Chapter 77 – High-Quality Artifacts: Ink Jiao Umbrella and Yin-Gathering Coffin

“Just looking, I could even choose a Mystic Treasure, a tier higher than a Magical Artifact…”

“Better not. Although my Divine Soul power is stronger than my Mana, I probably can’t construct a Mystic Treasure that requires the level of a Mortal Shedding Adept to use.”

“Moreover, while it’s called ‘looking,’ to fully meditate and construct it in my Mindscape, I need to frequently activate the treasure, understand all its abilities, and carefully observe its power. Consequently, my situation shifts from ‘lend it to me to look at’ to ‘lend it to me to use.’ Although, in the end, I would still return the artifact to its original owner, borrowing a Mystic Treasure still seems a bit excessive.”

“However, for Magical Artifacts, Elder Qin probably wouldn’t mind. I could borrow several.”

In fact, Mu Lin’s plan succeeded.

“Headmaster Qin, I wonder if I could exchange my chance to choose a Magical Artifact for borrowing a few high-grade ones. I really like the artifacts you forge—they are extremely beautiful, and I’d like to see more.”

After some flattery, Elder Qin agreed to Mu Lin’s proposal.

What made Mu Lin even happier was that because he had a good relationship with Dongfang Ya, he mentioned this to Teacher Dongfang Ya in advance. With her mediating, not only did Elder Qin readily agree, but he also gave Teacher Dongfang Ya some face by changing Mu Lin’s reward from choosing one mid-grade Magical Artifact to borrowing three high-grade Magical Artifacts or borrowing one top-grade Artifact.

Then, Mu Lin found himself in a dilemma.

He didn’t know whether to choose three high-grade Magical Artifacts or one top-grade Artifact.

The former would give Mu Lin more varied methods, while the latter would offer a higher ceiling.

In the end, Mu Lin decided to take both.

The equipment meticulously crafted by Elder Qin might catch Chu Lingluo’s eye, but his casual practice pieces didn’t interest her.

Therefore, while Mu Lin was struggling with his decision, she lent her reward slot to him.

Of course, it was only a temporary loan.

However, Mu Lin had already decided that once he grew stronger in the future, he would repay Chu Lingluo with a high-grade… no, a top-grade Artifact.

Although he could borrow both high-grade and top-grade Artifacts, Mu Lin still proceeded with caution in his next choices.

However, upon entering Elder Qin’s treasure room, Mu Lin frowned as he realized that the number of Magical Artifacts he could actually choose from was quite limited.

This wasn’t because Elder Qin was stingy and didn’t bring out the good stuff, but rather due to Mu Lin’s own limitations.

Although he could construct and solidify Magical Artifacts in his Mindscape through visualization, then use Paper Folding to give them form, Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi to provide energy, and finally the visualized artifact’s Mindscape to imbue them with spirit, not every Magical Artifact could be simulated flawlessly—his Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi wasn’t strong enough yet.

As is well known, Mana has attributes.

Mana of different attributes excels in different areas.

For example, Mu Lin’s Black Mist Magical Power is most adept at water-based Mystical Arts. If he forcibly used this power to cast fire-based Spells, it would be generous to say they could achieve thirty percent of their potential power.

Similarly, Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi also has its own attributes.

Condensed from Moonlight Power, its attribute is Yin.

Because its circulation path follows a human form and it absorbs Mu Lin’s vital essence during circulation—Yin + human essence—this makes Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi particularly skilled at imbuing inanimate objects with vitality.

In addition, the presence of Sky Burial Power and the ominous legacy endow Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi with some eerie and sinister characteristics.

“The fact that its circulation path resembles a human form likely holds hidden secrets, which is probably why Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi carries a trace of ominousness.”

Mu Lin hadn’t forgotten that although his Taiyin Life-Nurturing Qi was white, it didn’t evoke the purity of moonlight but rather resembled the pale, cold whiteness of skin after death.

Due to this characteristic inclination, the Magical Artifact Mu Lin chose should ideally be of yin attribute, infused with some ominous aura, so that he could better simulate the artifact’s power.

However, Elder Qin was a orthodox Artifact Forging Master, and most of the Magical Artifacts he forged were elemental artifacts commonly used by ordinary people.

Yin attribute, coupled with an ominous aura—such artifacts were clearly not meant for normal Qi Refiners, so Elder Qin didn’t craft many of them.

To Mu Lin’s relief, as an Artifact Forging Master, Elder Qin had still forged a few yin-attribute Magical Artifacts to broaden his expertise.

At the same time, to improve his forging skills, he had also purchased some artifacts from ruins and tombs. As a result, although Mu Lin’s choices weren’t abundant, they still existed.

After careful consideration, Mu Lin finally selected three high-grade Magical Artifacts.

These were a carriage, an umbrella, and a coffin.

The umbrella was the Ink Jiao Umbrella, its frame made from the bones of a Jiao Dragon, imbued with the Resentment of the Jiao Dragon.

Bones, Resentment, and the yin and water attributes that aligned with Mu Lin made it a perfect fit, so he chose it.

As for its ability, once opened, the umbrella would summon a torrential downpour.

This could create a favorable combat environment for Mu Lin. Moreover, since the Ink Jiao Umbrella was made from Jiao Dragon bones, and summoning wind and rain was an innate talent of the Jiao Dragon race, using the umbrella to call forth heavy rain consumed extremely little energy.

The coffin was the Yin-Gathering Coffin, which could barely be considered a cultivation Magical Artifact.

Buried underground, it could automatically gather the surrounding yin energy. Driven by yin energy, it could also travel underground.

If someone were inside the coffin, they could use the yin energy to cultivate and recover from injuries.

Additionally, if someone were to ritually refine a Zombie and place it inside the coffin, the Zombie would gradually grow stronger.

When Mu Lin chose the coffin, Elder Qin offered some advice.

“You’d better use this Yin-Gathering Coffin in conjunction with feng shui techniques. If you can find some yin-sha locations, the yin energy gathered by the coffin will have remarkable effects.”

Mu Lin chose this coffin not only for his own use but also for his Paper Figures.

By placing folded Paper Figures inside the coffin and burying it underground, the gathered yin energy would imbue the Paper Figures with a trace of yin energy.

This yin energy would strengthen Mu Lin’s Paper Figures and also reduce some of his energy consumption.

At the same time, Mu Lin’s Paper Figures would soon no longer be entirely disposable.

After learning Talismans and Arrays, he would use special paper to create some high-grade, enhanced Paper Figures.

By then, these Paper Figures would become Mu Lin’s trump cards.

With the Yin-Gathering Coffin, Mu Lin’s ace Paper Figures would be further enhanced.

Apart from the Ink Jiao Umbrella and the Yin-Gathering Coffin, the third high-grade Magical Artifact chosen by Mu Lin was called the Yin-Spirit Carriage. It was also the most unique among the three Magical Artifacts he selected.

This item was not crafted by Elder Qin but was instead a relic he had obtained from a tomb site.

When Mu Lin chose it, Elder Qin specifically offered a reminder.

“Do you know about relics?”

(End of Chapter)