Chapter 294 – Crossing the Black River: The Grave Lord's Tomb Transforms

Even the Black River Water, which can dissolve all things, can be controlled—such talent leaves one truly at a loss for words.

While everyone else was stunned, Mu Lin remained remarkably calm.

“Yu Fa, are you planning to come with me?”

“…Yes!”

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Fa gritted his teeth and chose to follow.

Once decided, he clasped his hands in a salute and thanked Mu Lin:

“Thank you, Brother Mu.”

“No problem, you’ve helped me a lot too… Let’s go, stay close.”

With that, Mu Lin focused his will.

“Neigh…”

“Charge!”

At Mu Lin’s command, the fierce and imposing Beiwei Army spurred their horses directly into the Black River.

“Splash…”

Upon entering the river, the iron-clad Beiwei Army did not sink into the Black River but instead galloped across its waves.

This was Ink Jiao – Hebo commanding the Black River Water, allowing this water, which normally could not even float a feather, to bear the weight of the Beiwei Army and Mu Lin’s carriage.

Hmm, and Yu Fa as well.

“Charge!”

However, although the Black River Water could support the Beiwei Army, Mu Lin dared not relax in the slightest. Instead, he continuously ordered the Beiwei Army to accelerate.

This was necessary.

The moment Mu Lin and these other foreign entities entered the river, the Black River stirred.

Whirlpools began to swirl around them, and countless waves transformed into malevolent spirits and wraiths, clawing toward Mu Lin and his group.

“Die, die, die…”

“Don’t go…”

“Woo woo woo…”

“Save me…”

The chaotic voices, the hordes of Malevolent Ghosts, and the churning of the Black River tightened many hearts.

Some Qi Refiners who had initially intended to follow immediately halted their steps.

However, the next moment, they regretted it.

The churning of the Black River was indeed terrifying, but Mu Lin’s Ink Jiao – Hebo was no weakling either.

“In the name of Hebo, disperse!”

“Hum!”

As the divine command imbued with divine authority was issued, a terrifying ripple immediately spread outward in all directions with Hebo’s voice.

Under that command, the Black River’s whirlpools calmed instantly, and the numerous Wraiths and Malevolent Ghosts were dispersed, their forms shattered. The crisis facing Mu Lin and his group was swept away in an instant.

However, such safety was only temporary.

As Mu Lin and his group advanced, larger whirlpools and more Wraiths and Malevolent Ghosts surged toward them.

By the time they reached the center of the Black River, Mu Lin could vaguely sense that a terrifying, forbidden monster from the abyssal depths of the river was being stirred by his presence, rapidly rising from the riverbed toward the surface.

This sensation caused Mu Lin’s eyes to narrow and his heart to tighten.

“Such a monster won’t be easy to deal with…”

Muttering this, Mu Lin felt no fear, for he still held a trump card.

With this thought, Mu Lin focused his will. Ink Jiao – Hebo, who had been floating beside him all along, guarding him, coiled once and then shot toward Mu Lin’s body.

“Hum…”

Amidst a peculiar, dim glow, Mu Lin and Ink Jiao – Hebo merged into one.

Or rather, Mu Lin donned the Paper Figure Ink Jiao – Hebo like a suit of armor or an outer shell.

This was another application method of Paper Figures within the Paper Artisan Lineage: Paper Figure Possession, inviting the ‘anomaly’ to inhabit one’s body.

With the two combined, Mu Lin could naturally wield the power of Ink Jiao – Hebo.

And compared to a Substitute Paper Figure, the energy within Mu Lin’s own body was far more abundant.

Not to mention, at this moment, he was also activating the Royal Crown, gathering the power of numerous Substitute Paper Figures and the Beiwei Army onto himself.

In addition, Mu Lin had activated the characteristic ‘Transcendence,’ elevating his Divine Soul.

Combining these numerous abilities, the current Mu Lin was driving Ink Jiao – Hebo with super-abundant Mana and a Divine Soul at the level of Gang Sha Unity.

Such driving also caused a qualitative change in the power of Ink Jiao – Hebo.

“Roar!”

Accompanied by a passionate Dragon Roar, the Black River Water around Mu Lin, under his will, actually transformed into the shape of a Jiao Dragon.

【Black River Water – Illusion – Dragon】

This black Jiao was a full hundred meters long, with an imposing aura.

The powerful aura caused countless Wraiths and Malevolent Ghosts around Mu Lin to directly shatter into splashes of water.

The vortex that was about to form also directly dissipated into nothingness within the Jiao Dragon’s Domain.

“Huff…”

After suppressing the Black River’s backlash, the next moment, as Ink Jiao’s innate ability to summon wind and rain and stir up waves was activated,

countless currents, driven by the Jiao Dragon, actually pushed Mu Lin and the others forward.

“Boom!”

Propelled by the currents, Mu Lin and the others were as if riding an express train, their speed increasing more than tenfold.

Just like that, the wide river surface was soon crossed by Mu Lin and the others.

And after they reached the shore and moved away from the bank, the forbidden and ominous monster in the Black River finally surfaced to the top of the Black River.

It did not fully emerge; only a hundred-meter-wide eye stared fixedly at Mu Lin for a long while.

Then, the countless Wraiths and Malevolent Ghosts that surfaced along with the forbidden and ominous monster exerted their strength together, dragging this monster firmly back underwater.

“So terrifying… Without the strength of a Mortal Shedding Adept, or even an Earth Immortal True Person, one must never investigate this Black River…”

…

Although they experienced some twists and turns, Mu Lin ultimately crossed this Black River.

Moreover, he not only crossed it but also gained an Ink Jiao – Hebo, adding another trump card.

At the same time, having crossed the Black River, Mu Lin could be considered to have officially entered the second tier, not far behind Mingling Zi and the others who had arrived earlier.

Here, Mu Lin was eagerly chasing forward.

But ahead, an unexpected change suddenly occurred.

…

The Grave Lord’s Tomb grows more dangerous the deeper one goes.

And the Black River is considered a barrier.

Before this, there is a Yellow Mud Road laid out by the Grave Lord.

Although this road is occasionally broken and has Evil Aberrations lurking beside it, attacking Cultivators walking on it, no matter what, this Yellow Mud Road ultimately protects Qi Refiners.

But after crossing the Black River, the Yellow Mud Road… is gone.

Now, Cultivators like Mu Lin will directly face the corruption of Demonic Fiends, various Anomalies, and the lingering resentment of Evil Gods.

The only consolation for human Cultivators is that although the Yellow Mud Road is gone, the numerous tombs created by the Grave Lord still exist. These tombs act like seals, confining most dangers within them.

Moreover, as the recognized leader of the Yin Eight Gates, the Grave Lord’s burial site not only has tombs but also contains Paper Figures, Ghost Money, Coffins, Executioner’s Blades… and other items.

These are all instruments of the Yin Eight Gates. Such items, combined with the tombs, seal the undying resentment of Evil Gods and numerous Anomalies.

Such instruments could be picked up by Mu Lin, but correspondingly, after picking them up, Mu Lin and his companions would also face the danger of breaking the seal.

At the same time, many techniques from the Yin Eight Gates and other sects were inscribed by the Grave Lord on tombstones for numerous cultivators to practice.

Crossing the Black River, Mu Lin and his group barely passed the Grave Lord’s trial and could now reap some rewards.

Of course, these rewards were highly valued by ordinary rogue cultivators, but the first batch of prodigies who entered would not be so concerned.

They all had Heaven-Rank Techniques to cultivate and understood the principle that mastering a hundred disciplines is not as good as specializing in one.

Therefore, these individuals did not pay attention to the techniques and instruments along the way. Instead, they pressed straight ahead, seeking the more core items left behind by the Grave Lord.

Meanwhile, among the advancing cultivators, there were those from the Daoist Sect and the Demonic Sect, but the two sides did not fight. Instead, while remaining cautiously vigilant, they also showed signs of cooperation.

This situation arose because, whether Daoist or Demonic, they were ultimately all human.

“Those who are not of our kind must have different hearts.”

They were guarding against the Foreign Races and the Evil God Scion.

However, despite their utmost vigilance, they were ultimately caught off guard by the Evil God Scion.

“Boom!”

At a certain moment, Mu Lin, who was still some distance away from the first group of prodigies, suddenly heard a deafening roar.

This roar shook the heavens and earth, followed by a series of pounding sounds like beating drums.

“Thump!”

“Thump!”

“Thump!”

(End of Chapter)