Chapter 431 – Time Is Sovereign, Space Is King

Around Flower Fairy Lake, at this moment, the corpses of locusts lay like snowflakes, blanketing the earth, lakes, and sky as far as the eye could see.

This was an extremely eerie sight, yet also a breathtaking one.

Especially when considering that the locusts, which had been terrifyingly ferocious just moments ago, had all perished within the span of three breaths.

So swift was their demise that Zhu Yan, Fang Niu, and the other members of the Agricultural Militia, who had been fighting the locusts, were caught off guard.

“They… they just died like that?”

“How is that possible…”

“Who killed them…”

As time passed, the members of the Agricultural Militia gradually snapped out of their shock, and clamorous discussions erupted around them.

First came the cheers.

“They’re dead… these filthy insects, they should have died long ago. It’s wonderful—Azure Heaven has eyes, delivering the punishment they deserved.”

“Woo… brother, your vengeance has been avenged…”

“Hahaha, we survived! I survived!”

Beyond rejoicing over the enemy’s annihilation, the members of the Agricultural Militia also debated who had managed to eradicate billions of locusts in such a short time, and by what means.

Some speculated that Zhang Hemiao had intervened, while others guessed that their army commander, Celestial Master Hetian, had taken pity and lent a hand.

It was no wonder they thought this way—the sight of billions of locusts being wiped out in three seconds was too terrifying, too awe-inspiring. Apart from a Celestial Master, they couldn’t imagine anyone else capable of such a feat.

Even a Celestial Master left them somewhat doubtful.

“Is our army commander really that powerful?”

“With such a forceful strike, has Celestial Master Hetian’s injury healed?”

While ordinary people were stunned, Zhu Yan and Fang Niu had personally witnessed Mu Lin disappearing into the Spirit Vein.

Moreover, before leaving, Mu Lin had explicitly stated that he would handle the billions of locusts.

Thus, Fang Niu and Zhu Yan knew clearly that it was not their army commander but Mu Lin who had annihilated the locusts.

Yet, even knowing this, their expressions remained filled with awe.

Fang Niu, in particular, instinctively tugged at Zhu Yan’s sleeve and asked nervously, “Is Lord Mu Lin really that powerful? Also, was my attitude just now acceptable? I didn’t offend Lord Mu Lin, did I?”

“…”

Fang Niu’s timidity left Zhu Yan speechless, but he didn’t mock him—the scene before them was equally unbelievable to him.

He knew Mu Lin was strong.

Upon arriving in Tianshi City, Mu Lin had resolved the Parasitic Worm crisis and subsequently created two special legions: the Watchers and the Avenging Attendants.

But Mu Lin’s strength reaching such heights still exceeded his imagination.

Hearing his friend Fang Niu’s question, he shrugged and said, “Don’t ask me. This is also my first time accompanying Lord Mu Lin on an expedition… And don’t worry, Lord Mu Lin isn’t that petty. He won’t punish you for mere words.”

As they whispered among themselves, Mu Lin emerged from the Netherworld.

Glancing at the lingering locusts in the sky, Mu Lin raised his hand and summoned Fang Niu and Zhu Yan.

“My lord, what are your orders?”

Responding to Mu Lin’s call, Zhu Yan and Fang Niu practically sprinted to his side.

Their reverent attitude left Mu Lin somewhat exasperated.

Shaking his head without dwelling on these matters, Mu Lin pointed at the locusts in the distance and said, “Those remaining insects have been subdued by me. In a moment, they will devour all the corpses of the dead locusts. Don’t stop them or attack them.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ll take good care of your pets.”

“They’re not pets, they’re subordinates… Never mind, you all carry on. I need to go assist at other battlefields.”

With that, Mu Lin vanished once again from before Fang Niu and Zhu Yan.

However, the disappearing Mu Lin did not head directly to the other besieged points of the Agricultural Militia—this was merely one of Mu Lin’s Clones.

His other Clones had long since rushed toward the other garrison points. Some had even already engaged in battle with the locusts.

Naturally, the outcome of the battles was overwhelmingly in Mu Lin’s favor.

The core divine abilities he awakened upon advancing to Mortal Shedding—Netherworld and Cycle of Despair—were simply too powerful.

For low-level Cultivators, they were practically insurmountable.

Once the Cycle of Despair was activated, the Locust Mother—or rather, the Moth Mother, the Spider Mother—protected at the very core would have their Soul Reflections dragged into the Cycle of Despair.

Although their Soul Reflections entered the Netherworld, they also gained the opportunity to attack Mu Lin. Yet, without their physical bodies and with only their souls remaining, how could they possibly be a match for Mu Lin, the King Yama?

Manipulating souls was his specialty.

Once entangled by the Avici Chains and scorched by the Flame of Retribution, most Soul Reflections instantly lost their strength.

“Among the myriad laws, time reigns supreme, and space rules as king. This saying truly holds weight.”

At this moment, Mu Lin thought of Tobi from Naruto, who was once a dead-last but, upon awakening the Sharingan, instantly gained the strength to confront his own master.

This was all thanks to Kamui’s Etherealization.

However, his Kamui required physical contact with the enemy to pull them into the Kamui dimension. In contrast, Mu Lin’s Netherworld only needed to be expanded, and the enemy’s Soul Reflection would directly appear within the Netherworld.

“Cheating, so cheating… Oh, this ability was awakened by me. Never mind then.”

With the Netherworld, Mu Lin was like an unstoppable force, slaughtering his way through.

—Wherever he went, the souls of the Insect Mothers in that area would be utterly incinerated by the Flame of Retribution amidst their agonized wails.

Without the Insect Mothers to command and unite them, the remaining insects’ lives were like candles flickering in the wind—a mere breath from Mu Lin could extinguish them.

Thus, as he traveled, Mu Lin exterminated countless insects and garnered endless gratitude and admiration.

“Victory!”

“Lord Mu Lin, victory!”

“So strong, hahaha! We have Lord Mu Lin now! We have the King Yama’s protection!”

Ever since Celestial Master Hetian was injured, the Agricultural Militia had suffered consecutive defeats, losing many regions.

This had long suppressed the spirits of the Agricultural Militia soldiers.

Now, with Mu Lin’s continuous victories as he advanced, his overwhelming success was like a sun breaking through the heavy pressure weighing on the hearts of the Agricultural Militia.

Suddenly relieved, they naturally cheered and rejoiced, feeling immense gratitude toward Mu Lin.

However, while the Agricultural Militia rejoiced, the insects attacking Mu Lin and his forces were in great distress.

In the end, those seemingly fearless insects actually began to flee and retreat on their own.

The Insect Apostle could do nothing about it. He had already learned that Mu Lin was slaughtering his offspring in large numbers and had even passed the warning to other insect mothers, urging them to stay vigilant.

But Mu Lin was striking from the Netherworld, a completely different dimension. Their vigilance was utterly useless.

The power of time and space was simply that incomprehensible—a force that transcended all others.

Left with no choice, the Insect Apostle could only retreat.

However, while he was the one who had started the war, retreating was not so easy for him.

“Come and go as you please? Do you think this is a public restroom? Chase… someone, go notify Deputy Army Commander Zhang Hemiao and Sheng Cang. Tell them I’ve already repelled the enemy and am preparing to pursue. Have them join me.”

Mu Lin remained cautious. Although he wanted to pursue the enemy and expand the territory of the Agricultural Militia, for the sake of safety, he decided to wait for Zhang Hemiao and Sheng Cang to join him.

At that moment, Zhang Hemiao and Sheng Cang were still in Tianshi City.

The Insect Apostle had launched attacks in many places. To ensure safety, the two of them had not taken the initiative to attack but instead remained as reserve forces, ready to provide support at any moment.

However, the waiting period was always the most agonizing.

Glancing at the sky in the distance and thinking of her disciples being besieged by swarms of insects, Zhang Hemiao, feeling somewhat anxious, couldn’t help but ask Sheng Cang:

“Do you think Mu Lin, with reinforcements, can hold those places?”

Compared to Zhang Hemiao, Sheng Cang was indeed more composed.

After a moment of thought, he calmly replied: “Holding all of them will be difficult, but with Mu Lin’s abilities, holding some of them shouldn’t be a problem. The fact that he hasn’t called for reinforcements until now is already good news…”

“Ding!!”

Before Earth Immortal Sheng Cang could finish speaking, an urgent communication signal rang out in the Agricultural Militia’s training hall.

The sound made both of them stand up immediately, their expressions turning grim.

This time, even Sheng Cang couldn’t stay calm.

It was no wonder he felt this way. In Sheng Cang’s view, Mu Lin, having taken reinforcements, must have been engaged in fierce combat with the overwhelming insect swarms.

Under such circumstances, no news was good news. Any news was likely a call for reinforcements.

As for victory, Sheng Cang… didn’t dare to hope for it, and the timing felt off.

‘Mu Lin has only been there for a short time, and insect swarms are usually vast and seemingly endless. In such a short span, even if the insects stood still and let him kill them, he’d struggle to wipe them all out… So, this can’t possibly be a victory report—it must be a call for reinforcements.’

Thinking this, Sheng Cang’s expression grew even grimmer, and Zhang Hemiao felt the same.

“If he’s already calling for reinforcements in such a short time, the enemy’s attack must be extremely fierce. I hope Mu Lin can hold on and that the Agricultural Militia doesn’t suffer too many losses. We… can’t afford heavy casualties anymore.”

(End of Chapter)