Chapter 45 – Painting and Paper Crafting Score Again! Cross-Realm Cursing

The Paper Figure Curse has quite a high ceiling and can be combined with numerous spells, which is why this spell has become a mandatory skill for Paper Artisans.

However, Mu Lin soon discovered a troublesome issue. For someone like him, who possessed a Proficiency Panel, the most convenient and fastest way to cultivate Mystical Arts was through practical application.

Yet, at the moment, there were no enemies for Mu Lin to curse.

“Qi Xiu could be considered an enemy, but if I rashly attack him, the Dao Palace will intervene. If discovered, expulsion would be the least of my worries. Moreover, since I would be the instigator, Teacher Dongfang Ya would be unlikely to defend me—she might even punish me instead.”

After pondering fruitlessly for a target, Mu Lin gritted his teeth and had his Substitute Paper Figure curse—himself.

“Although small animals can be used for practice, cursing animals ultimately yields less proficiency than cursing humans!”

“Besides, at lower levels, the curse’s lethality isn’t high. At the first realm, entry-level, it only causes the target to experience phantom pain. So, practicing on myself won’t cause any harm!”

Once decided, the decisive Mu Lin immediately took out his Paper Figure, drew a few drops of blood, and wrote his True Name and even his birthdate on the figure.

After personally completing all the preparations, Mu Lin handed the Paper Figure to his substitute, instructing it to curse him. Meanwhile, his Main Body closed its eyes, ready to begin cultivation…

“Ah!”

Before cultivation could even start, a sharp pain shot through Mu Lin’s arm.

Opening his eyes, Mu Lin was bewildered to find a gash on his arm, bleeding.

“???”

“What the hell?”

The sudden injury left Mu Lin puzzled.

At first, he thought he had been attacked by someone else.

But after glancing around, he noticed most people were busy with their own cultivation. Those who weren’t were gathered around Yan Yunyu and Chu Lingluo, trying to win their favor, with hardly anyone paying attention to him.

“If it wasn’t an attack from others, then how did I get injured… Huh?”

Mid-thought, Mu Lin saw his Substitute Paper Figure slash the Paper Figure inscribed with his True Name, and another wound appeared on his thigh.

This scene instantly made Mu Lin realize who was attacking him.

Yet, it also deepened his confusion.

“Why? Didn’t Grandpa tell me several times that entry-level Paper Figures don’t have real attack power—they only cause phantom pain?”

“And even then, it requires half a day of nurturing with Mana to make an enemy feel phantom pain for a short while?”

Cursing wasn’t so straightforward.

Mu Lin’s Substitute Paper Figure was formed from the convergence of his essence, energy, and spirit. During its creation, Mu Lin offered no resistance, cooperating fully.

Moreover, the Substitute Paper Figure still resided within Mu Lin’s body.

Yet, despite all these advantages, the connection between Mu Lin and his Substitute Paper Figure, even at the second realm of proficiency, was only thirty percent.

In contrast, the Paper Figure Curse was merely at the entry level, and the connection between the Paper Figure as its vessel and Mu Lin relied solely on his True Name, birthdate, and a bit of his essence-blood.

With such a weak link, under normal circumstances, it would be impressive if even one-tenth of the injuries inflicted on the Paper Figure transferred to Mu Lin. This was why the Paper Figure Curse initially only caused phantom pain.

But now, common sense had been shattered.

“What on earth is the reason?”

Staring at the substitute and the paper figure in its hands, Mu Lin observed for a long while before slowly forming some conjectures.

“Could this be the result of Paper Crafting, Painting, and Calligraphy?”

As is widely known, a curse is a Mystical Art that harms an enemy through a medium.

The closer the connection between the medium and the enemy, the more curse power can be transmitted.

Therefore, most curses require the enemy’s True Name, birth date and time, or essence blood. At the very least, some commonly used clothing or hair is needed… All these actions are meant to deepen the connection between the medium and the cursed person.

It is also known that in this world, appearance and True Name possess power. Master Grade Paper Crafting techniques can perfectly recreate the enemy’s “form.”

Painting, on the other hand, can capture the enemy’s “spirit.”

Calligraphy contains intent, and using it to write the True Name or birth date and time also yields some miraculous effects.

Earlier, when Mu Lin cursed himself, he employed Paper Crafting, Painting, and Calligraphy all at once, rendering the paper figure used for the curse vividly lifelike, complete in both form and spirit.

This paper figure inherently shared a mysterious connection with Mu Lin.

“…”

Thinking this far, Mu Lin fell silent.

He truly hadn’t expected that Paper Crafting, Painting, and Calligraphy could synergize with Curse Art—and to such a remarkable effect.

“So, all of this is my own doing?”

After understanding everything, Mu Lin felt an urge to cover his face.

Following the embarrassment, what remained in his heart was joy.

Using abilities like Paper Crafting, Painting, and Calligraphy to curse himself with full effort was indeed a blunder.

But if used to curse an enemy, it would be a lethal move.

“Now, the Paper Figure Curse has just been introduced. Combined with techniques like Paper Crafting and Painting, it can already inflict wounds on my body. What if the Paper Figure Curse is raised to Level 2 proficiency or Level 3 expertise?”

“With such formidable curse power, paired with a vividly lifelike paper figure complete in form and spirit, could I—curse an enemy beyond my own grade!”

After some thought, Mu Lin believed it was feasible.

And this made him even more eager for the assessment in a few days.

…

Having found the cause and realizing he hadn’t been sabotaged, Mu Lin immediately ordered the substitute to continue cursing him.

Another Substitute Paper Figure was commanded by Mu Lin to fold paper.

Meanwhile, Mu Lin’s Main Body endured the pain, drew upon the Sky Burial Power, and then, with the Arrogance Heart Lamp activated, resisted the Sky Burial Power.

Thus, time passed slowly as Mu Lin cultivated. Soon, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn had elapsed.

During this lengthy period, the Substitute Paper Figure practicing the Paper Figure Curse Art was the first to falter, dispersing.

But unlike before, when its Mana was exhausted, it did not vanish into thin air. The Divine Soul Mu Lin had separated returned to his Main Body, carrying the training experience of the Paper Figure Curse Art.

“Hmm…”

A massive influx of information rushed into his mind, causing Mu Lin’s brow to furrow tightly.

This was one of the hidden dangers of cultivation through substitutes. Abruptly receiving a large amount of information could potentially overwhelm Mu Lin, turning him into an idiot or even causing brain death.

What Mu Lin didn’t know whether to feel relieved or sorrowful about was that, at present, he wasn’t yet qualified to face such consequences.

“Having thousands of clones cultivate simultaneously and then return all at once—such a massive influx of information is what risks causing brain death. As for me, I can only split into two clones. Even if they return together, it would at most give me a headache.”

With a bitter smile, Mu Lin checked the proficiency level of his Paper Figure Curse Art.

He then discovered that, thanks to his determined practice, the proficiency of this Cultivation Method had already progressed nearly halfway in just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

【Paper Figure Curse, First Realm: Beginner (49/101)】

“One or two more attempts, and the Paper Figure Curse will advance…”

(End of Chapter)