Chapter 361 – Heaven-Rank Technique: Mahakala

The reversal of the southern situation could be said to have been turned around by Mu Lin single-handedly.

If someone like him were to join the Northern Aristocracy, the south would instantly fall into dire straits once again.

Therefore, upon hearing that the Northern Aristocracy had the idea of inviting Mu Lin, everyone in the meeting room immediately shared the same thought.

“No, we absolutely cannot let this happen!”

Regardless of which family they belonged to or their Cultivation Level, everyone in the room reached a consensus at that moment.

But soon, a cold sneer echoed in the meeting room.

“Hah, now you realize Mu Lin’s importance, now you understand that our Southeast Region cannot do without him. But some people’s words earlier were truly chilling.”

“Exactly, sigh… Right after he made contributions, someone immediately wanted to teach him a lesson, to make him understand his place. Who knows how Mu Lin will feel when he learns about this.”

This back-and-forth came from the Yan Family and the Chu Family. As soon as they finished speaking, the Lu Family Elder who had earlier proposed teaching Mu Lin a lesson immediately looked extremely displeased.

Especially when he noticed the others around him looking at him with strange gazes, his expression grew even more unpleasant.

However, he was somewhat quick-witted. Realizing the situation was unfavorable to him, he immediately said, “Ahem, I was indeed wrong earlier. But now, the Northern Aristocracy is advancing aggressively and with ill intentions. We cannot afford to cause trouble lightly. For the sake of the greater good, I ask everyone to keep this matter hidden, at least for now…”

“Pfft…”

He was still speaking, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by the head of the Yan Family.

“Old Lu, are you an idiot? Trying to guilt-trip me with moral coercion.”

Phrases like ‘for the greater good, endure a little for now’—such moral coercion was often used by these great families.

But they only used it on those beneath them, to deceive the common-born disciples.

Among families of equal standing, everyone knew each other’s tricks.

These people understood all too well that yielding meant suffering losses. The more you retreated, the more others would think you were easy to bully, and the more losses you would have to endure.

Thus, the Yan Family had no intention of yielding, nor could they afford to.

—The conflict between the Lu Family and Mu Lin had originally stemmed from the Yan Family.

And now, with the Lu Family proposing to make Mu Lin suffer, if the Yan Family head didn’t speak up in support, what would Mu Lin think when he found out later?

Don’t assume Mu Lin wouldn’t find out.

The Yan Family head knew very well that if he dared to agree to this, Mu Lin might indeed remain unaware for now.

But as soon as this matter was over, Mu Lin would undoubtedly learn about everything that had happened today.

Other families would be more than happy to see Mu Lin clash with the Yan Family, and then pull him into their own families.

Even the Chu Family might secretly inform Mu Lin—sharing with the Yan Family was far less appealing than having him all to themselves.

Having thought this far, unless the Yan Family head was utterly brain-dead, he would never sacrifice Mu Lin’s goodwill toward his family for the sake of the greater good or the Lu Family’s interests—especially since the Lu Family was his rival.

His stance immediately cast a heavy atmosphere over the meeting room.

The Lu Family Elder who had been insulted grew even more furious and shouted, “Bastard! Are you acting so impulsively just to push Mu Lin completely toward the Northern Aristocracy and ruin our favorable situation?”

“Old fool, I told you, don’t try to guilt-trip me. If Mu Lin feels disillusioned, it will be entirely your fault.”

“Moreover, it is you who fails to see the bigger picture.”

“Right now, it’s only your family that’s in conflict with Mu Lin. None of the other aristocratic families in our Southeast Region have joined in. As long as you swallow your pride, offer up some Heaven-Grade resources, Spirit Tools, and a few treasures to satisfy Mu Lin, this matter will be over.”

“But if you try to hide it, and if it’s kept under wraps, fine. But what if it isn’t? At that point, Mu Lin will undoubtedly side with the Northern Aristocracy. You bastard, are you trying to ruin the favorable situation we’ve built in the south?”

Chu Family Patriarch: “Exactly, Elder Lu, for the sake of the bigger picture, you should endure for now and offer up some resources.”

Those who know how to use moral coercion are not limited to Elder Lu alone. As the Clan Heads of the Yan-Chu Families, the two attending the meeting are equally ruthless.

Thus, they threw Elder Lu’s own words back at him.

—You keep preaching about prioritizing the bigger picture, right? Well, now it’s your turn to make concessions and sacrifice for the bigger picture.

However, while Elder Lu enjoyed using moral coercion against others, he was far less comfortable when others used it against him.

“Hmph, if you two don’t say anything, how would Mu Lin find out about this in the near future? Even if he learns about it later, what can he do then?”

‘Once he knows, he’ll hold a grudge against us.’

Of course, this was what the Yan and Chu Families were thinking internally. Outwardly, they would never admit it.

Faced with Elder Lu’s challenge, the Yan Family Patriarch shrugged and said, “Unlike some, we understand the bigger picture and consider the overall situation. We certainly won’t say anything, but who can guarantee there aren’t any bad actors in this meeting room?”

“And who can guarantee that no one here has already sided with the Northern Aristocracy, feeding them information?”

At this point, the Yan Family Patriarch flashed a grin at Elder Lu:

“For example, your Lu Family is highly suspicious.”

Well done. In addition to moral coercion, the Yan Family Patriarch employed another basic skill of aristocratic families: slander.

Naturally, the Lu Family Patriarch refused to accept such accusations.

“Absurd! How could I possibly be a Northerner…”

“Of course it’s possible. Mu Lin turned the tide for us in the south, reversing our fortunes and earning immense honor. Any reasonable person would know that such a great contributor deserves rewards, not to be left disheartened.”

“But you? Lecturing him at every turn, emphasizing hierarchy and status… With such an attitude, it’s hard not to suspect you’re deliberately pushing Mu Lin away.”

“Therefore, I believe you’ve long since sided with the Northern Aristocracy. Seeing your own people fail, you’re now lashing out in shame and anger, slandering a hero like Mu Lin…”

“Pfft…”

The Yan Family Patriarch’s baseless slander drew laughter from many.

Although they laughed, and everyone understood that Elder Lu was certainly not a spy or informant for the Northern Aristocracy as the Yan Family Patriarch claimed, they also realized one thing from the Yan Family Patriarch’s attitude:

Today’s events would inevitably spread and reach Mu Lin’s ears.

The ones spreading this would be either the Yan Family or the Chu Family, and they would do so without taking any blame.

After all, conveying this information to Mu Lin without leaving any trace would be no trouble for either the Yan or Chu Families.

As long as there were no traces or evidence, both the Yan and Chu Families could firmly insist that it was the Lu Family who did it, accusing them of being spies and informants.

What? You don’t believe it, saying there’s no evidence?

Then do you have any evidence that I tipped off Mu Lin?

This situation is a complete mess, even more tangled and unclear.

Moreover, these aristocratic families are collaborators of equal standing, not superiors and subordinates.

Without solid evidence, they cannot unite to judge others.

Having figured all this out, everyone could only turn their gaze to the Lu Family’s Clan Elder.

Clearly, their thinking was: since they couldn’t stop the matter from spreading, then whoever caused the trouble should be the one to solve it.

“Lu Yangyao, I don’t care what method you use or what price you pay. In any case, you absolutely cannot let the Northern Aristocracy win Mu Lin over.”

After one person spoke, the voices of others followed one after another.

“If Mu Lin defects to them and ruins the favorable situation we Southerners have built, neither you nor your Lu Family can withstand the wrath of the Southeast Region.”

“Handle this matter properly.”

“Don’t let us down.”

After each had their say, the final pressure came from the Lu Family’s rival, the Yan Family. Looking at him, the Yan Family Patriarch smiled slightly and said calmly, “Elder Lu, you and your Lu Family will just have to suffer a temporary loss. After all, the greater good must come first.”

“Bang!”

That final mocking remark was extremely stinging, making the anger in Lu Yangyao’s heart impossible to contain any longer.

Releasing his mana, he directly smashed the table before him.

However, the Yan Family Patriarch naturally showed not the slightest fear at this scene.

“Why be angry? ‘The greater good must come first’—wasn’t that always your principle? Now, I’m just letting you practice your own dao. Haha, hahaha…”

…

Mu Lin was still unaware of the Southern Aristocracy’s gathering.

At this moment, he was receiving representatives of the Northern Aristocracy.

What raised Mu Lin’s eyebrows was that the Northern Aristocracy attached great importance to this meeting. Besides the prodigies Luo Chen, Qing, and Iron Tower, a deputy legion commander at the Earth Master level had also come to Mu Lin’s courtyard, engaging in a gentle conversation with him.

They had no choice but to do so.

—The Southern Aristocracy had realized that Mu Lin could dominate not only in the youth division but was also a powerhouse in the young adult division.

The Northern Aristocracy’s insight was not lacking; naturally, they could also think of this.

After a brief discussion, they discovered that if Mu Lin continued to compete, the Southern situation wouldn’t just be slightly salvaged—they could actually overwhelm the Northern Aristocracy in momentum.

At that point, all their schemes would come to nothing.

And this Northern Aristocracy’s southward advance was not merely a contest of pride; it concerned the life and death of hundreds of millions and the rise and fall of numerous aristocratic families.

Therefore, the Northern Aristocracy took this meeting very seriously.

That Terrestrial Immortal-like deputy legion commander, upon meeting Mu Lin, directly bowed and apologized to him.

“I’m sorry, Young Master Mu. We were wrong before. Young Master Mu, you uphold great righteousness and have always shown us goodwill, yet we repaid kindness with enmity…”

To be honest, this scene shocked Mu Lin.

Although he agreed with this Deputy Legion Commander Lu’s words, he truly hadn’t expected such a sincere apology.

After all, the strong usually care greatly about face and rarely take the initiative to lower their heads, especially to juniors.

However, from the scene of him bowing, Mu Lin also confirmed one thing: the Northern situation was not good. Otherwise, this man would never have been so humble and submissive.

While pondering in his heart, Mu Lin quickly helped up the deputy legion commander named Lu Hao.

“Deputy Legion Commander Lu, you are too polite. We were merely serving different masters and had no choice but to act as we did.”

Mu Lin was arrogant, but not foolish, and he had no desire to completely alienate the Northern Aristocracy—he understood the principle that more friends meant more paths. Therefore, after the Northern Aristocracy backed down, he swiftly moved past the previous unpleasantness and, with Yan Yunyu’s assistance, began negotiations with them.

After some discussion, Mu Lin understood the purpose of the Northern Aristocracy’s visit: they did not want him to participate in the upcoming north-south confrontation. Clearly, the previous battle had left them fearful.

What left Mu Lin with a favorable impression was that their request for him to withdraw was not made empty-handed.

“I have heard that you, Mu Lin, have been searching for cultivation methods related to existence and nothingness. In our Northern Wastelands, there is the Great Snow Mountain Buddhist Sect.”

“Their sect-guarding cultivation method, Mahakala, is precisely related to existence and nothingness. I can contact the legion commander and the Buddhist master of Great Snow Mountain. If you are interested, you may enter Great Snow Mountain to study this cultivation method.”

At this point, Terrestrial Immortal Lu Hao spoke with a solemn expression: “But let me make this clear first: we can only offer you an opportunity to learn. Whether you can master it depends entirely on yourself.”

“Moreover, Mahakala is extremely powerful but also exceedingly difficult to learn. Cultivating it carries numerous dangers.”

“From time to time, prodigies go to Great Snow Mountain to study Mahakala. However, despite many learners, very few not only fail to master it but also remain unscathed.”

“Many more are swallowed by nothingness, vanishing from sight.”

“Whether to study it or not is entirely your decision.”

(End of Chapter)