Chapter 394 – Sigh… Can We Reconcile?

Beyond all expectations, the vengeful wraith capable of confronting Ji Zheng head-on, the rebellious allies, and the Candle Dragon that halted time by alternating day and night—three consecutive blows left Ji Zheng utterly dazed.

For the first time, he felt the crisis of his own impending demise.

And this drove him completely mad.

“I won’t die! I will never die!”

Roaring, he frantically stirred his mana, trying to break free from the Avici Chains.

Unfortunately, it was impossible.

This world ultimately operates on strength, and rage cannot solve everything.

No matter how fiercely he stirred his mana, Mu Lin’s Avici Chains remained as resilient and unshakable as ever.

This was entirely normal. After all, the Avici Chains themselves were of Spirit Tool quality… Well, that might not mean much—they were a broken Spirit Tool. If it were just them, a fully unleashed Ji Zheng might indeed have had a chance to break free.

But the Avici Chains weren’t the strong point; Mu Lin was.

Three hundred and sixty-five portions of Central Wuji Sha gave the Avici Chains an immovable and unchanging nature.

Divinity: Silence greatly weakened any attacks directed at the Avici Chains.

Then there was the Source Rune – Stabilize, which further reinforced the chains’ immovable and unchanging nature.

Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang, an ability that assimilated the Gang Qi of all things, further reduced all attacks on the Avici Chains.

Even part of Ji Zheng’s Main Body’s power was assimilated by the Primordial Chaos Yuan Gang, which was why he continued to weaken.

With all these factors combined, once bound by the Avici Chains, while Mu Lin might not immediately seal Ji Zheng’s mana, there was absolutely no way for him to break free from the chains’ restraint.

“Clatter, clatter…”

“Hold him! Pull the chains with all your might! Don’t let him break free!”

“Everyone, pull together! One, two, three, heave!”

After confirming the Avici Chains’ unparalleled resilience and near-indestructible nature, Mu Lin also handed one end of the chains to the Mortal Shedding Adepts, elite soldiers bewitched by the Other Shore Flower, and the Netherworld Soldiers Mu Lin had transferred over.

Grasping the chains, everyone pulled with all their strength from all directions, restraining Ji Zheng like a bound giant beast, leaving him unable to move.

“Hold on! Hold on with everything you’ve got!”

“All for the East Sea King!”

“Pull harder! Hold steady!”

The collective pulling gave the vengeful wraith the chance to attack freely, and this filled Ji Zheng’s eyes with despair and frustration.

“Bastards! You damned traitors! I’m being killed by you!”

In truth, a simple defeat wouldn’t have left Ji Zheng so frustrated.

But the thought that his own downfall was largely due to the army he had brought along made him feel as though he would die with his eyes wide open.

However, just as Ji Zheng had given up hope and was quietly awaiting death, a “hum” echoed as another powerful presence barged into Mu Lin’s Netherworld.

Ji Zheng’s reinforcements had arrived.

It must be said that Earth Immortals might be arrogant, but they aren’t complete fools.

They dared to split their forces because they truly had something to rely on.

One of these relies was their confidence in their own formidable strength, believing they could defeat Mu Lin. Even if they couldn’t, and Mu Lin managed to ambush them, they were confident they could hold out for a long time with their power.

As long as they could hold on, they would survive… Earth Immortals moved swiftly, and when attacked, as long as they sent out a distress signal, rescue would arrive quickly.

Therefore, their decision to split up was not entirely wrong.

Just like in this situation, Ji Zheng felt he had been saved.

In fact, Ji Zheng even thought the other party had arrived too slowly, especially when he discovered that the newcomer was not the Golden God Sect’s Sect Leader Jin Haoran, but rather the hidden strength awakened by the East Sea King’s Manor. His brow furrowed tightly.

“Uncle, why is it you? Why didn’t Jin Haoran come? He was clearly the closest to me!”

“I don’t know… and now is not the time to discuss this.”

“Hum!”

Seeing Ji Zheng in such a miserable state from the attacks, the Earth Immortal who had just arrived immediately threw out a heavy, ancient-looking cauldron.

“Boom!”

Once the cauldron appeared, it hovered above Ji Zheng’s head, releasing wisps of the profound yellow energy that Mu Lin was all too familiar with.

In the next moment, this profound yellow energy transformed into the mountains, rivers, and even the common people of the East Sea Kingdom.

Their power blocked Mu Lin’s attacks and also gave Mu Lin a sense of oppressive heaviness.

“A Spirit Tool, and a top-grade Spirit Tool related to national fortune at that.”

On one side, Mu Lin gazed at the ancient cauldron with intense desire.

On the other side, Ji Zheng, now shielded from various attacks by the Rivers and Mountains Cauldron, could finally catch his breath.

At the same time, his gaze toward Mu Lin turned vicious and ruthless.

“You’ve made me suffer such humiliation, Mu Lin. You’re dead!”

“I’ll skin you alive, pull out your bones, and ensure you never reincarnate!”

Clearly, the arrival of another Earth Immortal had given Ji Zheng immense confidence, making him believe he was back in control and held the advantage.

While hurling threats at Mu Lin, he also harbored deep resentment toward the Golden God Sect’s Sect Leader, Jin Haoran.

According to their agreement, when one party was attacked, the person closest was to provide support as quickly as possible.

Yet, after he sent out the distress signal, the Ji Family Elder, who was the third closest, arrived, while Jin Haoran was still nowhere to be seen. Under such circumstances, how could he not feel resentment?

Especially since he had nearly died just moments ago, with everything turning to nothing. This made his hatred for Jin Haoran grow even stronger.

“If you had come sooner, I wouldn’t have been in such mortal danger, nor would I have suffered such severe injuries and lost so much face… Jin Haoran, you deserve to die…”

Just as Ji Zheng was contemplating how to deal with Jin Haoran and how to torture Mu Lin to death, Mu Lin’s voice rang out from the other side.

The arrival of the second Earth Immortal had thwarted Mu Lin’s plan to kill Ji Zheng, but this did not cause Mu Lin’s expression to turn furious or agitated. His emotions remained calm.

In fact, within this calmness, there was even a hint of pleasure.

“Finally, everyone is here. I wonder if, after I kill all of you from the East Sea King’s Manor here, the Golden God Sect’s Sect Leader and that rogue cultivator would still dare to come after me.”

“???”

“Kill us? Mu Lin, have you lost sight of the situation? There are two of us Earth Immortals! Now, we are the stronger side!”

Ji Zheng was furious, and the Earth Immortal who had just arrived narrowed his eyes, his expression displeased.

“Hmph, after being sealed away for so long, it seems my reputation in this world has completely faded.”

At this point, the old man’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and a terrifying aura emanated from him—one even stronger than Ji Zheng’s.

Locking Mu Lin in place with his aura, the old man spoke with a grim expression:

“Young man, you were born late, so it’s normal for you not to know me. But no matter what, I am an Earth Immortal… To say such things, little brat, do you perhaps lack some respect for Earth Immortals?”

Feeling his aura and watching the Netherworld and the Cycle of Despair begin to tremble, Mu Lin’s expression grew serious.

“No, I have great respect for Earth Immortals. I am well aware that if we were in your Blessed Lands or Fortunate Lands, or if you were Terrestrial Immortals with your own Grotto-Heaven Secret Realms, I would be no match for you.”

“I also know very well that two Earth Immortals could easily overwhelm me in a direct confrontation.”

Here, Mu Lin not only showed no fear but even revealed a faint smile.

“But unfortunately, as strong as you are, you are completely countered by my abilities!”

“You shouldn’t have appeared before me.”

“And also, do you really think Jin Haoran didn’t come because he harbored ulterior motives or had other ideas?”

“Hmm?!”

Mu Lin’s words immediately put Ji Zheng and the other Clan Elder from the East Sea King’s Manor on high alert.

They sensed danger and did everything they could to activate their defenses.

Especially the later-arriving Earth Immortal, who, upon learning that Mu Lin had been waiting for him, immediately diverted a large portion of the Rivers and Mountains Cauldron’s power to hover above his head, intending to use its might to counter Mu Lin’s methods.

He did a lot, but unfortunately, it was all in vain.

Mu Lin’s attack targeted the very root of his existence—his lifespan.

“Hum!”

While speaking, Mu Lin’s Candle Dragon Avatar had already transformed, shifting from the human-faced, serpent-bodied Candle Dragon to the crowned King Yama.

The King Yama in the present world exuded an overwhelming aura of control over life and death.

Looking at the later-arriving Earth Immortal with the King Yama’s Eye, Mu Lin unsurprisingly discovered that while his aura was indeed powerful, it carried an unmistakable aura of decline that could not be concealed.

This was perfectly normal. Given the chance, most people would strive to break through, becoming Celestial Masters or True Lords with infinite lifespans, rather than being sealed away to serve as a family’s hidden asset.

Only those elderly cultivators nearing the end of their Mortal Lifespan could be persuaded to undergo sealing, contributing one last effort for their family.

To others, such cultivators were indeed formidable trump cards—unafraid of death, even willing to perish together with their enemies, they were like nuclear weapons, immensely intimidating. No Earth Immortal in their prime would willingly perish alongside such a declining elder.

Unfortunately, he faced Mu Lin—the King Yama, who controlled life, death, and lifespan.

For Mu Lin, those whose lifespans were nearing their limits posed no threat whatsoever. With just a gentle push, Mu Lin could send them tumbling into the abyss.

He thought this, and he acted accordingly.

“By the name of King Yama, I pronounce: Your Mortal Lifespan has ended. You shall die immediately!”

As these words fell, Mu Lin’s Talisman Brush also traced over the old man’s name in the Book of Life and Death and slashed through it with force.

“Swish!”

“Woo woo woo…”

The Divine Decree of death echoed throughout the Netherworld, sending a chill through everyone’s hearts.

Like the Netherworld and the Cycle of Despair, the Edict of Death was also a divine ability Mu Lin comprehended upon advancing to Mortal Shedding. In fact, it was the most core divine ability of the King Yama Dharma Image.

Through his mastery over life and death, by invoking this edict, Mu Lin could subject his enemies to a trial of death, stripping them of their Mortal Lifespan.

Of course, this ability could not be used arbitrarily.

Having comprehended it from the will of the Human Dao, Mu Lin was bound to uphold the order of the Human Dao.

Thus, this Mystical Art could only be used against those who were heinously evil or deserved death.

If it were a virtuous person, Mu Lin could still strip away their lifespan, but that would require him to exchange his own Mortal Lifespan for theirs.

“I won’t make such a losing trade.”

As Mu Lin pondered his ability, the Edict of Death had already taken effect on the aged Earth Immortal.

“?!”

“No!”

The moment the ability was activated, the Earth Immortal sensed his Mortal Lifespan, already nearing its limit, beginning to drain away.

This sight filled him with terror, and he instinctively burned his Mana, Qi and Blood, and even his Divine Soul power in an attempt to stave off death.

Unfortunately, it was all futile.

Stripping away Mortal Lifespan was the most fundamental law—the passage of life and time—and could not be halted by ordinary means.

Well, this was also related to the condition of the old Earth Immortal before him. No one wanted to die, and the higher one’s status and position, the more this held true.

This Earth Immortal was not only powerful but also hailed from the formidable East Sea King’s Manor. As such, when his Mortal Lifespan was nearing its end, he had employed every possible method to prolong his life.

Life-extending pills, precious Spirit Medicines, even symbiosis with a spirit tree… he had used every means available. Only when all efforts proved futile did he have his family seal him away.

In this state, he was already completely drained, merely clinging to his last breath.

Mu Lin’s judgment extinguished that final breath.

Having exhausted everything, he had no remaining reserves, and thus he was utterly powerless to resist the breath of death. Unsurprisingly, he perished.

With a single death sentence from Mu Lin, he died effortlessly.

“???”

His death, and such an effortless one at that, completely caught Ji Zheng off guard.

For a full three breaths after his death, Ji Zheng remained unresponsive.

“Dead?”

“How could you die?”

“How could you just die like that?”

“Get up!”

Ji Zheng simply could not accept the outcome before him, nor could he bear it.

After all, the death of this Earth Immortal also meant that Ji Zheng had no reinforcements in the short term, and more importantly, it meant that he, too, was about to die.

However, just as Mu Lin had said earlier, no one wanted to die, especially those of higher status.

Thus, Ji Zheng, filled with fear, was naturally furious.

Then, desperate to survive, he even offered Mu Lin a humble smile.

“Hey, can we make peace?”

(End of Chapter)