Chapter 272 – The Reborn Manjusaka: A City Veiled in Illusions

After much discussion, none of the numerous Demonic Sects claimed Mu Lin as one of their own, and they agreed to uphold the strategy of jointly suppressing Mu Lin.

However, despite their words, their actions were greatly affected.

……

As time passed and the Grave Lord Inheritance was about to begin, more and more Demonic Sect members, rogue cultivators, and Yin Eight Gates cultivators arrived in Ping’an Ancient County.

Yet, due to Mu Lin’s continuous efforts to eradicate bandits, they dared not enter Ping’an Ancient County—those who stubbornly ventured in would mostly turn into fertilizer for the flowers on the same day, nourishing the Other Shore Flower Sea.

Incidentally, after devouring the soul spirits and flesh of nearly a thousand demonic cultivators, along with vast amounts of negative energy, the Manjusaka within Mu Lin’s City God Domain underwent another transformation.

Now, they had bloomed throughout the entire Netherworld Law Domain.

After counting, Mu Lin discovered that his Manjusaka numbered over three thousand three hundred.

Due to the collective nature of Manjusaka, the greater their quantity, the higher their grade and strength.

At this moment, Mu Lin’s transformed Manjusaka possessed the strength of Gang Sha Unity. Combined with the Joy and Desire Divinity and the Heaven Grade array—the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array—Mu Lin’s Other Shore Flower Sea could even exhibit some characteristics of Mortal Shedding.

This was a terrifying change.

In orthodox sects, Mortal Shedding is referred to as Adept, while among demonic monsters, it is called Calamity.

Regardless of the orthodox or demonic path, Mortal Shedding Adepts belong to the middle and upper echelons.

Such individuals are no longer minor figures to be casually discarded but are the backbone and rulers of a faction.

In simpler terms, Mortal Shedding Adepts are among the “predators.”

This reflects a change in status; in terms of strength, they can easily annihilate an entire city.

Just as now, the entire Ping’an Ancient Town was under Mu Lin’s control.

—Relying on the illusion characteristic, Mu Lin’s Manjusaka could not only grow within the Netherworld Law Domain but also bloom outside according to his will.

If he wished, by activating all three thousand three hundred Manjusaka simultaneously, Mu Lin could instantly plunge the entire city into pitch-black darkness or trap Ping’an Ancient County in a nightmare from which it would never awaken.

Of course, Mu Lin’s Other Shore Flower Sea was ultimately only at the Gang Sha Unity level; it was only through the array that it could possess a trace of Mortal Shedding characteristics.

Moreover, Mu Lin’s Main Body was very weak, which greatly limited the effectiveness of the Manjusaka.

For instance, his claim of trapping a city in an eternal nightmare was not an exaggeration but something he could truly achieve.

However, activating all three thousand three hundred Manjusaka at once consumed an astonishing amount of energy.

Fortunately, being in Ping’an Ancient County, Mu Lin had the Yin Vein as an energy source; otherwise, a single activation would drain all the Mana within his body.

Despite these limitations, the power of the Manjusaka was undeniable.

The reason those stubborn demonic cultivators perished in Ping’an Ancient County was precisely due to the Manjusaka.

Currently, over one thousand three hundred Manjusaka quietly bloomed within Ping’an Ancient County.

Thanks to their illusion characteristic, others would not notice these flowers at all.

Normally, they remained inactive, simply blooming in silence.

But if a demonic cultivator passed near the Manjusaka, their nightmare would begin.

Upon detecting an enemy, Mu Lin would not dispatch the Beiwei Army. Instead, he would activate the Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array, gathering the power of the Manjusaka to silently invade the enemy’s Divine Soul.

Activating three thousand three hundred Manjusaka at once consumed far too much energy, something Mu Lin could not bear.

But if only a few hundred Other Shore Flowers were activated, Mu Lin could easily sustain it.

Under the illusion art of the Manjusaka, in most cases, demonic cultivators entering Ping’an Ancient County would gradually have their minds bewitched as they walked.

Then, with their five senses obscured and distorted, they would step by step enter Mu Lin’s City God Domain, wearing expressions of either terror, anger, or greed.

Finally, they would find a place to lie down quietly, allowing the Manjusaka to propagate seeds within their bodies and divine souls.

…

Silently, unknowingly, and imperceptibly—the transformed Manjusaka killed with such ease.

And this terrifying illusion ability turned Ping’an Ancient County into a forbidden land where one could only enter but never leave.

Now, merely looking at Ping’an Ancient County filled demonic cultivators with a sense of dread.

  Some would even go mad while gazing at Ping’an Ancient City, suddenly charging toward Ping’an Ancient County.

Then, plunging headlong into Ping’an Ancient County, they would vanish without a trace.

This eerie and terrifying situation made demonic cultivators even more fearful of Ping’an Ancient County.

However, while they dared not enter Ping’an Ancient County, they were still willing to linger in the desolate mountains and wilderness far from the area.

At the same time, as the moment for the Grave Lord Inheritance approached, the Holy Sons of the Demonic Sect and the Evil God Scions had mostly arrived.

Their arrival brought relief to many disciples of the Demonic Sect.

That very day, some sought them out, pleading for them to lead a siege against Mu Lin.

“Lord Ghost Shadow, the Grave Lord is the inheritance of our Demonic Sect, yet ‘Lin Qiu,’ a cultivator from the Demon Suppression Division, has forcefully occupied the main city and driven out our demonic cultivators. Such an inversion of heavenly order shows he regards our Demonic Sect as nothing!”

“That bastard is openly slapping us in the face. If we ignore this, we will surely be ridiculed whenever we step out in the future…”

“Lord Blood River, you must stand up for us…”

To persuade these demonic prodigies to take action, the demonic disciples spared no effort in flattery and endless lamentations.

Some also bluntly stated that if they did nothing, others would mock them relentlessly upon learning of it.

This was entirely possible. If they ever faced off against prodigies from the Daoist Sect in the future, they might be taunted as soon as they appeared: “I heard the inheritance of your Demonic Sect was blocked by a cultivator from the Demon Suppression Division. You useless lot can’t even get through the door?”

While many in the Demonic Sect paid no heed to such mockery, there were prodigies unwilling to endure such ridicule.

After all, they were young, and prodigies were often spirited and accustomed to smooth sailing. Such individuals found it increasingly difficult to tolerate humiliation and had a strong desire for fame and recognition.

“Lin Qiu, you say? So arrogant indeed. He needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Leave him to me.”

“No, his head shall be my trophy!”

No one admitted to being weaker than Mu Lin, and thus, many were eager to deal with him.

Then, that very night, a young girl sought out Mu Lin to tip him off.

“Hehe, Brother Lin Qiu, you’re in a bit of danger now, you know.”

Looking at the somewhat bewitching young woman before him, Mu Lin’s expression held a hint of surprise. He hadn’t expected that after finding him, the Holy Maiden of the Yin-Yang Joyous Union Sect would not immediately attack, but instead offer him information first.

Though he found it strange, his expression showed little change.

“Danger? I haven’t sensed any. And rather than worrying about my safety, you should be more concerned about your own.”

“Right now, your life is in my hands.”

Hearing Mu Lin’s words, Jiang Yingying of the Yin-Yang Joyous Union Sect… showed no fear. Instead, she let out a light, disdainful laugh.

“To say my little life is in your hands, Brother Lin Qiu, you truly are as arrogant as those Demonic Sect Rogue Cultivators say.”

“But then again, if you weren’t so wildly arrogant, Brother Lin Qiu, you wouldn’t have wanted to monopolize Ping’an Ancient County all by yourself.”

At this point, Jiang Yingying’s tone suddenly turned cold: “However, young master, I admit you are powerful, but aren’t you underestimating me too much?”

“This humble one is different from those ordinary Demonic Cultivators.”

“Boom!”

As she spoke, a terrifying aura erupted from Jiang Yingying’s body.

What made Mu Lin narrow his eyes was that her aura belonged to the Realm of Gang Sha Unity.

What raised his eyebrows even more was that while radiating such a powerful aura, she casually summoned an Other Shore Flower.

The Other Shore Flower was dangerous, yet she toyed with it casually, her expression utterly relaxed:

“This flower is nice, but for this humble girl and true Prodigies, it’s merely an ornamental object. If your reliance is on this, Brother Lin Qiu, you are doomed this time.”

(End of Chapter)