Chapter 280 – Substitute Paper Figure: Fourth-Realm Grandmaster

Master Grade Mystical Arts are stronger than Expert Grade, but the cultivation level of Gang Condensation is even more superior compared to Mu Lin, who has just entered Sha Refinement.

Therefore, to bridge this gap, Mu Lin must put in even greater effort in advancing his Mystical Arts realm.

Of course, for others, reaching the Master and Grandmaster Realms in Mystical Arts is no longer something that can be achieved through effort alone.

Not even with ample resources.

They require exceptional comprehension and some serendipitous opportunities just to reach the Master Realm.

Yes, only the Master Realm.

As for the Grandmaster Realm, that is even more arduous.

What comes to mind when you think of a Grandmaster?

Profound and steadfast, unperturbed by honor or disgrace, highly respected, a towering figure, universally acclaimed… and, a middle-aged person.

Indeed, most Grandmaster images are of profound and steadfast middle-aged individuals.

This indicates that to reach the Grandmaster Realm, besides comprehension and opportunities, one also needs the accumulation of extensive life experience.

After all, a Master is merely someone outstanding in a particular field.

But a Grandmaster must encompass all rivers, become the pinnacle of a certain school, and achieve innovation to attain such status.

Thus, the Grandmaster Realm is extremely difficult to reach, often requiring the comprehension of the strengths of a hundred schools and their integration before any enlightenment can occur.

Fortunately, these limitations do not apply to Mu Lin.

Possessing the traits of “once proven, forever proven” and “Heavenly Dao rewards diligence,” Mu Lin’s Mystical Arts realm advances rapidly.

The Substitute Paper Figure he has been diligently cultivating is on the verge of a breakthrough.

“With a Grandmaster Level Substitute Paper Figure, I will definitely have the qualifications to compete with others!”

“And the God-Monarch Summoning Art, although its realm is only Master Grade, due to its high grade (Heaven Grade), even at Master Grade, it can still be effective in the Gang Condensation Realm.”

Thinking this, Mu Lin looked at his Dharma Image Zhong Kui. After absorbing and refining abundant Spiritual Energy, his Dharma Image had advanced to the Gang Condensation Realm, and with the two Mystic Treasures, the Seven-Star Demon Slayer Sword and the Crimson Wine Gourd, his combat power was formidable.

If the Crimson Wine Gourd were fully charged with Spiritual Energy, Mu Lin’s Spiritual Energy reserves could reach the Gang Sha Unity realm in one go.

“The Wine Gourd bears the blessing of Human Dao will, making it a Merit Mystic Treasure typically usable only by Mortal Shedding Adepts, so its marvels are understandable.”

Unfortunately, all Mystical Arts rely on the existence of Mu Lin’s Main Body.

Because Mu Lin’s Main Body’s Mana has not undergone Gang Sha baptism, although his Dharma Image Zhong Kui’s Mana reserves are sufficient, their quality is still several levels weaker.

“But this still counts as a trump card.”

…

After advancing, to better coordinate his combat power, Mu Lin opened the Proficiency Panel and carefully examined his cultivation status.

【Host: Mu Lin】

【Status: Spell Master, Divine Being (Fused Divinity: Death, Silence)】

【Cultivation Level:】

【Essence · Physical Body: Early Sha Refinement】

【Qi · Mana Cultivation: Early Sha Refinement】

【Spirit · Mind: Mid Gang Condensation Realm】

【Cultivation Methods】

【Mindscape – Sky Burial City (City God) (Heaven Grade Mid), 3rd Realm Expert (71903/108000), Traits: Solidification, Soul Spirit Manifestation, Sky Burial Power, City God (County City God) (Appointed)】

【Taiyin Life-Nurturing Scripture, 3rd Realm Expert (73021/81000) (Heaven Grade Low Rank), Traits: Spirit Awakening, Spirit Foundation (Lord Altar), Substitute Paper Figure, Yin-Yang Harmony (Stage Two) (Can Fuse with Sha Energy), Mana Liquefaction, Spirit Communication (Heroic Soul Summoning, no longer restricted to ancestors)】

【Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art (Earth Grade High Rank), 4th Realm Master (23127/129600), Traits: Can transform into Blackwater Profound Serpent (Growth Stage), Ink Flood Dragon (Growth Stage) (Six Moltings: Lightning Breath, Limit-Breaking Burst)】

【Vow-Power Heart Lamp (Heaven Grade Low Rank), 4th Realm Master (10321/890000), Traits: Domination, Transcendence, Royal Crown (Can simultaneously draw upon the power of dominated subordinates)】

【Mystical Arts and Skills】

【Divine Lord’s Mighty Summoning and Spirit Dispatch True Art (Heaven Grade Low Rank), 4th Realm Master (36581/1080000), Traits: Dharma Image Zhong Kui (Martial Judge), Dharma Image Cui Yu (Civil Judge) (Condensing)】

【Substitute Paper Figure (Earth Grade High Rank), 4th Realm Master (41500/42000), Traits: Clone Phantasm (Six substitutes, can cultivate, can store mana, can fight enemies, can confuse enemies), Injury Transfer (80%), Divine Soul Possession, Paper Substitute·Others】

【Paper Figure Curse (Earth Grade High Rank), 4th Realm Master (30300/33000), Traits: Nailing Seven Po】

【Paper Figure Soul Seal (Earth Grade High Rank), 4th Realm Master (1038/36000), Traits: Soul Seal】

【Paper Folding, 5th Realm Grandmaster (31089/108000)】

【Calligraphy, 5th Realm Grandmaster (4800/810000)】

【Painting, 5th Realm Grandmaster (5919/720000)】

【Sky-Scraping Spell (Heaven Grade Low Rank), 4th Realm Master (6871/730000)】

  ……

After carefully observing for a while, Mu Lin noticed something.

Due to Fixation and Refresh, his mana realm was advancing too quickly and was almost catching up to his cultivation method realm.

“…Could it be that one day I’ll also face cultivation bottlenecks like other cultivators?”

After pondering it carefully, Mu Lin thought it was very likely.

After all, relying on Fixation and Refresh to accumulate mana was simply too fast.

Even with the Heavenly Dao rewarding diligence, his cultivation method realm still required him to cultivate once to gain a single point of progress.

But the latter, a single Fixation, started with thousands of points; the Attribute Panel was completely incomparable.

Fortunately, Mu Lin soon remembered that his Substitute Paper Figure was about to break through.

“Once this mystical art breaks through, my Clone Cultivation Method will likely allow thousands of people to cultivate together, just like a certain crown prince. In that case, the growth speed of my cultivation method realm can also reach another level.”

Human development isn’t necessarily linear; it can also be exponential.

Just like in his previous life, humanity took hundreds of thousands of years to master fire, maintained an agrarian civilization for thousands of years, but from mastering steam to mastering electricity and information, and even leaving the Blue Planet, it only took about a hundred short years.

This is the so-called technological explosion.

And Mu Lin, possessing the Clone Cultivation Method, might also experience an explosive wave of cultivation like those predecessors.

“Substitute Paper Figure reaching Grandmaster will be a crucial milestone on my cultivation path.”

…

Discovering that the Substitute Paper Figure was about to advance, Mu Lin had devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation these past days.

While he immersed himself in diligent cultivation, Ping’an Ancient Town gradually grew lively.

Just as Ji Hongyu had said, Daoist Sect prodigies, direct descendants of aristocratic families, and Demonic Sect prodigies… upon learning that the Grave Lord Inheritance contained a buried deity, they all swarmed toward Ping’an Ancient Town like a hive.

After arriving, these people also learned of Mu Lin’s achievements.

Relying solely on his own strength, he had driven numerous Demonic Sect members out of Ping’an Ancient Town, even suppressed and killed a Demonic Sect prodigy, and once exchanged blows with a Demonic Sect Elder without being at a disadvantage.

Such formidable prowess left many deeply shaken.

“Which family’s child is this, to be so powerful?”

In their astonishment, they investigated Mu Lin’s situation with a sense of concern.

Unlike the Demonic Sect, which was marginalized from the mainstream—though possessing strength, it had little influence within the Great Spirit Imperial Dynasty—they probed for a long time yet uncovered little information about Mu Lin.

However, the disciples of the Daoist Sect and aristocratic families were different. Many of them served in the Demon Suppression Division and had intricate connections with the Great Spirit Imperial Dynasty.

When Mu Lin arrived in Ping’an Ancient Town, he had registered with the Demon Suppression Division, so they easily uncovered his information. They learned that Mu Lin had only begun cultivating about half a year ago, and just one or two months prior, his strength was still at the Spirit Pool Stage.

Upon learning this, whether from the Demonic Sect, Daoist Sect, or aristocratic families, all were stirred.

“Spirit Pool? What nonsense? Are those Demonic Sect members trash? Even a Spirit Pool Stage Mu Lin could suppress them so thoroughly?”

Some were shocked, while others uncovered the true secret.

“It’s external power. That Mu Lin used some special method to control the Spirit Vein of Ping’an Ancient Town. With the assistance of this Spirit Vein, he was able to forcefully suppress and kill the Demonic Sect prodigy. Without the Spirit Vein, Mu Lin is nothing to fear.”

“Tsk, so it’s relying on external power after all. I thought his own strength was that formidable.”

“Worried for nothing.”

“Don’t underestimate him. The Spirit Vein only granted Mu Lin immense energy. Without powerful Mystical Arts and a strong Divine Soul, even with vast energy, he couldn’t have killed Ji Xing, much less contend with a Mortal Shedding-level Elder of the Demonic Sect. This Mu Lin is strong, very strong. Given a few more years of cultivation, he will be a formidable adversary for us!”

Upon discerning Mu Lin’s circumstances, some looked down on him, but others regarded him with even greater importance.

They clearly understood what it meant for someone at a lower realm to contend with those at higher realms.

This heightened regard also led the Chu Family, Yan Family, and Demon Suppression Division to increase Mu Lin’s priority once more.

Yan Family Elder: “I recall Mu Lin is nearing the Sha Refinement Stage. Inform him that we can procure the most suitable Baleful Qi, even Gang Qi, for him. Even if the Yan Family doesn’t have it, we can exchange for it through the Four Seas Pavilion. However, to obtain Baleful Qi, he must sacrifice some freedom and truly join the Yan Family.”

Beyond the Yan and Chu Families, the Prince’s Residence in Jade Province also extended an olive branch to Mu Lin.

Indeed, this Grave Lord Inheritance had attracted true giants—the Great Spirit Imperial Family and numerous princes and marquises.

Meanwhile, although everyone valued Mu Lin, their regard was entirely focused on his future, not his present.

For this reason, after lamenting Mu Lin’s situation, the many prodigies who had come this time unanimously excluded him from the competition.

Clearly, they believed that the current Mu Lin was not qualified to compete with them.

(End of Chapter)