Chapter 34 – Vow-Power Heart Lamp: Dominion Over All Things

“Since she’s willing to take responsibility and hopes everyone in the class will strive hard, then I’ll give her a helping hand!”

“Next, I’ll go all out climbing the tower, fiercely stimulating the others.”

“Although such behavior might make me even more targeted by others, that’s not important—it might even be better. If I’m targeted by classmates because I’m doing things for her, it will make her feel guilty and compensate me…”

Thinking this, Mu Lin already knew what he should do next.

…

With this extraordinary teacher accompanying him, Mu Lin’s exchange proceeded without any issues.

Soon, the Earth Grade Supreme cultivation method, the Vow-Power Heart Lamp jade scroll, was in Mu Lin’s hands.

“Hum…”

Casually pressing the jade scroll to his forehead, Mu Lin’s expression immediately went blank.

Countless pieces of information, like a torrent, flooded into his mind, leaving his consciousness in a daze.

It took a full cup of tea’s time before Mu Lin’s senses recovered.

By now, he had understood the mysteries of the Vow-Power Heart Lamp.

This was a cultivation method that used the divine soul and beliefs as fuel to ignite the lamp’s flame.

What made Mu Lin raise an eyebrow was that this cultivation method truly lived up to its Earth Grade Supreme status—it could even manifest different effects depending on the beliefs burned.

For example, if fueled by the desires of the seven emotions and six passions, the heart lamp Mu Lin nurtured would emit a pink light and could stir desires in people’s hearts.

If fueled by rage, the flame Mu Lin nurtured would be an explosive red, and the heart lamp’s effect would be to provoke anger in people’s hearts.

“…Not only that, if fueled by rage, my heart lamp could not only provoke others’ anger. It could also use the heart lamp’s flame to burn my mana, physical body, and even divine soul, drastically enhancing my power in a short time, with the maximum amplification even reaching tenfold!”

Some people, in a state of extreme anger—become even angrier.

But those who ignite the explosive lamp, in a state of extreme anger, can burn everything in their bodies, causing their own power to surge madly.

Of course, tenfold combustion, this ultimate sublimation, can indeed break through one’s limits.

But the user after burning everything away shouldn’t expect to survive.

“Tenfold combustion is indeed inadvisable, but three- or fivefold combustion only causes severe damage to vitality—this is an extremely useful ability.”

Desire, rage, jealousy… all kinds of desires had different effects.

While Mu Lin was browsing the heart lamp’s effects, seeing that he had learned the heart lamp, Dongfang Ya reminded him from the side.

“You also understand the heart lamp’s situation now, right? I suggest you use courage and protective beliefs as fuel. Such a heart lamp is most effective against the corruption of evil aberrations.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Teacher.”

Teacher Dongfang Ya’s advice was good, but Mu Lin… wasn’t planning to choose it.

Mu Lin was no saint, not even a benevolent person, and he didn’t have much sense of identification with this world or the Great Spirit Imperial Dynasty. Therefore, he lacked grand protective beliefs like defending home and country.

As for courage, Mu Lin wasn’t lacking, but it wasn’t his strongest aspect either.

Bidding farewell to Dongfang Ya and returning to the Formal Class’s training ground, Mu Lin closed his eyes, quietly contemplating his inner self.

After some reflection, Mu Lin understood what his strongest conviction was—it was arrogance!

“So it’s this…”

Having figured everything out, Mu Lin wore a bitter smile but wasn’t surprised.

“Reborn into this world and obtaining a Proficiency Panel, though in the eyes of others, I have not committed any acts of arrogance.”

“Yet in my heart, I have always firmly believed that I can become the strongest. And my goal has always been to strive toward becoming the strongest!”

Setting the goal to be the strongest and striving toward it may not seem like a bad thing; rather, it reflects lofty ambition. However:

“Born into a humble family, with only a Third-Class Spirit Root, yet aiming directly for the pinnacle—in the eyes of the world, if this isn’t arrogance, what is?”

“Moreover, the values instilled in me from my previous life leave me with not a shred of reverence for the Aristocratic Families, let alone the imperial family. And this, without a doubt, is an act of ‘arrogance.'”

It could be called confidence, or it could be called arrogance. In any case, Mu Lin’s unwavering belief in becoming the strongest is precisely this.

For the burning of the Heart Lamp, aside from the Divine Soul, the most crucial element is the ignited belief. The firmer the belief that serves as fuel, the brighter the Heart Lamp burns, and the more powerful its effects become.

Thus, with little hesitation, Mu Lin prepared to ignite the Heart Lamp with the belief of ‘arrogance.’

Of course, before igniting it, Mu Lin needed to meditate and visualize a lampstand to serve as the vessel for the Heart Lamp.

At the same time, igniting a belief required a process akin to striking a spark.

Fortunately, these preparatory steps were quite simple for Mu Lin.

He didn’t even need to meditate on the lampstand anew. During his previous cultivation of the Mindscape – Sky Burial City, Mu Lin had visualized countless tools, and a lampstand was among them.

In contrast, the ‘ignition’ process required some deliberate effort from Mu Lin.

“Igniting a belief is similar to using a magnifying glass to start a fire. The difference is that the magnifying glass focuses light to ignite flames.”

“With the Heart Lamp, it’s about gathering and intensifying belief. When the most fervent belief in one’s heart reaches its peak, the Heart Lamp will be ignited.”

Since Mu Lin was using the emotion of ‘arrogance’ as fuel, the things he visualized were all acts of defiance and rebellion.

Such as, “The throne rotates; this year, it’s my turn.”

“Are kings, nobles, and generals born to their stations?”

“No one stands above the heavens from the beginning—neither you nor I, not even the gods…”

“I want the heavens to no longer blind my eyes, the earth to no longer bury my heart…”

“My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens!”

Whether impassioned or somewhat juvenile, these arrogant beliefs continuously brewed within Mu Lin’s heart.

At a certain moment, the emotion of arrogance filled Mu Lin’s heart to the brim. And just then, with a soft poof, as a flame blossomed on the lampstand, the arrogant thoughts in Mu Lin’s mind surged into the flame like birds returning to their nest.

The influx of immense belief caused the flame to expand rapidly. Soon, a burning lampstand appeared within Mu Lin’s Sea of Consciousness.

What surprised Mu Lin was that, due to his vast Divine Soul and unwavering will (arrogance), the flame, after absorbing sufficient nourishment, did not start at the 1st Realm—Beginner. Instead, it leaped directly to the 2nd Realm—Proficient.

As for this, Mu Lin… was not surprised.

There is a saying in the world: “Master one method, and ten thousand others follow.” There is also the concept of “accumulating strength for a great leap forward.”

Many people, after laying a solid foundation, learn other things at a frighteningly fast pace.

Mu Lin is currently in such a state. His Divine Soul, having reached the Gushing Spring Realm, serves as his foundation. With this foundation, he can learn any Divine Soul-related Cultivation Method with remarkable speed.

The Heart Lamp, now proficient at the second realm, has already developed a unique characteristic. Derived from arrogance, this characteristic is named—Domination.

“To dominate all things, to control everything, ensuring that all remains under one’s command—this truly embodies the essence of arrogance.”

(End of Chapter)