Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Can You Really Refine Evil This Way?

“Those who harm me shall suffer double. This substitution technique makes retaliation tricky, but Mu Lin’s gravely injured now. How will he heal?”

“Also, I notice Mu Lin’s using Central Earth Evil from the yellow dirt road to forge his foundation. Nothing wrong with that—but he’s rushing recklessly.”

“Too much is as bad as too little. Such intense evil refining will damage his body’s foundations. Are you sure Cousin Ling Sha should marry this kind of husband?”

The speaker was East Sea King’s Third Son. Even he felt unsettled by Mu Lin’s strange ability that prevented direct attacks or insults.

He held no romantic feelings for Ji Ling Sha.

—Most heirs from powerful clans grew up surrounded by women. Few among them believed in true love.

Though not drawn to Ling Sha personally, he coveted Prince Liang’s family resources.

Thus, he still intended to marry her.

Combined with typical male possessiveness, this made him hostile toward Mu Lin.

He knew Prince Liang sought a shield for Ling Sha—but also understood the prince genuinely considered Mu Lin as potential son-in-law, given his firm declarations.

This realization fueled his verbal attacks.

Prince Liang stayed silent, curious about Mu Lin’s response.

The Third Son’s Protector chuckled: “What else to expect, my lord? Cold clan’s disciples starve for treasures. When they stumble upon something rare like Central Earth Evil, they gorge themselves blindly.”

“Even if it destroys them?”

“Aye. Shortsightedness defines such lowborns. They chase immediate gains, ignore consequences—never heroes, never true powerful beings.”

Their joint mockery drew no rebuttal from Prince Liang, who also considered Mu Lin’s approach overly rash.

……

On the yellow dirt road, Mu Lin remained oblivious to their scorn.

He kept Refining Evil into his body. Ignoring all caution, his flesh rapidly hardened into clay sculpture. Paper figures multiplied around him.

His counter-damage ability being new, his companions’ clay transformation proved less severe. Still, even at 60-80% effectiveness, Mu Lin’s full-body petrification turned at least half of Huang Ru and others into yellow mud—muscles, bones, organs, even eyeballs.

Now mute and immobile, they relied entirely on magic to survive. Mu Lin appeared worse off.

But as his body fully solidified, something shifted. Within City God Realm, a bloodstained paper figure bearing Mu Lin’s true name—resting on surging feminine spiritual veins—suddenly turned muddy.

Simultaneously, inside Grave Lord’s tomb, Mu Lin’s clay shell crumbled away, revealing fully restored flesh—wounds vanished, body renewed.

Without glancing at Ji Ling Sha or her group, Mu Lin strode forward.

Someone gasped involuntarily.

“Wait a minute…”

As soon as these words were spoken, Mu Lin’s body indeed stopped. Not only did he halt, but he also smiled warmly at the person and said, “Do you want me to spare them too?”

Mu Lin’s tone was gentle, his inquiry seemingly kind.

Yet the person trembled violently, hastily waving his hands. “No! This has nothing to do with me! Do as you please!”

This response made Mu Lin chuckle before shifting his gaze to the others.

“What about the rest of you? Anyone think I’m wrong? Speak freely. I’m open to criticism.”

‘You’ll listen, then slaughter everyone afterward, won’t you?’

Having witnessed the grisly fate of those who’d preached empty generosity, none dared trust Mu Lin’s words.

Under the fearful stares of the yellow mud statues, Mu Lin continued walking alone down the path.

As he journeyed, he endlessly absorbed Central Earth Evil from the yellow dirt road.

His reckless Refining soon covered his restored body with a muddy hue.

With every step, his color darkened. After a hundred paces, he’d fully transformed into a Clay Sculpture again.

Yet after becoming a statue, mere moments passed before his flesh reappeared.

Then the absorption resumed.

Mu Lin’s body kept shifting between Clay Sculpture and human form as he walked. After multiple cycles, his aura surged dramatically.

……

“He’s Refining Evil like this?!”

“Such convenient power!”

“Remember how I suffered for a whole year? He might finish today!”

Mu Lin’s method sparked widespread envy.

In the powerful clans’ section, someone congratulated Si Ye of the Chu family:

“Your Lingluo’s chosen well! That boy’s destined for greatness!”

Indeed, Si Ye had come, along with Dongfang Ya and Master Meng Rui. After learning the Grave Lord’s tomb contained a divine corpse, all three had tried stopping Mu Lin.

“The Grave Lord inheritance is too dangerous for you,” they’d warned.

Dongfang Ya added: “Your talent ensures success without risks. Why hurry?”

But confident in his Grandmaster-level Substitute Paper Figure, Mu Lin had ignored them.

Normally, Master Meng Rui and Si Ye would’ve abandoned such a stubborn ordinary person. But Mu Lin was different – both Meng Rui’s hope and Lingluo’s chosen partner.

Reluctantly, they’d come to rescue him if needed.

Instead, they found him admired by the crowd.

……

Si Ye froze momentarily at the unexpected scene.

Accepting congratulations, she demurred: “I seek only his safety. May he quit after absorbing Central Earth Evil.”

A jealous voice sneered: “Rumor says you dislike him. Don’t believe he’ll succeed?”

Si Ye’s eyes narrowed, but she calmly replied: “I was wrong before. His talent needs no risks.” Then her tone sharpened: “Unlike you, pushing sons-in-law into danger for glory.”

“I never said that!”

The crowd chuckled at their sparring, understanding Si Ye’s meaning. Like many clansmen, she doubted Mu Lin’s chances – not from weakness, but inexperience.

‘Mu Lin’s talented, but too young. How can he rival Zui Xiaoyao, Spirit Void Master, or the demon sects’ Wandering Bug?’

‘Cultivation relies on power and realm. Those others have reached Condensing Essence or even combining Essence and Evil realms. Mu Lin hasn’t finished Refining Evil yet!’

The distance spoke volumes – while rivals raced ahead, Mu Lin still trudged near the starting point.

‘Clever tricks might gain him something, but no true rivalry.’

Many believed he couldn’t even complete the Refining.

The East Sea King’s Third Heir scoffed: “Substitute Paper Figures divert damage, but they’re limited. Five uses? Nine? What then?”