Chapter 338 – Xue Ying: Wind Spirit Shadow Moon, Activate!

Under Mu Lin’s gaze, Xue Ying slowly began to narrate a story.

“The Blood Cherry in my hand is not, as rumors claim, a Spirit Tool passed down through the Ge Family. Instead, it was obtained by chance…”

This was a classic tale—a down-and-out member of a branch family gains a precious treasure through a stroke of luck, a treasure with the ability to grow stronger through slaughter.

If the genders were swapped and the family was less reputable, this could easily be the plot of a classic fantasy novel.

Even though Blood Cherry was a Demon Blade—one that not only grew stronger through killing but also gradually corrupted its wielder, driving them to madness and demonic possession—the story remained compelling and legendary.

Of course, if that were all, even if Xue Ying were corrupted by the blade, she might not necessarily seek refuge with Mu Lin.

Here, it is necessary to explain the circumstances under which she fused with the Demon Blade.

When Xue Ying obtained the Demon Blade, she was not alone. She had an elder sister, who was the first to come into contact with the blade.

Her sister failed, but not entirely.

As descendants of the legendary weapon-wielding family, the Ge Family’s Cultivation Method had its own unique aspects (branch family members could practice a simplified, stripped-down version). Relying on that simplified method, Xue Ying’s sister’s body perished, but her soul fused into the Demon Blade, becoming a hidden blade spirit.

It was only because of her sister’s presence that Xue Ying could control this Demon Blade.

Incidentally, Xue Ying’s sister was the one originally named Ying, while the young woman standing before Mu Lin was actually named Ling.

Because her sister had sacrificed herself for her, Ling traveled the world using the name Ying, unwilling to let her sister be forgotten by the world.

What followed was straightforward. After mastering the Demon Blade, Xue Ying was found by the Ge Family and nurtured wholeheartedly, while Ying and Ling together wielded the demonic blade.

This seemed like a good thing, if not for the blade’s corrupting influence.

Unfortunately, that influence could not be removed.

Xue Ying fared relatively well. With the Ge Family’s full support and numerous rare resources, she could barely resist the blade’s corruption. However, Ying, who had truly fused with the Demon Blade, was in a different situation.

Without a body and only a soul, she was already highly susceptible to corruption. Moreover, the Demon Blade’s rank was exceptionally high, leaving even the Ge Family somewhat helpless.

Now, Xue Ying’s sister’s consciousness had nearly vanished entirely, leaving behind only a sliver of awareness.

Unwilling to let her sister remain in such a state, Xue Ying sought out Mu Lin.

She hoped that by joining him, she could grow stronger quickly, aiming to master the Demon Blade in the shortest time possible. Only then would her sister have a chance of survival.

After understanding everything, Mu Lin had no objections to Xue Ying joining him.

Unlike Yan Yunyu, she was a true Prodigy. Once she entered the True Spirit Karma Diagram, she could propel Mu Lin forward, offering him genuine assistance, rather than simply being carried by him.

Not to mention, she also possessed the Demon Blade.

Yet, precisely because she carried the Demon Blade, Mu Lin harbored a trace of concern.

“This Demon Blade must be incredibly valuable, right? Are you certain the Ge Family will agree to you joining me?”

After all, the Future Celestial Master was still just the future. For now, Mu Lin preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Her words gave Xue Ying pause, but she soon smiled carefreely and said, “I thought you might be concerned about the blade’s corruption… As for the Demon Blade, rest assured. Previously, the Ge Family would indeed have opposed it, but ever since you returned from Ping’an Ancient County, there have been voices within the clan urging me to get closer to you.”

“Joining your ranks aligns perfectly with their wishes.”

“In that case…”

After listening to Xue Ying’s words, Mu Lin extended a hand: “Welcome aboard. I will help you master the Demon Blade.”

“Thank you.”

…

With the active cooperation of Xue Ying, the blade’s master, her entry into the True Spirit Karma Diagram along with the Demon Blade in her hand became a matter of course.

Hmm… in this process, the Ge Family’s seal also played a significant role.

That seal prevented the Slaughter Demon Blade from easily corrupting Xue Ying and also kept it from resisting Mu Lin’s True Spirit Karma Diagram.

As Mu Lin had previously anticipated, with the Demon Blade Blood Cherry entering the diagram, his Asura gained the ability to level up through slaughter.

Moreover, since the True Spirit Karma Diagram functions as a unified whole, Mu Lin’s Yin Soldiers, Ghost Messengers, and Civil and Military Judges all acquired the ability to level up through slaughter.

What made Mu Lin sigh was that leveling up through slaughter, in other words, meant plundering everything from the defeated and turning it into nourishment for oneself.

Consequently, he could only enhance the strength of his Yin Soldiers, Ghost Messengers, and Asura by killing real, living beings.

Defeating or killing illusory creatures had no effect whatsoever.

Another point that made Mu Lin frown was that the power gained through slaughter was ultimately just an external force.

Previously, every time Xue Ying engaged in slaughter, she would pause for a considerable period to refine it, only then could she make that power her own. Otherwise, with multiple external forces merging within her, even if it didn’t cause her body to explode, it would still render her Mana impure.

“After all, it’s not a slaughter system; it has many flaws. Still, no matter what, this is a powerful force and can rapidly enhance oneself… Moreover, the second flaw is practically negligible for me now.”

Thinking this, Mu Lin looked at the second Gang Qi he had refined—Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang.

This was a terrifying Gang Qi capable of assimilating most external forces.

While refining it, several Divine Positions within Mu Lin’s True Spirit Karma Diagram were completely assimilated.

However, despite its danger, Mu Lin didn’t expend too much effort refining it.

—He fused the Black River Water with the Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang.

One dissolved all external forces, while the other assimilated everything. Their abilities were similar, but as is well known, two tigers cannot share one mountain.

Their nearly identical abilities also meant that when they met, they clashed fiercely.

This, in turn, gave Mu Lin the opportunity to profit from their conflict.

During the subsequent refinement, Mu Lin acted like kneading dough: when there was too much “flour” (Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang), he added “water” (Black River Water); when there was too much “water,” he added “flour.”

After some tinkering, Mu Lin managed to maintain a balance between the two.

Then, while they were locked in a stalemate, Mu Lin used the Vow Power Heart Flame to seize control of both weakened forces in one fell swoop.

“I really am clever.”

It should be noted that this method could only be used by Mu Lin.

Both Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang and Black River Water were extremely dangerous substances. During their intense confrontation, maintaining their balance was not easy and could not be sustained consistently. Instead, there were constant shifts where one force temporarily overpowered the other.

Mu Lin could withstand such fierce conflicts thanks to his profound foundation, but others lacked the True Spirit Karma Diagram and his hundredfold greater foundation. Attempting such refinement would mean dying countless times in an instant.

“Indeed, having a solid foundation is wonderful…”

…

Simultaneously mastering both Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang and Black River Water was a good thing for Mu Lin.

What made him even more delighted was that the Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang’s ability to assimilate all kinds of strange forces was a perfect match for slaughter and plunder.

The two complemented each other—one killed, the other assimilated—truly giving off a hint of the flavor of leveling up through slaughter.

“Speaking of which, my Zhong Kui originally had the ability to devour ghosts (by placing the Crimson Wine Gourd inside his body). With this ability combined with Xue Ying’s slaughter and plunder, and further paired with the Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang, he really could level up by eating ghosts… What is this, a myth come to life?”

…

The Netherworld Soldiers, Civil and Military Judges—these were extensions of Mu Lin’s power. The fact that they could level up through slaughter also meant one thing: as long as he sent his subordinates out to battle, their strength would continuously increase.

And as their strength improved, it would also be reflected in the True Spirit Karma Diagram, and in turn, fed back to Mu Lin himself.

“So now, as long as I keep the Yin Soldiers, Ghost Messengers, and Civil and Military Judges constantly killing, constantly slaying ghosts, I can just sit back and level up?”

After pondering for a moment, Mu Lin’s heart began to pound.

“It’s not about one person cultivating diligently, but countless Netherworld Soldiers and Ghost Messengers working together. Expanding the True Spirit Karma Diagram to 480 million really seems a bit possible now.”

“Well, 480 million is still too many. Let’s set a small goal first: expand the Divine Positions to 129,600.”

Here, Mu Lin felt he had grasped the future, and his spirits soared.

Beside him, Xue Ying’s joy and astonishment were no less intense.

When she pledged herself to Mu Lin, she had only thought about quickly mastering the Demon Blade through him to protect her sister’s soul.

But after truly entering the True Spirit Karma Diagram, she realized she had set her goals too low, far too low.

By joining Mu Lin, her gains were far greater than she had imagined.

First was her control over the Demon Blade. With his lofty status, abundant power, solid foundation, and the strength of the Vow Power Heart Flame, Mu Lin had elevated the mastery of the Demon Blade to the fourth tier in one go—the Mortal Shedding Realm.

All these permissions were delegated by Mu Lin to Xue Ying, allowing her control over the Demon Blade to reach the Mortal Shedding Realm in one fell swoop.

And this was only the most basic gain.

Second was the integration of Gang Sha.

Upon entering the True Spirit Karma Diagram, Xue Ying also gained a trace of the Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang’s characteristics. From then on, when refining strange forces during slaughter, it would be much easier for her.

And because Mu Lin had fused an immense amount of Gang Qi and Baleful Qi, the benefits she gained at this stage were astonishingly abundant.

The unchanging and immovable nature of the Central Wuji Sha enhanced her Mana and physical body.

The Da Luo Vast Heaven Qi made her and her blade almost imperceptible—now, she could transition into a perfect assassin.

But what delighted her the most was the integration of the Aurora Gang Qi.

This Gang Qi had purification properties. After merging into her Demon Blade and soul, it strengthened both her and her sister’s souls while incidentally purifying much of the contamination.

This alone filled Xue Ying with immense satisfaction.

“Thank you, thank you…”

The wonderful things she had once longed for were now right before her. In such circumstances, Xue Ying was naturally overwhelmed with excitement and endlessly grateful to Mu Lin.

In contrast, Mu Lin’s emotions remained quite calm.

“If you want to thank me, then cultivate diligently and serve me well.”

“I will. I will become the sharpest blade in your hand.”

…

Her sister’s condition had eased, allowing Xue Ying to breathe a sigh of relief. As a result, she could now focus more on improving her strength—anyone who embarked on the path of cultivation always sought to grow stronger and evolve continuously.

After a careful examination, her gaze toward Mu Lin grew increasingly astonished.

She had initially thought the previous two enhancements were already exaggerated enough, but the subsequent improvements, especially the synergy between the Blade of Slaughter and the Crimson Holy Grail, made her realize what true power meant.

It was an enhancement so powerful it exceeded her imagination.

“Such an ability can actually exist?”

“Isn’t this a bit too overpowered?”

After fully comprehending the synergy between the Demon Blade Blood Cherry and the Crimson Holy Grail, these were the first thoughts that crossed Xue Ying’s mind.

It was too exaggerated, too overpowering.

And soon, she discovered with excitement that this overpowering ability was hers.

(End of Chapter)