Chapter 279

Chapter 279: Heavenly Grade Evil Energy, Reasons to Go to the Grave Lord’s Tomb

"Buzz!"

At the instant of his successful advancement, Mu Lin first felt lightness and expansion.

He sensed he’d shed an invisible armor, bonding more tightly with the heavens and earth.

This wasn’t imagined—as his Cultivation deepened and rank rose, mortals naturally grew closer to the world.

"Immortals, when analyzed, are ‘humans leaning on mountains.’"

"But ancient mysticism often uses symbols: three meaning infinity, nine representing ultimate numbers, Tao embodying universal laws."

"Mountains, as natural wonders, symbolize heaven itself."

"Rather than ‘leaning on mountains,’ immortals climb toward heaven. Those atop peaks stand closest to the sky."

This heavenly proximity greatly aided Mu Lin, especially in combat.

"My own power now commands triple the world’s energy. Manifesting domains feels effortless… No wonder low realm cultivators lose—high realm masters wield grander spells with equal effort. More energy means better results. How could weaker foes compete?"

…

After advancing to Refining the Evil, Mu Lin’s second sensation was expansion.

At Spirit Sea’s peak, he’d felt stagnant. Now, his limits shattered—his body could store more energy, his flesh strengthen further.

Yet beyond these changes, nothing else shifted.

"???"

"Why nothing more?"

His deep frown alarmed Meng Rui and Yan Yunyu.

"Mu Lin, what’s wrong?" Meng Rui asked urgently—her hopes for puppetry Cultivation methods hinged on his growth.

He confessed, "My gains feel meager. Shouldn’t Refining the Evil bring greater transformation?"

After tense silence, Dongfang Ya, Si Ye, and Meng Rui exchanged glances before chuckling.

"True, Refining the Evil marks a cultivator’s pivotal leap," one explained.

"The first three realms—Perception, Drawing Energy, Awakening—open the dantian. Next comes energy growth through Spring Fountain, Spirit Pool, Spirit Sea."

"Finally, energy transforms qualitatively, granting miraculous abilities."

The first to speak was Dongfang Ya. After her, Master Meng Rui continued, "However, since Refining the Evil begins, although our bodies and magical energy undergo qualitative changes, this transformation doesn’t happen instantly. You must find evil energy yourself and Refine it into your body."

Si Ye spoke last: "The world contains various evils – Peach Blossom Evil that grants magical energy hallucinatory allure, Extreme Ice Evil bringing intense coldness, Earth Fire Evil, Metal Evil, Central Earth Evil… The quality of evil determines your magical power’s strength. Choose carefully."

"Also, higher quality doesn’t always mean better. It must align with your cultivation method’s attributes and match what your body can endure…"

The Way of Heaven takes from excess to aid deficiency; The human way takes from lacking to serve abundance.

As the three women explained, Mu Lin gradually grasped Refining the Evil’s essence – continuously absorbing worldly evils into his body, using heaven and earth to perfect himself.

‘This completely differs from divine practice. Divine practitioners elevate their rank and expand their City God Realm to control cosmic authority.’

‘Refining Evil internally? No such concept in divine practice.’

Regardless of which path was better, absorbing evil energy meant fewer restrictions. Mu Lin could wield full power anywhere.

Yet this made the process extremely challenging.

Evil energy wasn’t gentle – the name itself revealed its danger. Mishandling refinement could permanently damage body and meridians.

Stronger evils required longer refinement periods and tougher physical constitutions.

Finding compatible high-grade evil proved equally difficult.

Noticing Mu Lin’s frown, Yan Yunyu whispered, "Mu brother, Yuhu Academy possesses evil energy. We could request Thunder Spirit Evil from them – though it’s only top-tier Earth-level."

"The Demon Exorcism Division offers low-grade Heavenly-level Human Path Dragon Vein Evil… but demands twenty years service under harsh contract terms."

"My Yan family controls powerful Earth-level evils you could choose freely. But Heavenly-level…" She hesitated, watching his face. "…would require surrendering some freedoms."

Mu Lin rejected any loss of liberty, though he understood – Heavenly evils were priceless resources no faction would give freely.

His relationship with Yan Yunyu meant little – she held no authority in the Yan family. Similarly, Si Ye and Chu Lingluo couldn’t speak for the Chu family.

"Are all top evils controlled by royals, powerful clans, and major powers?" Mu Lin asked.

"Mostly. Eighty percent common evils, ninety-nine percent premium ones belong to large organizations." Meng Rui answered. "They control cultivation advancement this way."

"Free cultivators either join factions or scour forbidden places and ancient ruins for centuries, needing incredible luck…"

As a former free cultivator, Meng Rui understood their plight. She advised gently, "Life brings endless frustrations. Even True Lords endured restrictions when weak. The Great Spirit Dynasty’s emperor faces constraints. Accepting terms from powers isn’t shameful."

"Many lack even the chance to serve major factions."

But Mu Lin’s attention had shifted. His eyes brightened. "Ruins contain evil energy?"

"Evil energy condenses over thousands of years. Untouched ruins inevitably develop evils after centuries…"

Mid-sentence, Master Meng Rui caught herself.

"Do you have a goal?"

"I do."

As he spoke, Mu Lin’s eyes turned toward Ping An Ancient Town.

Originally, he hadn’t considered the Grave Lord inheritance essential.

But now, everything changed.

"I must pursue the Grave Lord inheritance. It likely holds the evil energy I need."

"No, it definitely does… Evil energy requires both time and exposure to high-tier forces to form."

"The Grave Lord’s tomb contains a True God’s remains. That power ranks supreme in this world, so its evil energy must be unparalleled."

The more he thought, the more Mu Lin felt the Grave Lord inheritance was perfect for him.

Yet one problem lingered.

"Can I truly claim what I need from the inheritance with my current Cultivation?"

He feared no peer in his age group.

But fairness meant nothing here – his rivals had cultivated over a year longer.

For elite talents, one year’s advantage might equal a decade’s growth. The gap yawned wide.

In Ping An Ancient Town, he’d relied on the power of the earth veins to compete.

Within the Grave Lord inheritance, stripped of that advantage, his weaknesses would show.

…

This grim realization gripped him briefly before he shook it off.

"Not hopeless yet…"

Normally, Mu Lin stood no chance against these talents.

Their extra cultivation time placed most sect elites at Condensing Essence stage, some even combining Essence and Evil.

At that level, they manipulated spiritual power effortlessly. Their magic had undergone two transformations through high-level resources.

One strand of their power could overpower a hundred strands of his.

For cultivators, magical energy was the foundation.

Outmatched in both quantity and quality, Mu Lin faced odds stacked fiftyfold against him.

"But not impossible."

"My edge lies elsewhere."

His strengths were cultivation methods and spell mastery.

"Magic fuels everything, but technique determines its use. Energy must become spellwork to reach full potential."

"The difference between Master Level and basic proficiency is night and day."

Basic techniques yielded one unit of power per magic strand.

Master-level techniques yielded a hundredfold effect.

This could bridge the Cultivation gap.

"Wait – Master Level might not suffice. Sect elites can’t reach mastery quickly, but with Enlightenment Tea and Wisdom Spring Water? Reaching proficiency is trivial."

Mu Lin’s doubt stemmed not from underestimating rivals, but from knowing the power of cultivation resources.