Chapter 76 – Magical Artifact Rewards

“Buzz!”

While cultivating the Substitute Paper Figure, Mu Lin even activated the amplification ability of the Heaven-Burying White Paper Altar, increasing the injuries the paper figure could transfer from fifty percent to eighty percent.

Although this method consumed more mana, Mu Lin currently lacked no energy.

“Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!”

With eighty percent injury transfer, Mu Lin could stab himself without restraint.

Of course, doing so also wore out the Substitute Paper Figure quickly. But, as the saying goes, Mu Lin currently lacked no energy.

“I, Mu Lin, have never fought such a prosperous battle!”

With the assistance of Moonlight Jade Dew, Mu Lin’s cultivation progress skyrocketed several times over.

By dawn, Mu Lin calculated that if he continued consuming Moonlight Jade Dew, he would need only seven days for his mana cultivation to reach the Spirit Awakening Realm.

Similarly, in just seven days, his progress with the Substitute Paper Figure could also reach Mastery Perfection.

“Both in seven days? Which one should I cultivate first?”

After some thought, Mu Lin’s choice was… I want both.

“With Moonlight Jade Dew, I can cultivate my cultivation method at night and practice the Substitute Paper Figure during the day. That way, in seven days, both my mana cultivation and mystical art progress will advance!”

…

Every cultivation session allowed him to feel his own improvement. Honestly, such cultivation was highly addictive.

The excessively smooth cultivation even made Mu Lin forget Teacher Dongfang Ya’s instructions.

It wasn’t until she came looking for him that Mu Lin remembered he still hadn’t collected a magical artifact.

“Sorry.”

“Forget it.”

Upon discovering that Mu Lin had forgotten to collect the artifact due to his obsession with cultivation, Dongfang Ya wasn’t angry.

Leading Mu Lin, Chu Lingluo, and Ji Xue, Dongfang Ya headed toward Elder Qin’s courtyard.

Yes, Ji Xue had come too.

As a responsible teacher, Dongfang Ya didn’t only care for Mu Lin; she treated all her students fairly.

In fact, the reason Mu Lin received some preferential treatment was because his presence motivated the disciples in the formal class, benefiting their cultivation, which made Dongfang Ya view him differently.

…

Although the three of them walked together, Ji Xue’s demeanor was too aloof, making Chu Lingluo somewhat timid and hesitant to approach.

As for Mu Lin, having no immediate needs, he had no desire to warm up to a cold shoulder.

This scene gave Dongfang Ya a headache.

Halfway there, she couldn’t help but offer Ji Xue some advice.

“I know you want to develop as a sword cultivator and enjoy the straightforwardness of traveling alone, breaking through ten thousand methods with a single sword. But even sword cultivators, in their weaker stages, don’t mind teaming up.”

These words left Ji Xue silent for a few moments. Just as Mu Lin thought she wouldn’t respond, Ji Xue spoke.

“I’m not fixated on traveling alone.”

“Then it must be that you haven’t found suitable teammates… That makes sense. Previously, only Yan Yunyu, Jing Yeming, and Zhou Liang could keep up with your progress. Yan Yunyu is quite scheming, Jing Yeming refuses to be subordinate, and as for Zhou Liang, only half his mind is on cultivation.”

“With their personalities, they really aren’t suitable as your teammates. What do you think of Mu Lin? I think the three of you…”

“Teacher.”

Dongfang Ya’s suggestion was cut off before she could finish.

To her surprise, the one who interrupted her wasn’t Mu Lin or Ji Xue, as she had expected, but the seemingly very delicate Chu Lingluo.

Looking directly at Dongfang Ya, Chu Lingluo said with utmost seriousness:

“Teacher Dongfang, thank you for your kindness, but our team only needs me and Brother Mu.”

“…”

Ji Xue’s attitude left Dongfang Ya speechless.

She very much wanted to ask, “Are you sure the two of you are a ‘team’?”

But the girl’s earnest expression made Dongfang Ya unable to voice the question.

In the end, the matter was left unresolved.

…

After walking in silence for another three minutes, Mu Lin and the others finally arrived at Elder Qin’s Courtyard.

Then, through Dongfang Ya’s introduction, Mu Lin learned that the so-called Elder Qin was the Vice Headmaster of Anping Daoist Academy. At the same time, he was also an Artifact Forging Master.

This time, Elder Qin, in his capacity as Vice Headmaster, was rewarding Mu Lin and the others for their outstanding achievements.

The reward items were Magical Artifacts. Mu Lin and the others could freely choose one from Elder Qin’s practice works.

Of course, though called practice works, everything Elder Qin brought out was a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact.

This was already quite generous.

Chu Lingluo could let Mu Lin use a top-grade resource-type Magical Artifact because she came from a wealthy and influential family.

Ordinary rogue cultivators and Demon-Subduing Adepts without backing mostly used low-grade Magical Artifacts during the Spirit Awakening and Gushing Spring stages.

Only at the Spirit Pool Realm and Spirit Sea Realm could they afford Mid-Grade Magical Artifacts.

Typically, most Dao Palace Disciples, spending ten to twenty years, or even thirty to fifty years (with third or fourth-grade Spirit Roots), would at most reach the Spirit Sea Realm in terms of Cultivation Level.

Therefore, these weapons could not only be used in the Dao Palace but also after graduation, and even after joining the Demon Suppression Division.

In fact, because these were a Master’s practice works, these Mid-Grade Magical Artifacts would be the best items many Dao Palace Disciples possessed upon graduation, or even several years into their careers.

Of course, ordinary Dao Palace Disciples might want them, but they simply couldn’t get access to them.

As for Ji Xue, Chu Lingluo, and Mu Lin, none of them had a need for them.

In this case, Chu Lingluo and Ji Xue simply looked down on them.

As for Mu Lin, he could indeed use the Magical Artifacts here. Choosing one would make it the most valuable item in his possession.

But in the end, he did not choose one.

This wasn’t because Mu Lin had become arrogant or suddenly foolish.

He had other ideas.

Ever since learning he could choose a Magical Artifact, a thought had arisen in Mu Lin’s mind.

“Speaking of which, for me, rather than choosing a Magical Artifact, it would be better to observe, meditate, and then construct it in my Mindscape.”

“That way, when I want to use it, I can fold it out of paper and activate it with a breath.”

Of course, if he chose a Magical Artifact, Mu Lin could use it immediately upon receiving it, whereas meditating in the Mindscape was quite cumbersome.

Choosing this path meant Mu Lin would first have to spend a great deal of time on observation, meditation, and simulation.

After successfully meditating on it, he would also have to fold the Magical Artifact’s form out of paper in advance. Finally, when using it, he would have to expend Mana to activate it.

After activation, to unleash its power, Mu Lin would have to consume Mana again.

Viewed this way, choosing a Magical Artifact seemed more convenient.

And indeed, that was the case.

However, Mu Lin felt that by choosing a Magical Artifact, he could only select one.

But if he observed and simulated, he could choose several.

Moreover, he could even request higher-grade Magical Artifacts to observe and simulate.

After all, choosing a Magical Artifact meant taking it away, which would cause a loss for Elder Qin. Therefore, setting high demands would come across as excessively greedy.

However, after opting for visualization and simulation, Mu Lin’s situation shifted from “taking” to “lending it to me for a look.”

(End of Chapter)