Chapter 292

Chapter 292: Stealing the Black River’s Power, The Black River Dragon King?

Mu Lin thought about the purpose of the dark black river, but lacking sufficient information, he failed to reach any conclusions.

Meanwhile, a group waiting by the river noticed his arrival.

No one mocked him for bringing an army—only awe showed on their faces. They understood how exhausting it was to march through the treacherous Grave Lord’s tomb with troops, and how remarkable it was to deliver an entire force unharmed.

This understanding prompted some to approach Mu Lin, seeking alliance. Their true motive was to exploit his strength for crossing the river.

"Brother, I’m Yu Fa. You’ve just arrived and likely know little about this black river. Having come earlier, I can share what I’ve learned. Care to listen?"

"I’d appreciate that, Brother Yu."

Mu Lin gestured for him to proceed. Through Yu Fa’s explanation, he learned this black river was a cursed waterway where flight proved impossible and even feathers couldn’t float. Only three small boats ferried people across.

Raising an eyebrow, Mu Lin asked, "You’re all waiting for boats?"

"Not just boats—we need reliable companions. The river’s dangers go beyond its waters. Countless evil ghosts and evil spirits lurk beneath. Entire groups have drowned here before. Survival requires teammates who are both strong and trustworthy."

Mu Lin nodded. Sharing a boat in such peril demanded capable allies. He’d make the same choice.

Yu Fa brightened. "Does Brother Mu consent? With your addition, our group of four will be complete." He moved to introduce the others, but Mu Lin halted him.

"Wait. Let me test the waters first."

His life depended on this crossing—blind trust wasn’t an option. While Mu Lin’s main body stayed seated in the cart, a Substitute Paper Figure leaped down and approached the riverbank. Without hesitation, the paper figure entered the black water.

This act drew murmurs from the crowd as observers discussed Mu Lin’s bold experiment.

"Another one who won’t give up."

"Waste of energy."

"But they’ve got energy to waste… Using Substitute Paper Figures to scout dangers lets them test threats without risking their real bodies. Honestly, this handy trick makes me wanna switch to the paper folder path myself."

These words made many hearts flutter.

Paper folders’ strength showed perfectly through Mu Lin – safe and reliable. The idea of sitting high while sending paper copies into danger appealed deeply to pampered nobles, sparking real thoughts of changing paths.

The notion got crushed by mocking laughter before taking root.

"Stupid. Paper folders were never strong. Their paper figures fear fire, thunder, water – wiped out easily. That power you see comes from Mu Lin himself. Switching paths would make you copycats gaining nothing."

"……"

This shut many mouths.

What stung worse was the truth in those words – paper folder techniques indeed ranked low, countered by common spells. For millennia, few became super strong beings. Mu Lin’s strength was his own.

Though factually right, being contradicted still ruffled feathers. Someone snapped back: "So what if Mu Lin’s strong? Can he cross the river alone?"

Pure stubbornness. The original speaker didn’t bother responding. Yet this retort revealed even Mu Lin’s supporters doubted his solo crossing ability.

No matter – Wandering Bug and Zui Xiaoyao had used boats too. Mu Lin needing help changed nothing.

……

Outside debates didn’t slow Mu Lin’s actions. With no risk to his real body and hundreds of backups, he sent a Substitute Paper Figure into the river without pause.

The instant it touched river water, Mu Lin understood the horror.

"Hum…"

Weight first – terrible, crushing weight. Each drop carried Three Yuan Heavy Water’s essence, pressing mountains onto his paper form, dragging it riverbed-ward.

Then vastness – from shore, the black river seemed 100 meters wide. Now submerged, it stretched a hundredfold wider. Spatial expansion?… This Place held deadlier secrets than imagined.

Last came the Black Water’s corrosive bite. Mu Lin always trusted his defenses – the Unchanging Central Earth Evil, plus the Root Word ‘Fix’ etched between his brows stabilizing his form. Past invaders broke against these walls.

Now? Three breaths underwater turned his lifelike Substitute Paper Figure into a shriveled scrap. The decay kept spreading.

"I can only last three breaths? The black river’s corrosion is too strong… But I’m not beaten yet."

With this thought, Mu Lin focused his will and channeled a surge of magical energy into the Substitute Paper Figure submerged in the river.

"Hum!"

The Substitute Paper Figure let out a guttural roar as it activated one of its abilities—Dragon Transformation.

"Rooooar!"

Following the deafening dragon roar, the Substitute Paper Figure within the black river swiftly shifted from human form into the Body of a Dragon. Immediately after, it triggered an overload, invoking the ancestral spirits.

"BOOM!"

This summoned the slain evil dragon—the source of Mu Lin’s dragon blood—to possess the transformed Body of a Dragon. The possession dramatically boosted the Substitute Paper Figure’s strength and rank.

Dragons, as all knew, could naturally summon winds and rain, reigning supreme over waters. Controlling currents came as effortlessly as breathing. Now transformed into an Ink Dragon capable of wielding Three Yuan Heavy Water, Mu Lin found the dragon’s innate ability allowed him to partially resist the black river’s crushing strength. His Substitute Paper Figure, the Ink Dragon, began rising through the water.

"It’s working!"

The sight below the river’s surface filled Mu Lin with hope.

The commotion—the thunderous dragon cry and the churning river—startled the cultivators waiting ashore.

"Such force… Could he truly withstand the river’s corrosion alone?"

"Impossible! Even Zui Xiaoyao and Wandering Bug took ferry boats."

"Unless… they could cross unaided but chose boats to save time?"

Murmurs spread among the crowd. Prince Liang’s daughter, Ji Ling Sha, watched Mu Lin with an inscrutable expression. Mu Lin, however, remained oblivious—every shred of focus went into channeling energy against the river’s relentless corrosion.

For several breaths, the struggle stabilized—until disaster struck.

"What?!"

The dragon’s disturbance had triggered the black river’s defenses. Sensing the unusual movement, swarms of evil ghosts and spirits surged toward the Ink Dragon.

"Splash—"

Clawed hands latched onto the dragon’s scaled form. Outnumbered, the Ink Dragon was dragged relentlessly downward despite thrashing violently.

"CRACKLE—"

"RUMBLE!"

Mu Lin fought back—Bolts of Lightning erupted from the dragon’s body, aiming to obliterate the clinging spirits. But the black river stifled all foreign energy. Most lightning dissipated instantly upon contact with the water; the remnants barely singed the relentless ghosts.

Thus, in the end, Mu Lin’s Substitute Paper Figure, the Ink Dragon, was dragged into the black river by countless evil spirits. When the paper figure sank beyond a certain depth, its connection with Mu Lin… snapped.

"Bang!"

The abrupt severance caused Mu Lin inside the Yin Spirit Cart to snap his eyes open. His face darkened, and he slammed his palm against the cart’s frame.

Yu Fa, who had been observing, noticed this. "Failure, Brother Mu? Don’t dwell on it. You’re hardly the first to attempt crossing without the ferry—even formidable figures like Wandering Bug, Zui Xiaoyao, and the minor tyrants, all masters of combining Essence and Evil, met the same fate."

Mu Lin accepted this reasoning. Just as he prepared to join Yu Fa and the others on the ferry, a faint thread of connection tugged at his senses. His gaze sharpened as he whirled toward the black river.

There, looming on the water’s surface, was a grotesque half-human, half-dragon creature—his corrupted Substitute Paper Figure. The black river had twisted it into a hostile entity under its control. The monster now glared at Mu Lin with venomous hatred.

This development sparked unrest among the gathered cultivators.

"Another damn monster!"

"Idiot! The crossing was hard enough already—now we’ve got this thing to deal with!"

Though complaints arose, none dared confront Mu Lin directly. The river’s monstrosities were fearsome, but so was the man who had once commanded such a creature.

Unfazed by the grumbling, Mu Lin locked eyes with the corrupted Ink Dragon. Yu Fa cleared his throat. "Brother Mu, setbacks are inevitable during trials—"

Mu Lin’s sudden laughter cut him off. "Angry? No. This… amuses me." His mirth faded as a predatory aura surged around him. Flames flickered in his eyes—the Heart Lamp of Will’s dominion fire blazing to life. "But using my own creation against me? You overreach."

Had the creature remained submerged, Mu Lin would have been powerless. Yet by surfacing to challenge him, it left itself vulnerable. Through their lingering bond, Mu Lin’s willfire lashed out.

"Kneel!"

The command briefly cleared the monster’s gaze. Then resentment flooded back—bitter fury at its abandonment.

Mu Lin’s lips curved. "Ten percent control." Though meager, it was a foothold. The tainted paper figure’s surface presence allowed this fragile link. Deeper waters would have severed it entirely.

Most would dismiss such tenuous influence. But Mu Lin’s Heavenly Grade cultivation method had reached Master Level—equivalent to Earth-level Grandmaster prowess. The royal authority crown granted by this advancement now pulsed with potential.

Through the corrupted Ink Dragon, his will brushed against the black river’s power. A thief in the night, he began unraveling its secrets.