111: Royal Treasury, Choose Your Cultivation Techniques

The blood fiend division master token felt cold in his hand, its Evil Qi subtly chilling him to the bone.

Lin Jingyu weighed it, then casually tossed it into his storage ring.

Power and status were merely stepping stones for him to hunt stronger demons and obtain more evolution points.

The yin prison token in his embrace was still vibrating, and the cold intention that pierced through space and time was stirring restlessly, suppressed tightly by the Star Gangsha. 'Heavenly Prison... Demon Kingdom... This token is both the source of disaster and the key. I must increase my strength as quickly as possible!'

Just as the thought crossed his mind, steady footsteps sounded outside the quiet room, accompanied by a deep, gentle voice:

"Brother Lin, congratulations on your promotion to Blood Fiend Division Master! This old man is a step late, please forgive me."

Before the door opened, a mighty Aura, heavy as the earth and deep as the sea, had already enveloped the quiet room—far beyond what Elder Zhao or Leng Yuexin could match! Dharma Aspect Realm Fifth Heaven!

Lin Jingyu's gaze narrowed slightly, and he rose to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a middle-aged man wearing a black python robe. His face was rugged, but his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, seemingly containing endless power.

It was one of the true high-level magnates of the Demon Suppression Division, the Head of the Black Prison Institute—Qin Shanhe!

He was also the key figure who had shown goodwill to Lin Jingyu back in the Prefecture and supported him all the way to the Imperial Capital.

"Head Qin." Lin Jingyu cupped his fists, his tone calm.

Qin Shanhe's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over Lin Jingyu. A brilliant light flashed in his eyes, and he clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "Good! Good! Dharma Aspect Second Heaven! Star Gangsha condensed! Physical Body's Qi and blood dormant like a Dragon! How long has it been? Brother Lin, your progress is truly astonishing! It seems that the demonic lair remains perfectly matches your Dao of the Physical Body!"

He directly mentioned the remains, his tone filled only with admiration and joy, without any hint of covetousness.

"A slight gain." Lin Jingyu replied briefly.

"Haha, what a 'slight gain'!"

Qin Shanhe's laughter was hearty. "Your slaying of the Ghost King, repelling of the Demon General, devouring of the Bone Demon, and counter-killing of the assassins—each of these incidents has caused massive waves among the high-levels of my Demon Suppression Division! Old Hong (Director Hong Lie of the Blazing Sun Division) nearly smashed his table demanding the highest merit for you! Now that you are the Blood Fiend Division Master, holding the same Rank as a Director, it is well-deserved!"

He changed the subject, his tone carrying deep meaning: "However, a tall tree catches the wind. Your edge is too sharp, and you possess a great treasure (referring to the remains). That assassination was absolutely not a coincidence. The water in the Imperial Capital runs deeper than the demonic lair. Various forces are entrenched, demonic evil creatures lurk, and even... the internal workings of my Demon Suppression Division may not be clean."

He looked at Lin Jingyu, his eyes conveying a warning.

"Clowns, just kill them." Lin Jingyu's tone was icy, his killing intent undisguised. He didn't care what faction they belonged to; if they dared to reach out, he would chop off their hands!

"Excellent! I admire your decisive and ruthless nature!"

Instead of being annoyed, Qin Shanhe's appreciation grew stronger. "Demonic Evil Creatures and wicked spirits should be purged with thunderous methods! However, if you want to clear the world, your own strength is the Foundation."

He paused, dropping a major piece of news: "In your trip to the demonic lair, you brought back crucial intelligence about the Demon Kingdom's entrance and repelled a Great General—your contributions are outstanding. This old man has requested merit on your behalf from Your Majesty. Your Majesty's decree: You are permitted to enter the Royal Secret Vault once and choose any one Cultivation Technique or classical text!"

Royal Secret Vault! Cultivation Techniques of your choice!

Lin Jingyu's eyes suddenly lit up! Like two cold stars ignited in the darkness! This was exactly what he needed!

"When can I enter?" He asked directly.

"Now!"

Qin Shanhe smiled, "I will personally guide you. But Brother Lin, the Secret Vault is a critical royal location, guarded by powerful experts, and the rules are strict, you..."

"Lead the way." Lin Jingyu interrupted him, his tone unquestionable. Rules? In the face of his absolute power, rules were merely stepping stones to be broken.

Qin Shanhe shook his head and laughed, already accustomed to Lin Jingyu's style: "Fine! Follow me!"

Deep within the Imperial Palace, a Forbidden Ground.

Passing through layers of strict Restrictions and guards, a magnificent palace constructed entirely of dark, ink-like "Soul Suppressing Stone" appeared before them.

The palace gate was tightly shut, covered with countless mysterious runes, emitting powerful fluctuations that suppressed the Divine Soul and isolated space.

In front of the gate, two old men sat cross-legged. Their Auras were obscure, like two stone sculptures, and they were both experts of the Dharma Idol Realm Third Heaven!

"Head Qin Shanhe of the Black Prison Institute, bearing Your Majesty's decree, accompanied by the newly appointed Blood Fiend Division Master Lin Jingyu, requests entry into the Secret Vault to select a Cultivation Technique." Qin Shanhe displayed a Dragon-patterned gold token.

The Gray-Robed Old Man on the left, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. His gaze was like a physical ice pick, instantly landing on Lin Jingyu, carrying scrutiny and a trace of imperceptible pressure.

The Aura of a Dharma Idol Realm Third Heaven expert was like an invisible mountain, attempting to press down on Lin Jingyu.

"Blood Fiend Division Master? So young?"

The Gray-Robed Old Man's voice was hoarse and laced with doubt. "The Secret Vault is a critical area; only those with outstanding merit and deep Foundation should enter lightly. This child's Qi is restless and his killing nature is too heavy. He might defile the Royal Holy Land."

Qin Shanhe frowned, about to speak.

Lin Jingyu, however, took a step forward!

Boom!

The Star Gangsha erupted violently! Dark silver streams of light surged across his body, as if he were covered in Star Battle Armor!

A terrifying pressure—more powerful, more overbearing, and carrying the will to destroy stars—fiercely rolled back toward the Gray-Robed Old Man like an angry tidal wave!

Thump, thump, thump!

Caught off guard, the Gray-Robed Old Man was hit by this purely savage Physical Body pressure. His Qi and blood churned violently, forcing him back three steps, nearly destabilizing his cross-legged posture!

His eyes instantly erupted with horror, as if he had seen a ghost!

The other Black-Robed Old Man, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, also suddenly opened them, his gaze sharp, looking at Lin Jingyu in shock.

"Open the door." Lin Jingyu retracted his pressure, not even looking at the Gray-Robed Old Man, his voice cold like iron striking stone.

The Gray-Robed Old Man's face alternated between green and white, a mix of shock and anger. But feeling the terrifying strength within Lin Jingyu, like a dormant Vicious Beast, and seeing Qin Shanhe's half-smile nearby, he ultimately dared not speak any more nonsense.

He exchanged a glance with the Black-Robed Old Man and simultaneously formed hand seals.

Buzz!

The Runes on the Soul Suppressing Stone gate flowed, emitting a deep rumble, and slowly opened to both sides, revealing a deep, unfathomable passage within that exuded an ancient, vast Aura.

"Brother Lin, please." Qin Shanhe turned sideways and made a gesture, the smile in his eyes deepening.

He enjoyed watching these old fogeys who relied on their seniority suffer a setback.

Lin Jingyu stepped in first.

The internal space of the Secret Vault was far more vast than it appeared from the outside.

It seemed to form its own small world.

Rows of gigantic Dark Jade bookshelves stood tall, holding tens of thousands of Jade Slips, bone fragments, animal skin scrolls, and even some strange metal plates.

The air was filled with a rich ancient Aura and mixed yet powerful energy fluctuations.

The Cultivation Technique classical texts were categorized by attribute and Rank, vast as the ocean.

[Ding! Detected a large number of high-Rank Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills! Initiate scanning and input?] The System prompt instantly sounded!

"Scan and input!" Lin Jingyu ordered without hesitation in his mind. This was the biggest goal of his trip! Cultivation Techniques? He didn't need to practice them, he only needed to "read" them!

In an instant, an invisible torrent of data seemed to flash deep within Lin Jingyu's pupils!

Wherever his gaze swept, the complete Cultivation Technique information recorded within the Jade Slips, bone fragments, or animal skin scrolls was instantly captured, parsed, and recorded by the System, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!

[Ding! Inputting Heaven Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, "Nine Nether Profound Ice Force"!]

[Ding! Inputting Heaven Rank Low Grade Martial Skill, "Thirteen Swords of Rending Void"!]

[Ding! Inputting Earth Rank Supreme Grade Movement Technique, "Wandering Dragon Startling Swan Steps"!]

[Ding! Inputting Incomplete Divine Treasury Realm Body Refining Art, "Dragon Elephant Hegemon Body Art" (First Volume)!]

The prompt sounds flooded Lin Jingyu's mind like a waterfall! Massive amounts of Cultivation Technique information were being frantically recorded by the System!

This efficiency was tens of thousands of times faster than if he were to "read" them one by one himself! The Royal Secret Vault truly was his super evolution points raw material repository!

Qin Shanhe followed behind, only seeing Lin Jingyu's sharp gaze and steady steps as he scanned the bookshelves on both sides, seemingly making a careful selection.

How could he know that Lin Jingyu was "looting" the Martial Dao heritage accumulated by the royal family over countless years in an unbelievable manner!

As Lin Jingyu walked, he quickly filtered the Cultivation Technique information recorded by the System in his mind.

Most Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques held little significance for him now. He was looking for special existences that could provide huge amounts of evolution points, or serve as evolutionary resources for the Chaos Heaven Opening Art and the Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart!

Suddenly!

When he passed an area displaying ancient animal skins and strange Ores, the yin prison token in his embrace suddenly trembled violently! More intensely than any time before!

An unprecedented, extremely cold suction force erupted, aimed directly at an inconspicuous corner ahead!

There, an object the size of a palm, entirely black, irregularly shaped, and resembling a fragment of some metal, lay quietly inside a crystal cover.

The surface of the fragment was covered with twisted dark gold patterns, emitting a faint yet extraordinarily pure nine nether death qi that seemed capable of freezing the Soul!

Its Aura was of the same Origin as the yin prison token, yet it seemed older and more fundamental!

The small tag next to the crystal cover read:

[nameless fragment (Suspected Remnant of an Ancient Underworld Artifact): Contains pure nine nether death qi. Its nature is extremely cold and violent. Impossible to refine, only for research and collection. Danger Rank: Extremely High.]

"That's it!" Lin Jingyu's heart stirred. The source of the yin prison token's anomaly! The value of this item was probably far greater than those Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques!

He walked straight to the crystal cover and pointed at the black fragment: "I want this."

Qin Shanhe followed, and seeing the fragment, he frowned slightly: "Brother Lin, this object contains the heaviest Death Qi in the Secret Vault and is extremely dangerous. Historically, those who tried to refine it were either killed or injured, and it cannot be used for Cultivation at all. Are you sure you want to choose it? Why not select a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, or that incomplete volume of the Dragon Elephant Hegemon Body Art, which might benefit your Physical Body."

"Confirmed." Lin Jingyu's tone was resolute.

Impossible to refine? That was for others! With the System, there was no energy that couldn't be converted!

Seeing his firm resolve, Qin Shanhe stopped trying to dissuade him and nodded: "Very well. Since you have chosen it, this old man will retrieve it for you."

He formed hand seals, and a spiritual light shot into the crystal cover. The cover silently slid open.

The moment the cover opened!

An unexpected change occurred!

Buzz—!

The black fragment seemed to sense the existence of the yin prison token and suddenly burst out with monstrous black light!

The terrifying nine nether death qi was like a burst flood,

instantly sweeping across the entire Secret Vault area! The temperature plummeted to absolute zero!

The Dark Jade bookshelves groaned under the strain! The two Dharma Aspect Realm old men guarding the entrance were horrified and instantly rushed in!

"Not good!" Qin Shanhe's expression changed drastically. The mighty Aura of Dharma Aspect Realm Fifth Heaven erupted violently, attempting to suppress the rampaging Death Qi!

However, the purity and ferocity of the Death Qi far exceeded imagination! Moreover, a ferocious will originating from antiquity roared within it!

The fragment transformed into a black ray of death, carrying a terrifying Aura that could pierce everything, shooting straight toward Lin Jingyu's chest! Its speed was extreme!

At the same time, the yin prison token in Lin Jingyu's embrace completely lost control, vibrating violently. The cold suction force and the Death Qi erupting from the fragment resonated wildly, as if trying to drag his entire being into the endless Underworld!

Crisis! This fragment seemed to possess a spirit, attempting to launch a counter-attack and Possession!

A fierce light burst forth from Lin Jingyu's eyes!

Not only did he not retreat, but he spread his five fingers wide. The dark silver Star Gangsha burned like flames on his muscular, bulging arm, carrying the terrifying power to crush stars, and fiercely grabbed toward the Black Ray of Death!

"Be... Suppressed!"