Chapter 332 331: Cultivating the Vertical Cloud Ladder

Ye Chunshui might not have meant anything by it, but Mu Lin couldn't risk any messy complications.

Seeing his subordinates working so diligently, Mu Lin took a nap.

After work, Mu Lin considered finding a place to practice the Vertical Cloud Ladder.

Without telling anyone, he found a secluded spot in the suburbs, carefully took out the secret manual, and began to study it closely.

The Vertical Cloud Ladder was indeed exceptionally profound; even Mu Lin found it a bit daunting.

It made sense that Niu Daoist had studied it for so many years without making any headway.

It was truly difficult. If even Mu Lin found it hard, it definitely wasn't going to be simple.

In fact, it was impressive enough that Niu Daoist could recognize the title, "Vertical Cloud Ladder." The name was written on the cover in an ancient seal script, giving it a grand, rustic, and rather stylish flair.

But these character forms were extremely rare. Even a senior Daoist disciple might not have seen or mastered them, let alone a traitor like Niu Daoist.

Mu Lin finished reading the entire text. After taking a moment to digest it, he decided to make an attempt.

He gathered his power, the meridians throughout his body circulating violently. Then, his entire body was "shot" out like a cannonball.

The very air seemed to distort like gelatin.

The speed was too great. Mu Lin had no room to adjust his trajectory and slammed straight into a large rock ahead.

RUMBLE...

The commotion was so huge it scared Mu Lin into freezing on the spot.

'Ouch, ouch, ouch...'

Pain flared up all over his body, a sensation like he was being torn apart.

Mu Lin slapped his own thigh, sparing himself no dignity. "How could I be so stupid? Did I forget how to turn?"

'Did I forget how to turn?!'

This question from Mu Lin was truly one of introspection. In all his years of cultivation, he had never encountered such a situation.

'How embarrassing.'

The answer was also very simple: he really hadn't.

Why? The answer was even clearer: the consumption was too great.

Half of his body's True Qi was drained in an instant. For a moment, he even suffered a slight loss of control over his True Qi.

If Mu Lin's control over his True Qi hadn't been far superior to others and if he hadn't prepared thoroughly beforehand, he would have been done for.

But he recovered quickly. Within a few breaths, the True Qi in his body returned to roughly its previous level.

"Not bad," Mu Lin was still quite satisfied. 'Close-quarters combat shouldn't be a problem anymore.'

The cover claimed that mastering the Vertical Cloud Ladder would allow one to travel a thousand li in a day and grant countless other abilities.

Mu Lin felt this was mostly just bragging.

Because a single leap forward like that required a one or two-second rest to recover his strength before he could jump again.

If things went wrong, his True Qi might collapse and run rampant.

Mu Lin was one of the lucky ones; his True Qi was abundant enough to support a single leap.

As for those lesser Grandmasters, the ones who just barely made the cut, they'd be truly screwed. They probably couldn't even muster enough True Qi for a single jump. Their True Qi would likely empty just as they took off, and then they'd be torn to pieces mid-flight, disintegrating in the air in a way they couldn't control.

What happened after that would be tragic. Heaven knows what would become of them.

But if his True Qi were more abundant—say, four or even ten times what he had now—then it would be incredibly effective.

That amount of True Qi would allow for a continuous cycle. The act of leaping would also be a time for his meridians to recover True Qi, enabling a ceaseless circulation.

Moreover, as his control improved, the True Qi required for each leap would decrease, eventually reaching a very low level.

At that point, soaring on the clouds and traveling a thousand li in a day would only be a matter of time.

Mu Lin practiced for a long time. By the time he came to his senses, the sky had already grown dark.

Mu Lin washed his face with water from a mountain spring and gathered some dry wood to start a fire.

It wasn't to warm himself, nor was it for light.

It was the middle of summer; it wasn't cold. And with his advanced cultivation, Mu Lin's night vision was exceptional, allowing him to see clearly without a fire.

He just wanted to find a familiar feeling.

When Mu Lin was in the mountains, he usually cooked over a wood fire. The sight of firewood gave him an involuntary sense of security and contentment.

'Where on earth is that old man now? Has he really abandoned his disciple?'

Mu Lin felt a deep sense of loss.

But it was the middle of summer, and the scorching heat of the flames on his body was not comfortable.

Mu Lin could only wave his hand, extinguishing the fire with his Profound Ice True Qi.

He prepared to head back to the Li Villa. Li Xue was probably leaning against a window again, lost in thought.

'She cuts a rather pitiful figure, like a neglected wife.'

His phone rang. Mu Lin picked it up and saw it was Divine Doctor Zhao.

"Grandmaster Zhao, you were looking for me?"

Hearing Mu Lin's voice, Divine Doctor Zhao felt a wave of relief and relaxed. He said to Mu Lin, "Yes, I was looking for you. I have a patient I simply can't handle. Can you help? If you don't come, the reputation of our Holy Medicine Hall might be ruined."

Mu Lin said, "Grandmaster Zhao, don't worry. I'll be right there!"

He immediately ran out of the woods and jumped onto a truck heading downtown, hitching a free ride. The driver noticed but was helpless to do anything, so he just let him be.

After all, the truck bed was completely empty.

After getting off the truck, Mu Lin sprinted all the way to the Holy Medicine Hall. When he entered, Zhao Ling'Er was busy, while Divine Doctor Zhao was waiting anxiously at the door.

Seeing Mu Lin, he rushed forward as if seeing a family member and said warmly, "Mu Lin, you're here!"

Mu Lin smiled and said, "Of course. You asked me to come, how could I dare delay? So, where is this patient you can't treat?"

Zhao Yang nodded repeatedly and said, "Please, follow me! The person is in the treatment room!"

Mu Lin walked into the treatment room and was surprised to find he recognized the person lying on the treatment bed.

"Old Zhou?"

He was an official, Patrol Captain Zhou. Mu Lin had met him once before.

'To call me all the way out here for this... it's a bit ridiculous.'

Captain Zhou was even more astonished. Divine Doctor Zhao had taken one look at his condition and said he couldn't treat it, but then, just as he was despairing, the doctor mentioned someone far more skilled than himself.

Captain Zhou had immediately agreed to meet this person, but he was shocked when he saw who it was. The so-called unbelievably amazing doctor was actually Mu Lin.

Hadn't Mu Lin claimed to only be roughly skilled in medicine? The two criminals he had handed over had developed problems not long after falling into his custody.

It had made Captain Zhou think he was some kind of jinx, the sort of person who just had to touch someone to make them sick. He had been quite flustered.

Mu Lin asked, "What happened to you?"

Captain Zhou said, "Mr. Mu, I was about to ask you! Are you the Divine Doctor that Divine Doctor Zhao said was even better than him?"

Mu Lin glanced at Zhao Yang, but Zhao Yang just chuckled with a perfectly normal expression. He clearly felt there was nothing wrong with his statement.

Mu Lin was indeed stronger than him, and not just by a little bit.

Mu Lin responded calmly, "Grandmaster Zhao exaggerates. I'm just a minor doctor, I don't deserve such high praise."

Divine Doctor Zhao gestured toward Mu Lin and said to Captain Zhou, "See? Look at him, he still won't admit it! Captain Zhou, don't you believe a word he says. His skills are plain for all to see."

Mu Lin was a little embarrassed. "Grandmaster Zhao, are you really talking about me? How come I never knew I was so good?"

Captain Zhou waved his hand. "Alright, you two, stop with the mutual praise. You're both amazing, okay? Can you just check me out now, please?"

Mu Lin chuckled. "Fine. Captain Zhou, what's the problem?"

Captain Zhou pointed to his body, looking as if it should be obvious:

"Mr. Mu, can't you tell? I'm injured! Seriously injured!"

Mu Lin went, "Oh, oh." "You call this a serious injury? You still seem as lively as ever!"

Captain Zhou's expression faltered, and he looked even more awkward. "Mr. Mu, please don't make fun of me! I'm injured, but I can't exactly come to the doctor with a long face, can I?"

Mu Lin smiled. "Alright, I'll treat your injuries right away."

Captain Zhou looked nonchalant. "Hahaha, I'll be in your hands, Mr. Mu!"

Mu Lin said, "Miss Ling'Er, please clean Captain Zhou's wound first. Where are the scalpel and the bucket?"

Zhao Ling'Er hurried to get a bucket for Mu Lin first, then found the scalpel, and finally took some alcohol-soaked cotton balls to clean Captain Zhou's wound.

While she was disinfecting the area, Mu Lin carefully sized up Captain Zhou from head to toe, making the captain feel rather embarrassed.

"Mr... Mr. Mu, why are you looking at me like that?"

Mu Lin said, "Captain Zhou, raise your left hand."

Beads of sweat appeared on Captain Zhou's forehead, but he did as he was told.