101: Dragon's Den and Tiger's Lair

Lin Jingyu casually tossed the Corpse Demon's severed arm and the damaged nine nether soul-slaying banner into his storage ring, then collected the One-Horned Black Python Demon King's massive remains and broken horn.

Only after completing all this did he slowly retract the slowly rotating Star Dharma Aspect behind him, which exuded a destructive Divine Might.

The vast Dharma Aspect power surged endlessly within him; though the consumption was immense, the powerful sense of controlling that power was unprecedented.

Sounds of rushing air approached from afar, and several figures descended. The leader was none other than Qin Shanhe, the Commander of the Demon Suppression Division.

He strode with the vigor of a Dragon and a tiger, his dark official robe fluttering. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the completely leveled battlefield below, crisscrossed with ravines and residual terrifying energy fluctuations, finally settling on Lin Jingyu, who stood alone in the center of the ruins, covered in blood but with an Aura as deep as an abyss.

Qin Shanhe's keen eyes instantly pierced through the surface, clearly perceiving the vast Dharma Aspect Realm Divine Might emanating from Lin Jingyu, as well as the not yet fully dispersed Star-annihilation intent.

His pupils suddenly contracted, and the usual composure on his face was replaced by a trace of unbelievable shock.

"Dharma Aspect Realm?!" Qin Shanhe exclaimed in a low voice, a barely perceptible hoarseness in his tone.

Just a month ago, when they first met in the Prefecture, this young man was still fighting in the Divine Treasury Realm. Now... he has actually stepped into the Dharma Aspect Realm?!

Moreover, observing the terrifying Demonic Qi, Corpse Evil Qi, and traces of shattered space remaining here, it was clearly the aftermath of an earth-shattering blood battle far exceeding that of an ordinary Dharma Aspect Realm Early Stage practitioner!

Several powerful Demon Suppression Division Guest Elders behind him turned pale, their gazes toward Lin Jingyu filled with awe.

The destructive Aura lingering on the battlefield made even these veteran Divine Treasury Realm experts feel a lingering fear.

"Guest Official Lin... Lin?"

Qin Shanhe suppressed the surging waves in his heart and quickly stepped forward, his tone unprecedentedly solemn, even carrying a hint of treating him as an equal. "What... exactly happened here? You... broke through?"

Lin Jingyu wiped the Demonic blood and dust from his face, revealing sharp, defined features. His eyes were calm and unmoving: "Executing a mission, I slaughtered a black mudfish. Then an old, undying skeleton tried to take advantage, so I tore off one of his arms, and he fled."

His tone was as flat as if he were talking about crushing two ants. He casually tossed the blood-stained Demon Slaying Token, engraved with a ferocious beast head, to Qin Shanhe. "Mission accomplished, Demon King executed. Don't forget the reward."

Qin Shanhe took the token; it was heavy in his hand, and the residual Evil Qi made his fingertips tingle slightly.

He glanced at the token, then deeply at Lin Jingyu, his mind churning.

Slaying a Dharma Aspect Realm Demon King! Repelling (and even severely injuring) a terrifying existence capable of destroying this place to such an extent! This achievement was enough to shake the entire Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Division's high command!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Qin Shanhe repeated the word "good" three times, laughing heartily, his eyes flashing with brilliance. "Guest Official Lin's Divine Might! This is a great service! Merits and Yuan Stones, the Demon Suppression Division will provide double! This place is not suitable for long stays; please return to the Demon Suppression Division with me quickly! I will personally request commendation for you, and there is an important matter to discuss!"

His attitude was eager, and his posture even humbler. In his words, he already regarded Lin Jingyu as an important figure worthy of being treated as an equal.

Lin Jingyu neither affirmed nor denied, merely nodding. He indeed needed a place to stabilize his Realm and digest his gains.

The Demon Suppression Division was a good temporary base.

Imperial Capital, Vermilion Bird Gate.

The red-armored guards at the gate were stricter than usual, and a hint of tension permeated the air.

When Lin Jingyu's towering, mountain-like figure, exuding a strong scent of blood and lingering Evil Qi, reappeared, all the guards instantly tensed, as if facing a formidable enemy!

"St-stop!" The new junior captain's voice trembled as he bravely shouted.

The miserable state of the previous captain was still vivid in their minds.

Lin Jingyu's steps did not falter, his gaze indifferent as he swept it over them.

"How dare you! This is a vital area of the Imperial Capital, how can you..." A middle-aged man who looked like a deputy general roared. He was a newly transferred Meridian Opening Realm Peak expert, confident in his strength. He infused his strength into a steel-tipped spear and fiercely thrust it towards Lin Jingyu's calf, attempting to force him to stop!

This time, Lin Jingyu didn't even use his Physical Body to resist.

Behind him, the previously retracted illusory Star Dharma Aspect, with a slight thought from him, suddenly flashed!

Buzz!

An invisible yet mountain-heavy Divine Might descended with a crash!

Thud! Thud!

Including the deputy general, dozens of guards near the city gate were struck by an invisible giant hammer, their faces instantly turning pale, their knees buckling, and they uncontrollably knelt in a heap!

Their weapons clattered to the ground!

The deputy general bore the brunt, grunting, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with boundless terror!

Dharma Aspect Divine Might!

Just a trace of released Aura made Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artists kneel and vomit blood!

Lin Jingyu didn't even glance at the kneeling guards. Under the gaze of countless terrified and horrified eyes, he walked through the city gate as if strolling leisurely.

Qin Shanhe followed closely, seemingly oblivious to this, but in his heart, he became even more certain: this young man must be firmly tied to the Demon Suppression Division's war chariot!

Demon Suppression Division, Black Prison Institute.

Lin Jingyu sat cross-legged on a stone bed in a quiet room.

He first took out the black water mysterious serpent demon king pill he had obtained from Hidden Demon Valley, which contained pure water element Demonic Qi.

"System, convert!"

[Ding! Converting a Dharma Aspect Realm First Heaven black water mysterious serpent demon king pill! Gaining 100,000 evolution points!]

A faint golden light flashed, and the demon pill disappeared.

Next were the One-Horned Black Python Demon King's remains and broken horn.

"Convert!"

[Ding! Converting a Dharma Aspect Realm Third Heaven One-Horned Black Python Demon King's remains (partial)! Gaining 150,000 evolution points!]

[Ding! Converting the Demon King's horn containing Origin of destruction! Gaining 50,000 evolution points!]

Two clusters of light disappeared.

Finally, the Corpse Demon's severed arm and the half-broken nine nether soul-slaying banner.

"Convert!"

[Ding! Converting a Dharma Aspect Realm Sixth Heaven Corpse Demon's severed arm (containing partial Corpse Dao Origin)! Gaining 200,000 evolution points!]

[Ding! Converting the damaged nine nether soul-slaying banner (containing a large amount of resentful souls' Death Qi and a core token)! Gaining 100,000 evolution points!]

[Obtained special item: yin prison token *1 (damaged, containing Heavenly Prison Aura)]

Total: 600,000 evolution points! Plus a mysterious yin prison token.

"Enhance Great Void Teleportation!" Lin Jingyu didn't hesitate. With his Dharma Aspect formed, Shrinking the Ground to an Inch was no longer sufficient.

[Ding! Consuming 500,000 evolution points! Great Void Teleportation has been upgraded to Minor Achievement! Space teleportation distance, speed, and concealment are greatly increased! Preliminary mastery of short-distance space folding!]

Deeper Profound Truths about space teleportation flooded his mind, and his perception and control over space leaped to a new level.

With the remaining 100,000 evolution points, he chose to enhance the Star Body Tempering Method.

[Ding! Consuming 100,000 evolution points! Star Body Tempering Method has been upgraded to Major Achievement Perfection! Star core stabilized, defense and strength further increased!]

Vast Star Power once again poured into his body, his muscles and bones humming with pleasure, and the silver glow on his body became more subdued, appearing even tougher.

After all this, Lin Jingyu began to fully circulate the Chaos Heaven Opening Art and Star Body Tempering Method, absorbing the thin Spiritual Qi and pervasive Demonic and Evil Qi between heaven and earth, consolidating his newly formed Dharma Aspect Realm, and recovering from the battle's exhaustion.

Behind him, a miniature Star River Dharma Aspect slowly floated, drawing in Void Realm Star Power, forming a self-sustaining cycle.

Just as Lin Jingyu was in seclusion to consolidate his Realm.

Outside the Demon Suppression Division, in a shadowy corner.

The figure of "Shadow Rat" emerged like ripples in water, his face still showing lingering fear. He respectfully handed a recording stone, which contained the final battle scene at Black Wind Ridge, to a figure shrouded in a large black robe, whose Aura was even colder and deeper than Ghost Hand's—"Dark Crow."

"My lord... the target has entered the Demon Suppression Division, broken through to the Dharma Aspect Realm... Corpse Demon Lord suffered a severed arm and fled..." Shadow Rat's voice was dry.

Dark Crow took the recording stone, his deep eyes sweeping over the Demon Suppression Division's fortress, which resembled a primeval behemoth. He said hoarsely, "Understood. Corpse Demon Lord gave an order before going into seclusion to heal: suspend all actions, monitor closely. This child has become formidable; we need a long-term plan. This yin prison token's Aura... Hmph, Heavenly Prison will not give up." His figure slowly melted into the darkness.

At the same time.

Deep within the Imperial City, in a luxurious palace permeated with sandalwood and a feminine Aura.

The Grand Eunuch sat in the main seat, his face pale and beardless, his eyes sinister.

In front of him, bowing, stood his adopted son, the fair-faced Eunuch Wang.

"Godfather, news has come from the Demon Suppression Division. That Lin Jingyu... has broken through to the Dharma Aspect Realm. In the battle at Black Wind Ridge, he single-handedly killed a Dharma Aspect Realm Third Heaven Demon King, and... allegedly severely injured the Corpse Demon." Eunuch Wang's voice trembled with a hint of disbelief.

"Oh?"

The Grand Eunuch's slender fingers gently tapped the purple sandalwood armrest, making soft thudding sounds. His face showed no sign of joy or anger. "Dharma Aspect Realm... that's faster than this servant expected. Even that old ghost Corpse Demon suffered a loss? Hehe, interesting."

"Qin Shanhe values him highly, personally bringing him into the Demon Suppression Division, treating him almost as an equal. Our people... are temporarily unable to approach," Eunuch Wang added.

The Grand Eunuch smiled delicately, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "No matter. If it's a fierce tiger, it will eventually leave its cage. If it's a flood Dragon, it will eventually enter the sea. The waters of the Imperial Capital are deep. Tell those below to just keep an eye on him. Also... prepare a generous gift. For such a talent, our Directorate of Ceremonial should also express its sincerity."

He picked up a cup of crimson wine, took a small sip, and a meaningful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

In the quiet room.

Lin Jingyu slowly opened his eyes; a galaxy seemed to rise and fall within them, and his Aura was completely stabilized at the Dharma Aspect Realm First Heaven Peak.

He spread his palm, and the broken token, neither gold nor jade, cold to the touch, engraved with the eerie rune "Prison," lay quietly there.

"Heavenly Prison... yin prison token..." He murmured softly, his fingers pressing slightly, but the token remained motionless.

"No matter if it's a Dragon's Pool and Tiger's Den, or a demon's lair... evolution points are the fundamental thing."

He put away the token, stood up, his towering figure casting a huge shadow in the quiet room. With a step, space subtly rippled, and his figure vanished from the spot.

The situation in the Imperial Capital, with the official entry of this newly advanced Dharma Aspect Realm fierce god, quietly became turbulent.