Chapter 83: The Master of Mysticism Is an Internet Celebrity (22)

After dealing with the shark, she brought out the small boat, let the children climb in, and stood at the prow herself, manipulating the water to push them toward the shore.

“Heh, so this was your goal all along? I can’t believe I was fooled by you before.” Before they could reach land, their path was blocked once again—a wall of water, three meters high, rose to bar their way.

“Are you really so free that you have nothing better to do than watch me?” Mu Yin was perplexed; why was this man fixated solely on her?

“Ah? You’re my enemy. If I don’t keep an eye on you, then who should I watch? Hand over what you took, and I’ll let you and those snacks of yours leave,” the man retorted. In truth, even he didn’t fully understand why he kept following her. There was something she had that he needed, but though he had already taken all her belongings once, he still hadn’t found it.

“What exactly do you want? Didn’t you already take everything from me?” Mu Yin had no idea that once again, it was the primordial energy causing trouble. Aside from the defensive talisman forged by her powers and stored at her core, everything else was gone.

She found it baffling, but now was not the time to dwell on it. She pushed the little boat farther away, affixed a Sea-Calming Talisman and a Defensive Talisman to it, and then faced the man, ready for battle. Once she confirmed that the children would not be drawn into the fight, Mu Yin launched the first attack.

Her innate talent leaned toward lightning, what would have been called a Lightning Spirit Root in her original world. But in this world, cultivation depended not on spirit roots, but on one's ability to absorb spiritual power—a talent here known as Dao Source, with no particular emphasis on attribute.

Now, however, due to a genetic mutation, Mu Yin also wielded control over water. Water and lightning were the perfect partners. Thus, the waves she summoned surged with powerful currents of electricity.

She struck without warning, catching the man off-guard. He hurriedly manipulated the water to shield himself, but it was futile—water conducted electricity. In this domain, though her cultivation level was lower, Mu Yin held a decisive advantage.

Just as the water droplets, crackling with electricity, were about to strike him, the man’s body suddenly erupted with a vast, dark, sinister energy, repelling the deadly spray. “You actually managed to turn the power of a curse into your own strength?” Mu Yin could scarcely believe it.

The energy of a curse was no easy thing to command. It was a violent, negative force capable of cursing others, but to take the power of a curse directed at oneself and make it one’s own was another matter entirely. In that moment, she caught a faintly familiar aura.

“You’re one of those parasites!” That’s right—the parasites she failed to find in her last world had finally revealed themselves here. But why had they fused with the power of curses?

The aura was so weak it was almost imperceptible, yet it was undeniably present. No wonder he pursued her so relentlessly—she carried the very primordial power he needed.

After that, Mu Yin held nothing back and attacked with full force. To her, these parasites were mortal enemies; this time, she unleashed every killing move she had, even drawing upon her psychic abilities.

Her opponent’s cursed power was formidable, deeply corruptive. When Mu Yin accidentally brushed against it in the clash, it clung to her instantly. If not for her cleansing talisman, she might have been dragged into the same desperate straits as before.

However, her lightning abilities were a natural counter to such venomous energies. For a time, the battle was evenly matched. Moreover, she used her psychic power to cast cleansing spells—extremely effective against the curse. At last, the man was forced to retreat.

She returned to shore with the children. Not knowing where she was, she took out a navigation talisman. Halfway along, she encountered members of the Xuan Sect searching for her. Only then did she learn that the Chen Kingdom had been in turmoil—sea beasts attacking the coast, tides mysteriously rising, even tsunamis. The cultivators had been so busy repelling sea beasts and holding back the waves that they hadn’t been able to come to her rescue.

Mu Yin didn’t take it to heart; after all, one life could hardly outweigh the safety of so many others. She entrusted the children to their care, then took the communicator they gave her and flew to the now-bustling Luxi Province.

Luxi, owing perhaps to the previous fish-monster incident, had become the main battlefield. Or perhaps it was because its nearby seas were famed for their deep coastal waters.

Watching the endless stream of fish monsters, she muttered, “It appears that man isn’t acting only in the Chen Kingdom.”

“Are you all right?” Yun Shuyang asked as soon as he saw her.

“I’m fine—almost got turned into a fish monster, though.” Mu Yin shook her head. “How’s the situation here?”

“Not good. No one knows where these fish monsters come from—there’ve been no reports of anything like this in other countries.” Yun Shuyang shook his head. The fish monsters were endless. Though this was the main battlefield, the other coasts were not free from danger.

“What is he really after?” Zhang Yihan, now also a key fighter, was present at the meeting when Mu Yin returned.

“Perhaps he wants to destroy this world,” Mu Yin replied. That was always the parasites’ ultimate goal.

The others didn’t believe her—how could anyone, or anything, truly wish to destroy the world? Wouldn’t they perish along with it?

They moved on to discuss how to deal with the mastermind behind the fish monsters. “Um, Senior Sister Zhang, may I ask you something?” Mu Yin turned to Zhang Yihan.

“Go ahead,” Zhang Yihan replied, curious.

“What was the name of the empress’s eldest grandson back then?” Mu Yin asked.

“That’s a sudden question… If I recall, the royal family’s surname was Han, and the empress’s eldest grandson was Han Shi,” Zhang Yihan said after thinking for a moment.

“Oh, I actually know how to lure Han Shi out,” Mu Yin nodded and spoke up.

“What’s your plan?” The others immediately looked at her, remembering she had been captured by the enemy.

“He wants this.” Mu Yin produced a pearl—the Primordial Source Pearl. The parasites in this world, for reasons unknown, seemed to have lost their inherited memories and now acted on instinct alone. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so crude and direct.

Even a trace of primordial energy could draw them in. No surprise, really—she had no idea how many predecessors had come before her.

“What is that?” Everyone present sensed the immense energy contained in the tiny pearl, their own true essence stirring in response. In this modern age, spiritual power was always scarce. If hunger were a metaphor, it would be as if they had never truly known satiety.