Chapter 268 – Twilight and Illusion: The Heaven-Rank Formation Unleashed!

“Idiot, fool!”

Seeing nearly a thousand Demonic Cultivators mobilizing together, Ji Hongyu watched with growing anxiety in her heart.

Like those Demonic Cultivators and the Yin Eight Gates cultivators, she also believed the Demonic Sect held a significant advantage and that Mu Lin was no match for them.

Now, what she contemplated was no longer how Mu Lin could achieve victory, but rather how to preserve his life amidst the besieging crowd and under the surveillance of the Demonic Sect’s powerful figures.

‘Although that fool is reckless, arrogant, and lacks a grasp of the bigger picture, his talent and potential are first-rate. He is humanity’s Prodigy, a main force against future calamities—he absolutely cannot die here… However, after rescuing him, I’m definitely going to give him a good beating!’

‘At that time, I’ll knock on his head and ask him who gave him the courage to be so audacious!’

…

Leaving aside Ji Hongyu, who was grinding her teeth in anxiety, the advancing Demonic Cultivators, after some marching, had already encountered Mu Lin’s Yin Soldiers and Ghost Messengers.

The outcome was unsurprising—in order to capture as many Demonic Cultivators as possible, Mu Lin’s Yin Soldiers and Ghost Messengers were grouped in teams of over a dozen or several dozen. Such numbers were undoubtedly at a disadvantage against nearly a thousand Demonic Cultivators.

The moment the two sides met, Mu Lin’s Yin Soldiers and Ghost Messengers were torn apart.

Detecting this, Mu Lin’s remaining Netherworld Soldiers immediately retreated, frantically fleeing back toward the Netherworld Law Domain.

This panicked flight further emboldened the Demonic Cultivators, who charged forward with even greater fervor.

“Hehehe, now you know fear and want to run? Where’s that arrogance from earlier?”

“Give me back my brother’s life…”

“Charge together, we must not let him escape!”

“Heehee, didn’t you say you were the law itself, that everything in Ping’an Ancient County was up to you? Why are you running now? Use your law to judge me!”

The gathered Demonic Cultivators were merely a motley crew; if Mu Lin fought with all his might, they might still have some reservations.

After all, Demonic Cultivators were mostly selfish, fearing injury and death.

But Mu Lin’s full retreat fueled their arrogance—even armies composed of refugees fight well when the tide is in their favor.

Thus, the faster and more urgently Mu Lin retreated, the more vigorously the Demonic Cultivators pursued.

Soon, they chased him to the vicinity of the Demon Suppression Division and saw the entrance to the Netherworld Law Domain.

However, what made them frown was that this entrance was urgently closing.

“Not good, ‘Lin Qiu’ is trying to escape!”

“Quick, Stabilize the gate of the Netherworld Law Domain…”

“Green Ghost, Red Ghost, double ghosts strike the gate…”

“Five Ghosts lock the gate, hurry, I can’t Stabilize it for long!”

The arrogance from their pursuit, the urgent urging from the Demonic Sect, and their hatred for Mu Lin made the people of Ping’an Ancient Street grit their teeth and take the lead in entering the Netherworld Law Domain.

Their entry seemed to widen the gate of the Netherworld Law Domain, allowing everyone to catch a glimpse inside.

And that single glance caused many Demonic Cultivators’ eyes to turn green with greed.

It was no wonder they reacted this way; through the widened gate, many Demonic Sect cultivators saw mountains of Yin-aligned resources piled up within the Netherworld Law Domain, along with numerous Spirit Medicines growing wildly inside.

What made some Demonic Cultivators’ hearts race even faster was the discovery that many of the resources within the Netherworld Law Domain were precisely what they desperately needed.

“The eyeball of a Death Demon Bat, to think there’s such a resource here—I’ve been searching for it for seven years!”

“Ghost-Faced Toad skin, such a vile thing… how could ‘Lin Qiu’ have it… Ah, right, he plundered the resources of Ping’an Ancient Street. Those people are no good, so raising a Ghost-Faced Toad wouldn’t be unusual… No, the Ghost-Eyed Toad skin is crucial for one of my spells. I must obtain it.”

“Hundred-Eyed Centipede, for my cultivation method to advance, this is the only main ingredient I lack…”

“Yin Snake Spirit Pearl, it’s actually this… Hahaha, Azure Heaven blesses me, my luck has arrived…”

Whether it was precious spiritual materials, mystic treasures, cultivation methods, or specters… Peering through the gate of the Netherworld Law Domain, most of the demonic cultivators were ecstatic, seeing within the domain the very things they desperately needed.

And this was the new ability awakened by the Manjusaka upon advancing to the Gang Condensation level—Longing.

This was an extension of the Illusion Ability within the Manjusaka’s four major characteristics of Life-Death Illusion. After encountering the Manjusaka, influenced by its Illusion Ability, what people saw was no longer its true form but the object of their deepest desires.

Well, the fact that the Manjusaka could awaken such an ability was also related to its Joy and Desire Divinity.

The so-called “desire” is not limited to lust. Greed, obsession, and unattainable cravings are also forms of desire.

Through this, Mu Lin enabled the Manjusaka to awaken this ability.

To be honest, casting an illusion art on nearly a thousand demonic cultivators at once placed a significant strain on the Manjusaka, making it impossible to cover every detail.

If the demonic cultivators had communicated with each other at that moment, they would have realized something was amiss.

Unfortunately, as demonic cultivators, most were selfish and could not bear to see others prosper.

Upon discovering what they most urgently needed, they would only keep it tightly hidden in their hearts, never speaking of it.

—This was out of fear that others might snatch it away or destroy the very thing they sought.

Don’t think this impossible. Demonic cultivators are not a unified group; they have rivals and mortal enemies among themselves.

If Mu Lin hadn’t gone too far and provoked collective anger, these many demonic cultivators would never have united.

However, now that the demonic cultivators believed victory was assured, they were already considering the future.

“With so many people, even if we each spat once, we could drown Lin Qiu. He has no chance of turning things around. But I want resources, I want the Grave Lord Inheritance, and all these people are my competitors… If only I could trap some of them here…”

“The Lin Demon has also come. He has the Ghost Infant I need. Later, I’ll see if I can find an opportunity to kill him…”

“Huh? Old Ghost Zhang with that expression… Could he have found the treasure he needs to advance, just like me? No, our territories are close. If his strength increases, I’ll be in trouble… I’ll find a chance to kill him later. Even if I can’t kill him, I must destroy the treasure he urgently needs…”

Even before victory, these demonic cultivators were already thinking about how to kill their companions.

And most demonic cultivators were well aware of their own and their peers’ selfishness.

Under such circumstances, would they possibly reveal what they most desperately needed? Naturally, the answer was no.

Upon seeing the objects of their desires, they would only hide the treasures in their hearts while rushing forward eagerly.

Thus, driven by greed, the majority of the demonic cultivators surged into the Netherworld Law Domain.

However, while many surged in, some remained outside.

These individuals were either cautious by nature or had detected anomalies within the Netherworld Law Domain—Manjusaka had bewitched too many people at once. Even after its evolution and fusion with divinity, this remained a strenuous feat.

Consequently, some Demonic Cultivators with Eye Techniques or formidable spiritual power could sense something amiss.

As for why they chose not to warn their companions upon noticing the irregularities, instead lurking in the background with a look of eager anticipation—naturally, they wished for their comrades to die.

‘There are too many Demonic Cultivators. The resources at Lin Qiu’s hideout are limited, and the Grave Lord Inheritance offers even fewer. This is far from enough for all of us. For my sake, you should just die.’

Clearly, it wasn’t just Mu Lin who believed that dead Demonic Cultivators were good Demonic Cultivators—their companions thought the same.

As for the possibility of failure, the cultivators outside never considered it.

In their eyes, the disparity in strength between Mu Lin and the Demonic Cultivators was akin to the Beacon Country’s aircraft carriers facing off against a certain sandal-clad militia. With such overwhelming advantage, how could they possibly lose?

…

Thus, guided by Mu Lin and fueled by the selfish motives of the Demonic Cultivators, a horde of Demonic Sect cultivators poured into Mu Lin’s Netherworld Law Domain.

Upon first entering, their faces were filled with fervor, greed, the excitement of vengeance achieved, and the cruelty of impending slaughter.

But soon, their expressions changed.

Terrifying events began to unfold within the Netherworld Law Domain.

To deal with this multitude of Demonic Cultivators, Mu Lin did not deploy the Beiwei Army—there was no need.

“Hum…”

As most cultivators entered the domain, at Mu Lin’s will, the numerous structures and the sea of Manjusaka flowers within the Netherworld Law Domain began to emit a profound, dark glow.

The lights interconnected, forming a faintly discernible array.

Once this array manifested, the sky of the Netherworld Law Domain—turned dark.

This was no ordinary darkness, but an impenetrable, pitch-black void.

【Gloom】

“Who’s there?”

“Netherlight Art!… Damn it, why can’t the light dispel this darkness…”

“Flame Art!”

“Bloodflame!!”

“Wrathfire!”

The sudden darkness startled many Demonic Cultivators. Instinctively, they cast various spells, attempting to disperse the surrounding blackness.

Unfortunately, it was futile.

The darkness of the Netherworld Law Domain possessed a terrifyingly high priority; ordinary flames could not dispel it at all.

Even when the flames did take effect, they could only illuminate an area of three to five meters around them.

Before the panicked cultivators could devise a solution, further anomalies emerged within the domain.

“Hehe…”

“Brother, can you give me your head?”

“Wah wah…”

“Who’s there?!”

Whether it was terrifying ghostly shadows, abruptly echoing eerie cries, laughter, or spine-chilling footsteps, or perhaps blood-stained blades, swords, and spears lunging forth unexpectedly…

Shrouded in darkness and thus tense in both body and mind, the cultivators suddenly sensed countless dangers descending upon them.

【Illusion’s End】

“Bastard, who are you?”

“Come out! Show yourself!”

“You want your grandpa’s head, do you? Die!”

“Crying and wailing—your grandpa wasn’t raised to be scared! Wailing of the Departed!”

“Evil Soul Great Handprint!”

The sudden assault startled many Demonic Cultivators greatly. Reflexively, some began shouting with fierce yet hollow bravado.

However, more Demonic Cultivators chose to unleash spells at Ghost Shadow, seeking to resolve their own peril.

This approach was not inherently flawed, except that a great many people had crowded into the Netherworld Law Domain all at once, making it extremely cramped.

Coupled with the descent of darkness, which prevented anyone from seeing each other, launching attacks recklessly in such conditions easily led to accidental injuries.

If a disciplined army were here, they would never act so rashly.

Unfortunately, although there were many Demonic Cultivators present, they bore no resemblance to an army—they were rogue cultivators, and selfish, ruthless Demonic Sect Rogue Cultivators at that.

These individuals cared only for their own safety, with no regard for the lives of others.

Thus, when they unleashed their spells, they did so without the slightest psychological burden.

And so, a terrifying scene unfolded.

Most of the numerous attacks failed to disperse the dangers around them, instead accidentally striking others.

“Bastard, which scum attacked me?”

“Damn it, who released that cursed poison mist…”

“Hiss, my head—stop, make your wailing wraiths cease!”

“Cough, cough… I’m dying, but none of you will get off easy either. Hundred Ghosts, disperse! Slaughter everything around me—I’ll have everyone accompany me in death!”

The all-enveloping darkness, paired with the illusions echoing from all directions, ignited a camp-wide chaos among the Demonic Cultivators.

Not far from the Other Shore Flower Sea, watching the vicious spells being unleashed everywhere and sensing the panic, fear, and hysterical cries of the Demonic Cultivators, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Mu Lin’s lips.

“In battle, more people do not necessarily mean better.”

(End of Chapter)