Chapter 324

Chapter 324: Rules Are Meant to Be Broken

Mu Lin’s deep foundation required increasingly large amounts of resources, making him frown with worry.

He openly shared his troubles with Si Ye and Master Meng Rui, needing their help to gather the required materials.

"A strong spirit needs more than one portion of essence!"

Hearing Mu Lin’s dilemma, Si Ye didn’t show disappointment. Instead, a smile spread across his face.

This was good news.

As a scion of nobility, Si Ye knew: meat-eaters gain courage, grain-eaters gain wisdom, essence-users gain divinity… Consuming more resources always meant greater power in this world. Mu Lin’s massive demands only proved his extraordinary spiritual strength.

Si Ye also had personal motives.

‘Though the Chu family connected with Mu Lin early, we’ve given few favors. After the True Meaning Diagram of doppelgänger cultivation, we even owe him debts. This won’t maintain our relationship.’

‘Now that he needs help, our chance has come.’

"How much Heavenly Essence do you need?" Si Ye said eagerly. "I’ll demand it from the family immediately."

Yan Yunyu added: "My authority now ranks second only to the heir. Mu brother, I can supply any amount!"

Master Meng Rui offered: "Let me contribute too. Your puppet cultivation made me rich in Spirit Stones. I can spare Heavenly Essence."

Their combined support instantly solved Mu Lin’s shortage. The three women even glared competitively, each wanting to provide more essence to strengthen their bond with him.

Only Dongfang Ya watched the rivalry with amusement, while Chu Lingluo calculated how to gather Spirit Stones for Mu Lin.

As tensions rose, Mu Lin intervened: "No need to compete. I need at least ten portions – up to thirty-three. There’s enough for all to help."

Si Ye: "…"

Dongfang Ya: "…"

Meng Rui: "…"

Chu Lingluo: "So much…"

The staggering number shocked everyone except Chu Lingluo, who simply worried about logistics. Meng Rui and others marveled at Mu Lin’s spirit enduring such quantities.

"Ten to thirty-three portions?" Dongfang Ya stared oddly at Mu Lin. "Are you human?"

They knew celestial-level essence’s paradox – though powerful, most cultivators couldn’t bear it. Even geniuses took pride in refining one portion. Yet Mu Lin’s spirit defied all limits.

If they could Refine two to three portions, they’d stand out among prodigies.

With five to seven portions, they’d become top contenders for heir positions in powerful clans.

Nine portions? That’s the level of direct disciples from renowned sects—and even among them, not all could Refine nine portions of celestial-level essence.

Nine was practically the peak for human talents.

But Mu Lin? He needed at minimum ten portions, up to thirty-three. Thirty-three times beyond ordinary geniuses. Even those elite sect heirs couldn’t hold a candle to him.

Faced with Mu Lin’s overwhelming spiritual might, how could they not be stunned?

Comparing themselves to him, they felt a bit shaken.

“Master Meng Rui, how many portions did you Refine back then?”

“How many?” She chuckled dryly. “You overestimate me. I had no clan backing or proper cultivation methods. Using puppet tricks, I barely managed half a portion of celestial-level essence. You?”

Si Ye said, “I Refined a full portion…”

Once, Si Ye had taken pride in that single portion of Heavenly Essence.

But next to Mu Lin’s absurd spiritual power, it just felt pathetic.

She shook off the bitterness quickly. “Your request is clear. I’ll gather Aurora Heavenly Essence as fast as possible. But it’s rare and high-grade—collecting so much will take time.”

Mu Lin nodded. “Thirty-three portions all at once is too much. If Aurora’s scarce, collect other essences too. Any Pure Qi type works.”

Truth was, after fusing his cultivation methods into the True Spirit Domain Chart, Mu Lin’s foundation had grown immense. He lacked not just essence but Evil Qi too.

Essence and Evil Qi balanced each other—spirit and flesh, yin and yang.

Luckily, Evil Qi wasn’t an issue. Though the Grave Lord’s secret realm was closed, his State City God remained there.

The deity had already sent Substitute Paper Figures to harvest Central Earth Evil from the realm’s outer regions.

“Thirty-three portions of Central Earth Evil… Once Refined, my body’s foundation will be mountain-solid.”

…

With abundant Central Earth Evil, he’d use it fully for his foundation.

As for rare Aurora Heavenly Essence? He’d mix whatever he got. Mu Lin shrugged like it meant nothing.

Dongfang Ya flicked his forehead sharply with spiritual energy.

“Idiot! Didn’t I teach you Refining the Evil and Condensing Essence demand purity? Mixing foreign energies into your spirit—are you trying to rip yourself apart?”

Most of Mu Lin’s cultivation knowledge came from her. Such a glaring mistake enraged her.

Si Ye and Meng Rui stifled laughs, thinking Mu Lin lacked basic cultivation sense.

Their tension eased—sure, he was monstrously talented, but still a clueless youth.

‘No one’s perfect. Gifted, yet so much to learn…’

Then Mu Lin spoke again.

Dongfang Ya froze mid-scold.

The smirking pair stiffened, jaws dropping.

Mu Lin said, "Stop, stop. Don’t hit me. I wasn’t reckless, nor was I anxious, and I hadn’t forgotten your teachings. I just felt my spirit was strong enough to carry different powers, which is why I wanted to refine multiple essences."

"……"

"……"

"……"

His words made the three women feel like the joke was on them.

They hesitated to speak.

—In the realm of cultivation, whether refining Evil Qi or condensing essence, it was common knowledge to stick to one type for safety. This principle had stood for millennia.

Anyone else daring to challenge this would’ve been beaten and scolded by Dongfang Ya.

But Mu Lin had already clashed with cultivation norms multiple times—and each time, the rules bent for him.

So when he claimed his spirit could handle multiple essences… neither Si Ye, Meng Rui, nor Dongfang Ya dared argue.

‘The usual rules don’t apply to him… He truly breaks them all.’

……

Fear of being proven wrong kept them silent.

Yet out of concern, Yan Yunyu finally said, "Mu brother, you admitted you’re not fully certain. Why take the risk when there’s no urgency? We should avoid—"

Mu Lin cut her off with a nod. "You’re right. Since I’m not certain, I’ll test it first."

He pulled out the Extreme Thunder Energy gifted by the East Sea King.

"I’ll only take a little. If it works, great. If not, my Substitute Paper Figures can transfer any injuries."

Remembering how he’d even transferred fatal wounds before, the women relaxed.

Dongfang Ya said, "Test it here. If the essences clash, we’ll assist."

"Alright."

Mu Lin opened the bottle and inhaled what he considered a "small amount."

Si Ye and Dongfang Ya stared wearily.

"A little?!"

"That’s three days’ worth for me when refining essence into my soul!"

Meng Rui hushed them. "It’s a lot for us, but not for him. Stay quiet and let him—"

Before she finished, Mu Lin’s eyes snapped open, lightning flickering in his gaze.

The group fell silent.

In mere breaths, he’d refined the foreign essence. His spirit truly was an ocean, swallowing all rivers.

The speed shattered their understanding.

Dongfang Ya slumped, defeated. "Succeeded… so easily. Worrying about a monster like you? Heh… I overstepped."