Chapter 414 – Everything Ends: The Southern Aristocracy Wants to Keep Mu Lin

Through this method, the first Earth Immortal under his command was created, something Mu Lin had not anticipated.

Afterward, the enthusiastic Mu Lin repeatedly used the bodies of other demonic monsters in an attempt to create some powerful subordinates.

For example, he fused Ao Yi’s True Dragon body with the Black River Water that dissolves everything, hoping to test whether a dead True Dragon body could give rise to new consciousness and perfectly control the Black River Water.

—Although Mu Lin could now drive the Black River Water using the Sky-Scraping Spell – Hebo, each time he used it, the Black River Water would also corrode him in return. While he avoided contamination of his main body by using Substitute Paper Figures, this meant that every use of the Black River Water cost him one Substitute Paper Figure.

What was even harder for him to bear was his shallow control over the Black River Water, which also meant that during battles, some Earth Masters or Celestial Masters specializing in water techniques could also manipulate the Black River Water in reverse, posing a threat to Mu Lin.

Thus, he urgently wanted to create a subordinate capable of perfectly controlling the Black River Water.

Unfortunately, his idea was good, but it did not succeed.

The Golden Crow’s talent was unique even among the Prodigies of the demonic monsters.

Out of dozens of dead demonic monster bodies, only it managed to reawaken consciousness.

Moreover, Mu Lin also discovered that the Golden Crow body’s limit was the Earth Immortal level.

—Although the resentment in this world was abundant, and gathering it all could theoretically create beings not just at the Celestial Master level but even True Lords or Deities, advancing required more than mere quantity—it also demanded quality and rank.

When the Golden Crow died, due to its innate divinity, its rank was one level higher than its cultivation realm, precisely at the Earth Immortal level.

Thus, it could absorb vast amounts of the Flame of Retribution and become an Earth Immortal, but its future was limited to…

“No, its limit is not Earth Immortal… Although its consciousness was derived from a dead body, the Vengeful Wraith Golden Crow has truly come back to life. And since it is a living being, it can grow again.”

Sensing the Vengeful Wraith Golden Crow’s hatred, fear, and… attachment toward him, Mu Lin decided to nurture it carefully.

“Its upper limit is Deity… This is likely to become my first great general.”

…

In Water Moon City, Mu Lin was tallying the gains from this battle, unaware that while he subdued the Chongming Bird and killed Golden Crow Haoyang, a fierce battle had erupted high in the distant sky because of him.

Most young prodigies have guardians.

Just as Ao Yi was followed by Ao Huan, Golden Crow Haoyang and the Chongming Bird also had powerful guardians behind them.

Even Nine-Tailed Fox Demon Tu Su was watched over by an Elder from her clan.

When Mu Lin attacked these prodigies, their guardians naturally did not stand idly by.

Although, due to fear of the Human Race’s power, they could not directly attack Mu Lin or bully him as a senior, it was justifiable for them to intervene to save their charges.

However, in the end, none of them made a move. This was not because the Foreign Races’ powerhouses had changed their nature—it was because they did attempt to intervene but were stopped by the Human Race’s powerhouses.

At that moment, the guardian behind Golden Crow Haoyang, filled with shock and fury, angrily shouted toward an old man resembling a farmer within the Gang Wind Layer.

“Zhang Hetian, by allowing Mu Lin to kill Haoyang, are you certain you wish to wage war against our Southern Border Demon Clan?”

These words made the old Celestial Master, who resembled a farmer, cough violently.

“Cough, cough… Isn’t it you who desires war? I have not laid a hand on your juniors. On the contrary, it is you who are bullying the weak.”

Indeed, the guardian of Golden Crow Haoyang was somewhat in the wrong on this matter, but it soon snorted coldly and said:

“…I had no intention of killing Mu Lin, only of rescuing Haoyang…”

It was trying to justify itself, but before it could finish, the old Celestial Master named Zhang Hetian let out a disdainful laugh.

“Hah.”

“Who gave you the audacity to think that your Prodigy can kill Mu Lin, while our race’s Prodigy must spare your offspring? In your eyes, is our Human Race so cowardly and easy to bully?”

“Cough, cough…”

As he spoke, Zhang Hetian gasped for breath incessantly, like an old man on the brink of death.

Yet, despite this, he showed not the slightest concern in the face of the pressure from over a dozen Demon Race guardians.

“Remember one thing: since you dared to involve yourselves in this matter, be prepared for fate to decide life and death, and fortune to rest in heaven’s hands. Our Human Race will not indulge you!”

Zhang Hetian spoke these words resolutely, without a hint of hesitation.

This caused the guardians to widen their eyes in anger—after all, most guardians of Prodigies were close to them.

Thus, once those Prodigies matured, the guardians would also benefit, which was why they devoted themselves wholeheartedly.

But now, all of that was gone.

Though they were furious, and Zhang Hetian appeared to be on the verge of death, in the end, none dared to confront him directly. They merely uttered a few threats before leaving with darkened expressions.

“Old Ghost Zhang, we will remember this. It will not end easily.”

“Hmph, let’s see how much longer you can live!”

“Killing our race’s Prodigy—after you die, not only will Mu Lin pay the price, but your clansmen and disciples will also meet a miserable end.”

Those departing hurled curses at Zhang Hetian incessantly.

Yet the ailing Zhang Hetian paid no mind to any of these words.

  While Zhang Hetian disregarded the words of others, he could not ignore the remarks of the next person and had to respond.

“Brother Hetian, is it truly wise to offend so many factions for the sake of a reckless youth? Moreover, your health is not well. How long do you think you can protect him?”

The speaker had a distinguished appearance and an imposing aura.

Clearly, this was a Dragon Lord.

Hearing its words, Zhang Hetian replied with grave seriousness:

“It is precisely because my health is failing that I must act this way.”

“I will inevitably die, but before I depart, I must leave some assurance for those I care about.”

“That lad Mu Lin is the successor I have chosen. I hope that after my death, he can shield my disciples and the local villagers from wind and rain.”

As he spoke, Zhang Hetian’s expression grew even colder and sharper.

“He is of great importance to me, my only hope. Therefore, if anyone dares to bully and kill him, even at the cost of my life, I will seek justice for him.”

These words caused the Dragon Lord to frown.

“You have such high expectations for him.”

“Hahaha…” The Dragon Lord’s words sent Zhang Hetian into a fit of wild laughter. “You think Mu Lin can’t become a powerhouse?”

“…”

That retort left the Dragon Lord somewhat speechless.

Even if it disliked Mu Lin, it couldn’t in good conscience claim that Mu Lin was incapable of becoming a Celestial Master.

This wasn’t just underestimation—it would be outright blindness.

It remained silent, but Zhang Hetian did not. With a relaxed smile, he said:

“Heh, truth be told, this old man’s body is already half in the grave. If I can trade my life for someone of the same rank to join me in the Underworld in my final moments, that would be a huge bargain.”

“…”

These words made the Dragon Lord of the Dragon Palace even more reluctant to speak.

No one dared to offend an old Celestial Master who was determined to die and take others with him.

…

Mu Lin was unaware of the events high above, but soon, he received a box delivered by the East Sea King and saw Ji Yu’s head with its unseeing eyes.

At the same time, Mu Lin also heard the news that the Dragon Palace Aquatic Tribe had withdrawn its bounty.

These two matters were not only known to Mu Lin but also to the Human Race and other Foreign Races.

Upon hearing of this, countless people were astonished.

“He truly managed to intimidate an entire kingdom single-handedly.”

“Not just one kingdom—he also forced the Dragon Palace Aquatic Tribe to back down and suppressed countless prodigies of the Demon Race and the demonic path… Good heavens, is this really something one person can accomplish?”

“That’s no ordinary person. He’s a monster, a once-in-ten-thousand-years freak… Hey, Tian Wei, where are you going?”

“I’m going to see if Mu Lin still needs any subordinates…”

Due to the series of astonishing feats Mu Lin had accomplished, some marveled, while others sighed.

Countless others sought to curry favor with or get closer to Mu Lin.

However, Mu Lin paid no attention to any of this.

After completing his revenge and ensuring that no one in the world would dare look down on him again, Mu Lin returned to Yuzhou City in the Southeast Region.

Yet, even after returning to Yuzhou City, Mu Lin found no real peace.

Too many people wanted to see him—the Yan Family, the Chu Family… all seeking to apologize and make amends.

They hadn’t actually done anything wrong, but the talent Mu Lin had displayed was so overwhelming that it left the Yan-Chu Families utterly terrified.

This meant that when Mu Lin clashed with the East Sea King, their lack of full support was seen as a mistake.

Aside from these two families, representatives from the Northern Aristocracy and the Great Spirit Imperial Dynasty also came to see Mu Lin.

They hoped Mu Lin would go north or to the central imperial court, offering him sky-high terms in return.

The envoy from the Great Spirit Imperial Dynasty even explicitly told Mu Lin that as long as he served the central court, he could choose any princess from the imperial palace.

“Young Master Mu, the princesses of our dynasty admire heroes the most. When your deeds reached the palace, several princesses were filled with admiration…”

After these two groups, many from the Southern Aristocracy also arrived, hoping Mu Lin would remain in the south.

As time passed, turmoil in this world grew increasingly frequent, and apocalyptic scenes of disaster became more and more common.

At such a critical juncture, neither the North-South Clans nor the Great Spirit Imperial Dynasty harbored any doubt about the impending Doomsday Calamity.

Such a calamity could overthrow dynasties and wipe out Aristocratic Families.

Faced with such a terrifying disaster, both the imperial family and the Noble Clans of the south felt a profound sense of crisis.

Therefore, they hoped their region had a strong individual like Mu Lin.

That way, even if disaster struck, they would have assistance and could endure.

Unfortunately, they wanted Mu Lin to stay, but by the time they made their move, it was already too late.

(End of Chapter)