Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Forcefully Seizing Laborers

“The Paper Folding Lineage has Substitute Paper Figures that can transfer injuries. Even this heir knows about them. Using Injury Transfer for Refining the Evil sounds clever. But how many times can he shift wounds? Three? Five? Seven or eight?”

“This heir refuses to believe his Injury Transfer works endlessly.”

East Sea King’s Third Son Ji Yu doubted Mu Lin. A nearby Protector immediately echoed, “The heir’s wisdom shines.”

“That Mu Lin’s truly a shortsighted fool from humble roots. His Substitute Paper Figures are limited—using them for Injury Transfer leaves him defenseless against other attacks. The Grave Lord’s tomb isn’t some playground! Wasting paper figures just to gather evil energy? He’s trading gold for pebbles.”

“Mark my words—he’ll regret this soon.”

“Might even die in there if fortune frowns.”

Not just Ji Yu, but many clan elders from powerful clans and privileged heirs thought the same. Their vast knowledge told them Mu Lin’s trick couldn’t last.

By common sense, they were right.

But Mu Lin defied common sense.

…

“Once, twice, thrice… Sixth! Seventh! Is he trying to burn through ALL his paper figures? Suicidal?”

Mu Lin’s reckless actions drew stares. When he used seven paper figures consecutively, spectators gaped, watching his every move with heightened interest—not out of concern, but hunger for drama.

In Ping An Ancient County, not all wished the young well. Many, warped by envy, craved to watch prodigies fall. With demon cultivators and monsters drawn to the Grave Lord’s tomb’s opening, this bloodlust grew fiercer.

Though channeling magic to observe the tomb drained power, countless cultivators still focused on Mu Lin. They saw him deploy an eighth… then ninth paper figure. After the ninth recovery from a clay sculpture, he paused.

“Out of paper figures?”

“Ha! Knew they weren’t endless!”

“Obviously. If paper figures were infinite, the Yin Eight Sect wouldn’t stay second-rate…”

“Now the fun begins.”

“Will he retreat or keep going?”

Mu Lin’s hesitation sparked debates. Most predicted his downfall.

Then hearts lurched—a hand rose from a grave mound beyond the yellow dirt road, beckoning him. Danger lurked off the path: the evil god’s resentment seethed, burial soil hungered, and countless grave mounds made Mu Lin’s scalp prickle.

Only on the yellow dirt road did he breathe slightly easier.

However, through various observation techniques, the powerful clans outside had clearly determined that the yellow dirt road wasn’t safe either.

The initial stretch remained passable – the path stayed intact here, with the surrounding grave mounds still undisturbed.

But the deeper one ventured, the more intense the evil god’s resentment grew.

Upon reaching the second stage, though the yellow dirt road maintained its structure, some grave mounds showed signs of disturbance – cracked open just enough to reveal protruding skulls, eyeballs, or skeletal hands.

These manifestations radiated pure malice toward the living, attempting to lure travelers off the path.

When the skeletal hand made its beckoning gesture, Mu Lin immediately felt his soul being tugged from his body.

Recognizing the motion, many spectators identified the threat.

"Soul Summoning… Mu Lin’s in danger."

"Judging from previous cases, resisting this requires soul power beyond the Condensing Essence stage, with essence refined into one’s spirit for enhanced stability. Mu Lin’s only at Refining Evil – his soul hasn’t undergone that transformation. He can’t withstand this."

"He brought this on himself. Had he saved Substitute Paper Figures, he could’ve deployed decoys to escape. But he wasted them all earlier – no one to blame but himself."

The consensus deemed resistance improbable and escape nearly impossible. By conventional logic, this assessment held true.

Yet Mu Lin defied convention.

Though the summoning tugged at his soul, Mu Lin merely narrowed his eyes – and his spirit anchored firm.

【Trait: Transcendence】

By elevating his existential rank, he effortlessly stabilized his soul, confounding observers.

But their surprise paled against what followed.

Just as everyone assumed Mu Lin’s paper figures were exhausted, the paused youth finally moved.

He produced a fistful of paper figures and scattered them like autumn leaves.

"Rustle…"

As the blank forms fluttered downward, Mu Lin inhaled deeply – then exhaled sharply.

"Haaah…"

The Vitality of the Living surged from his lips, causing the falling paper to swell visibly.

Within moments, thirteen perfect replicas of Mu Lin stood breathing on the yellow dirt road.

"?!?"

"Impossible!"

"Thirteen more? With the previous nine, that’s twenty-one Substitute Paper Figures!"

"This breaks all rules!"

The shockwave of disbelief intensified when someone stammered, "Wait – any strategist keeps reserves. He must have more! Thirty? Fifty? Even sixty…"

Before others could react, the speaker gulped audibly. "Fifty lives… fifty Substitute Paper Figures. Since when does Refining Evil grant such techniques?"

The spectacle stunned even seasoned observers. The East Sea King rose involuntarily, his piercing gaze locking onto Mu Lin. After prolonged scrutiny, he wheeled toward Prince Liang and barked:

“Mu Lin, has he really only been practicing cultivation for five or six months?”

“Well, should be… probably… more or less…”

Prince Liang answered with confusion in his eyes and uncertainty in his voice. Even he hadn’t expected Mu Lin to be this formidable.

But soon, trouble arose. After hearing this reply, the East Sea King unexpectedly revisited the marriage topic between Ji Ling Sha and Mu Lin.

“Seventh Brother, Mu Lin and Ling Sha clearly don’t get along. Let’s cancel this engagement.”

Prince Liang sighed. “Fourth Brother, I’ve told you—I’d prefer Ling Sha to marry your Ji Yu too. But she’s set on Mu Lin and refuses anyone else. What can I do?”

The East Sea King’s expression remained unchanged as he said evenly, “This isn’t about Ji Yu. Even noble families can’t force commoners into marriages. A union requires mutual willingness. Though Ling Sha is noble-born, she can’t keep harassing Mu Lin. It’s unseemly—people might say our clan bullies the weak.”

“???”

Prince Liang blinked, baffled by this argument, especially the emphasis on “mutual willingness.” Was the East Sea King abandoning his schemes… or attacking the marriage from another angle? He’d always known the East Sea King coveted their wealth and territory.

Initially, he’d assumed this was about making Ling Sha marry Ji Yu. But realization struck—the East Sea King had just criticized Ling Sha. No prospective father-in-law would speak so harshly…

“You old fox!” Prince Liang’s eyes flared. “You’re trying to steal Mu Lin for your own daughter!”

Unfazed, the East Sea King replied, “Steal? Mu Lin’s a free man—not your property. Your Ling Sha’s the one chasing him. They’re not even betrothed.”

Prince Liang gritted his teeth but couldn’t deny it. Mu Lin and Ling Sha had no formal ties. Worse—Mu Lin didn’t even know about this “engagement.” Still, having witnessed Mu Lin’s terrifying Substitute Paper Figures, Prince Liang refused to back down.

“Who says he’s not ours? Parental arrangements trump youthful whims! Grandpa Mu Lin already approved this marriage.” He secretly signaled Fu Bo to rush the paperwork. A poor man like Grandpa Mu Lin would never refuse a prince’s legitimate daughter.

The East Sea King shrugged. “How convenient—we also have a prior engagement with Mu Lin.”

“Lies!” Prince Liang scoffed. “You just arrived today and were criticizing him earlier!”

“Precisely because we’re close,” the East Sea King said lightly. “Constructive criticism shows care…”

As the two princes argued fiercely, the East Sea King’s heir Ji Yu and his Protectors exchanged uneasy glances. None had anticipated the conflict twisting in this direction.