Chapter 276

Chapter 276: Ghost Shadow: Am I Really Fighting Mu Lin?

As Sacrificial Star soared upward through the sky attempting to flee Ping An Ancient Town, a low hum vibrated through the air. At Mu Lin’s mental command, the illusory power of the Other Shore Flower sea coalesced instantly, crashing toward Sacrificial Star’s soul like an oceanic tide.

"Boom!"

The gathered energy of the Other Shore Flower sea roared forward like an unstoppable river, relentless and overwhelming. Though Sacrificial Star had enhanced his soul, even this upgraded defense buckled under the tsunami of illusion.

"Thud!"

"Hsssk—"

The concentrated soul illusion smashed through his mental barriers like a warhammer, flooding his consciousness. The brutal strike left his skull throbbing and his soul reeling in momentary disorientation.

When clarity returned, Sacrificial Star found himself standing within Ping An Ancient City. Before him stood Mu Lin, wearing a contemplative expression.

"What’s this… Right, I came to kill Lin Qiu. He deserves death, but not by Ghost Shadow’s hand—that’d only empower that wretch…"

He prepared to strike. But before he could act, the astral star burning within his soul shuddered violently.

The tremor jolted his awareness. "Wait—I already came here. Lin Qiu and I fought. We’re still battling… Yes! I was trying to escape when his illusions trapped me. This is fake!"

Panic flared. Sacrificial Star ignited his soul without hesitation.

"Krakoom!"

The soulflare briefly shattered Mu Lin’s hold, yanking him from the illusion. Darkness enveloped him now, wind screaming past as he plummeted earthward.

"Can’t stay here—must escape!"

He rocketed skyward again, fury boiling in his chest toward two figures. "Lin Qiu! You’ll pay for trapping me like this!"

"And Jiang Yingying! Treacherous snake! I’ll see you dead for this betrayal!"

He flew at breakneck speed. One minute. Two. Three. Yet the oppressive darkness never relented.

Dread coiled in his gut. "Impossible. At this velocity, I should’ve cleared ten thousand meters. Why does the mist still cling? The illusion persists—I’m flying in circles!"

He banked sharply, changing course. Still, the darkness clung. Direction meant nothing here.

"Bastard! Lin Qiu! Face me properly! Hiding behind tricks makes you no hero!"

Feeling trapped and panicked, Sacrificial Star attempted to taunt Mu Lin into showing himself.

All his efforts proved futile.

Within the darkness, Ping An Ancient County had completely disappeared, and no trace of Mu Lin could be detected.

It now seemed Sacrificial Star was utterly alone in existence.

The oppressive silence drove him toward madness.

His terror deepened as shapeless presences appeared to watch him from the pitch-black void – fleeting glimpses of malice that vanished whenever he tried pursuing them.

"Bastard!"

"Face me properly!"

"Meteor Descent!"

Refusing passive surrender, Sacrificial Star unleashed his ultimate destructive spell.

The ground shook as a meteor obliterated half of Ping An Ancient County, yet Mu Lin remained hidden.

Growing desperate, Sacrificial Star rained devastation across the land.

"Heavenfire!"

"Starfall!"

His spells scarred the earth repeatedly until nothing remained of the ancient county.

Suddenly clarity struck him: "This makes no sense – the Yin Eight Sect survivors would never tolerate this destruction… I’m still trapped in the illusionary mirror!"

"When was I…?"

Before he could finish, his eyes glazed over. When awareness returned, his memories reset to several minutes prior.

"I must escape This Place…"

…

Sacrificial Star had become ensnared in an illusionary loop, his memories fragmented and erased – all part of Mu Lin’s initial trap.

After knocking Sacrificial Star unconscious, Mu Lin had woven three levels of illusions. Though Sacrificial Star broke through the first level, he remained hopelessly trapped in the second, unaware the third level even existed.

His repeated spellcasting yielded no actual magic – the Energy Cost he perceived was merely Manjusaka draining his power.

…

The overwhelming strength of the Other Shore Flower sea surprised even Mu Lin.

Yet this made perfect sense – his Other Shore Flower had evolved beyond its original nature.

Through his nurturing, absorbing Mu Lin’s experiences, insights, and copied memories, the Other Shore Flower in Mu Lin’s hand gradually evolved closer to the Manjusaka of the Other Shore from his past life, rather than remaining just an Earth-level top-tier spirit flower in this world.

Normally, Mu Lin’s Other Shore Flower would require much more time to fully transform. Only when his City God Realm advanced to Governor City God or even State City God would he gain sufficient knowledge to complete its metamorphosis. Yet unexpected events sometimes bring fortune.

Mu Lin never imagined obtaining divinity aligned with illusionary abilities while still weak. Merging the Manjusaka with divinity of delight propelled it into a divine flower overnight. Its current power was natural – divinity means might.

Moreover, Mu Lin didn’t just use the flower’s power. He channeled earth vein energy for infinite mana and activated the Heavenly Level Formation: Cycle of Life and Death. Crushing Sacrificial Star was inevitable – struggling would’ve shamed his cultivation.

"In Ping An Ancient County, I reign supreme among my peers!"

As Mu Lin mused, the Other Shore Flower fully parasitized Sacrificial Star, draining his mana, vitality, soul power and memories. Soon, another corpse would join those beneath the eerie floral expanse.

Boom!

Just as Sacrificial Star neared death, deadly instinct warned Mu Lin. A meteor trailing fire streaked from the outer realm towards Ping An Ancient County – Star-Moon Sect’s powerful beings intervening.

Though unwritten rules forbade killing rivals’ talents, "rescues" were permitted. The sect’s powerful being cared nothing for collateral damage from the meteor. Worse, they teleported Sacrificial Star’s weakened body beyond the county.

"Bastard!" Mu Lin snarled.

Yet there was hope – whether due to Cycle of Life and Death or the spell’s nature, Sacrificial Star appeared not at the caster’s side, but hovering above the county.

"Kill him!" Mu Lin commanded his Yin soldiers and ghost officials.

Neighing horses answered as black fog surged mountain-high. Three thousand Beiwai Army charged skyward with earth-shaking momentum, their spiritual energy coalescing into a broken fortress gate – the legendary Cangshan Yumen Pass.

"The Beiwai Army! They all died defending that pass!"

"Nevermind history! Lin Qiu’s confronting a Star-Moon Sect Protector!"

"He’s mad! That’s a High Mastery of Transformation cultivator!"

Jiang Yingying and Fa Yan gaped at Mu Lin’s audacity. But none reacted stronger than hidden Ghost Shadow, trembling as he watched the black fog and unstoppable army:

"Lucky Sacrificial Star attacked first… or I’d be fighting that monster."