232: Head to the core

The stench of blood within the valley had yet to dissipate, mixing with the sweet yet decaying scent of the pale purple Bone-Eroding Poisonous Miasma, lingering in the air like an invisible hand clutching one's throat.

The ground was littered with corpses and shattered rocks, reflecting an unsettling color under the dim light.

Residual Devilish Qi was slowly dissipating from the few bodies that had just lost their life force, seemingly swallowed quietly by the greedy earth, adding a layer of gloom and eeriness.

Lin Jingyu stood still, his dark azure robes fluttering gently in the breeze, his expression so calm it was as if the recent overwhelming and destructive crushing defeat had not been executed by him.

Only his deep-set eyes occasionally flashed with a faint sharpness, like an undercurrent surging beneath a frozen lake, indicating that his heart was not entirely calm, but that he had internalized all shock and thought into deeper composure and resolve.

He slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, suppressing the subtle agitation caused by his power increase and decisive slaughter, allowing his mind to settle back into the stillness of an ancient well.

"Clean up the battlefield, process the Storage Pouches, and categorize and take all usable Medicinal Pills and Talismans."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried an unquestionable authority, clear and cold like ice water dripping onto a jade plate, accurately piercing the thin poisonous miasma and clearly reaching everyone's ears.

It was also like a cold awl, stabbing into the hearts of the captives, including Ouyang Ming, sharply waking them from their stupor and immense fear.

Ouyang Ming's face was ashen. He struggled to climb up from the ground, the dignity and demeanor he once held as a Family Elder long gone, leaving only the disarray of a survivor and bone-deep terror.

Hunching his back, he silently picked up the Storage Pouches belonging to Baili Feng and the several dead Devilish Cultivators scattered on the ground.

His hands trembled slightly, uncontrollably, as he respectfully presented them to Lin Jingyu. His throat was dry, and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

"He... he's actually this strong... Baili Feng, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, couldn't even last a single exchange against him... My Ouyang Family truly hit a steel plate this time. No, we hit an iceberg!"

Ouyang Ming's heart was filled with regret and despair, devoid of any thought of resistance.

He blamed himself immensely, wondering if none of this would have happened had he not harbored greed.

Perhaps the group wouldn't have suffered so many losses.

The remaining surrendered Cultivators from the Ouyang Family and Baili Family were utterly silent, like startled quail, swiftly cleaning the battlefield and collecting all valuable spoils of war.

They didn't even spare the fragments of broken Magical Artifacts and scattered Spirit Stones, moving quickly and fearfully, terrified that a moment's delay would draw the attention of that Killing God and lead them to follow in Baili Feng's footsteps.

The air was filled with the scent of blood, Devilish Qi, and the intense aura of fear emanating from them.

Qin Yue gracefully moved her steps, walking beside Lin Jingyu. Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, and a trace of deep worry flickered in her beautiful eyes. She parted her red lips and transmitted her voice:

"Jingyu, is handling things this way... too risky? Within the Secret Realm, Devilish Cultivators are powerful, and we are already short-handed.

Now we have completely fallen out with the Ouyang and Baili Families, and we are also bringing these captives who harbor ill intentions.

What if... they defect during a battle, or secretly cause trouble? Wouldn't that lead to internal and external crises, causing the situation to completely spiral out of control?"

Her concerns were far-sighted. Currently, the Alliance is falling apart, and powerful enemies surround them. Any internal instability could become the fuse for their destruction.

She looked at Lin Jingyu's side profile, young yet already showing resolve, feeling both admiration for his decisiveness and heartache for the pressure he bore.

Lin Jingyu slightly turned his head to look at Qin Yue. The chill in his eyes softened, and he replied via voice transmission, his voice steady and reassuring:

"Sister Yue, don't worry. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Ouyang Ming and the others have had most of their cultivation crippled, and their lives are entirely at my whim.

They fear death more than we do and dare not make any moves in the short term. Instead of letting them roam freely, keeping them by our side acts as a restraint. As for Shopkeeper Feng's side..."

He paused, his tone carrying an unquestionable certainty:

"I believe that with Shopkeeper Feng's wisdom and methods, she is fully capable of controlling the overall situation and distinguishing right from wrong. The priority now is to quickly rendezvous with them.

The Demonic Cult is planning extensively, and Standing for Fierce Blood Sun has great ambitions. We must concentrate all the strength we can muster to have a sliver of hope. To split and fight internally due to suspicion at this moment is the true path to death."

His analysis was calm and thorough, like a clear spring pouring into Qin Yue's heart, slightly easing her anxiety.

She nodded gently and said softly:

"You are right. I worried too much, Sister. Just... be careful in everything."

She knew there was no better choice now; she could only choose to trust Lin Jingyu's judgment and Feng Xixi's capability without reservation.

At this moment, Xu Li finished adjusting his breath and slowly walked over. His face was still somewhat pale, having engaged in successive fierce battles with the Shadow Skeleton Leopard and the Devilish Cultivators.

Furthermore, forcefully using his Sword Intent before it had fully recovered caused some internal shock to his organs. However, his eyes were still sharp as an eagle's, and when he looked at Lin Jingyu, he openly displayed admiration and curiosity.

"Fellow Daoist Lin truly is... constantly astonishing."

Xu Li's voice was slightly hoarse, yet every word was clear, like the clash of metal:

"That finger strike used moments ago to break the formation—it was handled with deceptive ease, simplifying the complex. It appeared unremarkable, but in reality, the requirements for Spiritual Sense perception and spiritual power control have reached the Transcendent Realm.

You have faintly touched upon the profound Realm of 'Intent Precedes the Move, Perceiving the Minute.'

Xu Mou, having immersed himself in the Way of the Sword for many years, dares to say that even at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, he would find it difficult to so precisely capture and destroy the operational nodes of a fellow Cultivator's Cultivation Technique. I am impressed!"

As a Sword Dao Genius of the Qinglan Sect, his eyesight was naturally sharp, and he instantly revealed the essence of Lin Jingyu's finger strike.

He paused, then continued:

"Based on the strength Fellow Daoist has displayed, although your spiritual power fluctuations are still at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, your true combat power and Spiritual Sense intensity probably already surpass that of an ordinary Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator.

Even if placed within the Inner Gate of my Qinglan Sect, you would be sufficient to rank among the Elite Disciples, perhaps even... a True Heir."

Lin Jingyu cupped his hands, his tone humble yet not subservient, possessing his own unique demeanor:

"Brother Xu, you flatter me. The situation forced my hand; I had no choice but to act. Such minor tricks are hardly worthy of praise. The absolute priority now is to quickly rendezvous with Shopkeeper Feng.

Standing for Fierce Blood Suns' conspiracy is likely approaching the point where the dagger is revealed when the map is unrolled; delays will lead to complications."

Changing the subject, his eyes shone with confident and resolute light:

"However, through this battle, I have gained some insights, and my cultivation barrier has loosened.

The soul fiend crystal in this Secret Realm is greatly beneficial to me, and I just obtained the supreme-grade crystal from that Foundation Establishment Bone Spider. Using this to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining will not be difficult.

Once my Realm improves, I will have a few more degrees of certainty when facing the main force of the Devilish Cultivators, contributing more to completely thwarting their conspiracy!"

The certainty and confidence in his words seemed to carry an invisible power, infecting everyone present.

Who would dare believe that within just a few days, a Cultivator at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer was about to ascend to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining!