongfang Ya replied, “What else? Have you been holed up for so long that you’ve lost track of time?”

“No, it’s precisely because I remember the time that I’m confused!” At this, Master Meng Rui pointed frantically at Mu Lin and exclaimed, “What’s going on with him? In just one month, his strength has advanced from Gushing Spring to Spirit Sea. This progress is utterly absurd!”

Indeed, Mu Lin’s strength had reached the Spirit Sea. In his view, such rapid cultivation progress was not surprising. After all, his Attribute Panel, which reflected “no pain, no gain,” ensured he never encountered bottlenecks. What he had lacked before was merely the accumulation of Mana.

As the saying goes, “Advancing realms is difficult, but cultivating Mana is easy.” With no shortage of resources, the assistance of the Tower of Time’s illusionary realm, and powerful abilities like Stabilize and Refresh, his rapid improvement in strength seemed entirely natural.

However, this was only what Mu Lin believed.

When others cultivate, they typically slow down as they progress further, but here, it’s getting faster and faster. No wonder Master Meng Rui couldn’t hold back.

Master Meng Rui was astonished, while Dongfang Ya also looked weary.

Even she found Mu Lin’s rate of improvement abnormal.

But soon, she concealed her weariness, speaking as if it were only natural: “Mu Lin’s progress is indeed a bit fast, but it’s normal. Before, his Spirit Root was poor, resources were scarce, and he lacked a good cultivation environment.”

“Now, his Spirit Root has transformed into the second grade, resources are abundant, and with the assistance of the Time Secret Realm and Essence Pool, his rapid improvement in strength is perfectly normal…”

By the time she uttered the word “normal,” Dongfang Ya could hardly bring herself to look at Meng Rui.

Clearly, even she felt her explanation didn’t hold water.

Master Meng Rui, for her part, wore an expression that said, “Go ahead and say whatever you want—see if I’m listening.”

Fortunately, Dongfang Ya soon thought of something and changed the subject.

“Speaking of which, didn’t you also have high hopes for Mu Lin? His progress should have been within your expectations.”

This left Master Meng Rui speechless, her gaze drifting skyward.

“I did have high hopes for Mu Lin, and I even believed he would inevitably become a powerful figure. I even thought he could help me break through the limits of a Puppet Master. But I originally assumed it would take him at least ten years to grow somewhat.”

“To be of any help to me, it would likely take thirty to fifty years.”

“I never imagined that in just one month, his strength would undergo such a dramatic transformation.”

Dongfang Ya added, “And he’s already been a great help to you. With so many Clones needing customization, you won’t lack resources anymore. You should be able to refine the puppet you’ve been wanting, right?”

Master Meng Rui couldn’t argue with that.

“It’s indeed almost ready to be refined. But because of this, I owe Mu Lin quite a bit. And right now, I’m only receiving help from him, unable to offer much in return.”

Thinking of this, Master Meng Rui’s mood soured.

Being able to refine the puppet she wanted a few years earlier was certainly a good thing. If it had been when she took Qin Yuan as her disciple, she would have been perfectly content.

But that was then, and this is now.

After recognizing Mu Lin’s talent, Master Meng Rui had begun to harbor greater expectations for the future.

However, the future she envisioned now rested with Mu Lin, and currently, only he was helping her, while she could do little for him. Even without thinking too hard, it was clear such a relationship was unbalanced.

In the future, once Mu Lin truly grew strong, the two of them would be even, with no debts between them. In that case, unless Mu Lin was a saint, he wouldn’t actively help her deduce Cultivation Methods.

This thought only deepened Master Meng Rui’s displeasure.

Just as she was brooding, Dongfang Ya’s voice chimed in.

“No, you can help him. Mu Lin’s talent is indeed exceptional, but talent is merely potential, not strength. Right now, he is at his weakest and most in need of protection.”

“Although he is clever and has sought some protection for himself, whether it’s the Jade Lake Dao Academy, the Demon Suppression Division, or even the Yan Family or Chu Family, none of them will protect him at all costs.”

Hearing this, Master Meng Rui spoke up.

“You mean… for me to become Mu Lin’s guardian?”

“Aren’t you willing?”

“Of course… I am.”

A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind; a prodigy inevitably attracts jealousy and resentment. For this reason, aristocratic families with a thousand-year history often assign powerful guardians to protect their outstanding prodigies, ensuring they can grow up smoothly.

However, those from humble backgrounds like Mu Lin must endure more trials and tribulations.

Mu Lin was well aware of this, which is why he had repeatedly sought protectors for himself.

Courting Dongfang Ya at Anping Academy was one such effort; accepting the overtures from Jade Lake Dao Academy and the Demon Suppression Division was also for this reason.

Even his release of the Clone Cultivation Method was intended to reduce others’ resentment toward him and increase his own importance.

Originally, although Mu Lin had many plans, truth be told, the only one who truly cared about him was Dongfang Ya.

However, as Mu Lin grew stronger and his talents became increasingly outstanding, Dongfang Ya gradually found herself struggling to keep up.

Consequently, she sought a helper for herself.

Meng Rui, who had her own reasons for needing Mu Lin, naturally agreed wholeheartedly.

More importantly, given Mu Lin’s current rate of growth, Meng Rui believed she wouldn’t need to protect him for too long.

…

Mu Lin wasn’t fully aware that Dongfang Ya had found a protector for him.

At that time, he was more focused on gathering the dynasty’s fortune.

Soon after, the Fushan Fox Clan arrived.

On the day of their visit, Mu Lin, as if guided by fate, paused his cultivation and, together with Yan Yunyu, received the Fushan Demon Fox Clan.

After some polite exchanges, Mu Lin accepted the demon fox Bai Lingling as his subordinate. She was a small white fox resembling a human child of twelve or thirteen, lacking the seductive charm typically associated with fox demons. Instead, she appeared timid and easily intimidated.

After briefly observing her, Mu Lin shifted his gaze, focusing all his attention on the tattered battle flag.

“What is this?”

“This is the battle flag of the human Beiwei Army.”

Because Bai Lingling was too young, the Demon Fox Clan had sent additional clansmen to watch over her. It was one of these fox demons who now explained.

However, as soon as she began, Yan Yunyu frowned beside them. “The Beiwei Army… Their battle flag is actually in your hands.”

“It’s incomplete, and we didn’t capture it.”

Hearing this, Yan Yunyu curled her lip but said nothing more.

Mu Lin, however, was quite surprised.

“You know about the Beiwei Army?”

“Yes, they were an army from the previous dynasty. At that time, treacherous officials were in power, demonic monsters ran rampant, and human lands were engulfed in chaos and turmoil.”

“However, among humans, there are both villains and righteous individuals. The Beiwei Army was one of the exceptionally powerful forces among the latter.”

“They quelled demonic calamities, eradicated Demonic Sects, and even attempted to eliminate treacherous officials. Unfortunately, due to such actions, they incurred the hatred of the corrupt prime minister of that era. Later, that prime minister colluded with the fallen emperor to execute the Beiwei Army’s commander.”

“Subsequently, while the Beiwei Army was battling demonic monsters, they were stabbed in the back, leading to the deaths of countless human heroes.”

“This was one of the reasons for the fall of the previous dynasty.”

At this point, Yan Yunyu sighed with emotion and said:

“Because the story of the Beiwei Army is quite tragic, it has been spread by storytellers in many places across the human world. Some even believe that after death, the Beiwei Army transformed into Malevolent Ghosts, still fighting for humanity.”

At this point, Yan Yunyu shook her head, clearly not believing such baseless talk.

However, just as she was thinking this, Mu Lin’s eyes lit up.

“No wonder the dynastic fortune on this Battle Flag is so dense—it turns out the tales of the Beiwei Army are widespread across human lands…”

Thinking this, Mu Lin immediately said to Yan Yunyu, “You haven’t dismissed those storytellers yet, have you? Have them spread stories about the Beiwei Army alongside the Netherworld myths. Also, that legend you just mentioned is quite interesting—I like it. When spreading the Netherworld myths, you can incorporate the Beiwei Army, saying they are a branch of the Netherworld’s Yin Soldiers.”

“Huh?”

Mu Lin’s request caught Yan Yunyu off guard. However, she would follow his orders without question, so she quickly nodded and said, “This servant will see to it right away.”

After settling the Demon Fox Clan, Yan Yunyu went to have the storytellers spread tales of the Beiwei Army.

As for Mu Lin, he had originally planned to drain all the dynastic fortune from the tattered Battle Flag to nourish his City God Dharma Image. But after learning about the story of the Beiwei Army and the significance of the tattered Battle Flag, he had other ideas.

“This Battle Flag can be refined into a Divine Artifact.”

“And the legend of the Beiwei Army transforming into Malevolent Ghosts, still fighting ceaselessly—that too can become reality!”

Mu Lin, it seemed, intended to turn fiction into truth, to make the Yin Soldiers—the Beiwei Army—real.

Moreover, with everything in place, Mu Lin also had the idea of having his City God officially take office.

“It’s time for the City God to truly appear in the mortal world.”

PS: Only one update today—need some time to sort out the upcoming major plot…

(End of Chapter)