134: Breakthrough! Seventh level of the Dharma Aspect Realm

The heavy atmosphere of the Earthly Fiend Hall of the Demon Suppression Division was torn apart by the shrill voice of the Old Eunuch in a crimson python robe.

"Announce Blood Fiend Division Master Lin Jingyu of the Demon Suppression Division to immediately enter the palace for an audience! There must be no delay!"

The Imperial Household Consecrated Guards followed closely, their dark-gold Dragon-patterned armor cold, their gazes like hawks, filled with scrutiny and apprehension, firmly fixed on the iron-tower-like figure in the hall.

Lin Jingyu’s expression was indifferent. He bent down, as if picking up a roadside pebble, and casually tucked the two terrifying demon cores radiating monstrous power—the essence of Bone Yama and Red Slaughter, capable of stirring up a storm of blood and gore—into his Huai.

His movements were casual, yet they made the eyelids of all the Directors in the hall twitch wildly, and even the Old Eunuch’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

"Understood."

Lin Jingyu’s voice was calm and unruffled. His gaze turned to deputy commander Wei Wuya. "Commander Wei, the Demon Suppression Division has clearly recorded my merits and intelligence. As for the reward..."

A cold sneer played at the corner of his mouth, carrying a hint of disdain.

"It's not too late to discuss it after I've met the Emperor."

As his voice fell, his burly figure strode outwards. His steps were as steady as a moving mountain, carrying an invisible pressure. The several Imperial Household Consecrated Guards, whose auras were condensed, subconsciously moved aside to clear the path, none daring to confront him directly!

The Old Eunuch's face darkened, but he could only flick his sleeve and quickly follow with the Consecrated Guards.

The hall doors closed with a heavy echo, cutting off Wei Wuya and the others' extremely solemn gazes and the two pieces of intelligence that could overturn the Imperial Capital.

The air still lingered with the fierce aura of the Dominator demon core, and the world-ending gloom named 'Abyssal Dominator' brought by Lin Jingyu.

[System Panel]

[host]: Lin Jingyu

[Realm]: Sixth Heaven of Dharma Aspect Realm (Early Stage) (Primordial Chaos Body!)

[Cultivation Technique]:

Myriad Tribulations Indestructible Body (Initiation)

Primordial Creation Scripture (Embryonic Form)

Primordial Chaos Divine Demon Diagram (Initiation)

Great Void Teleportation (Minor Achievement) (Space Affinity!)

Star Shattering Finger (Perfection)

[Dharma Manifestation]: Primordial Chaos Divine Demon Manifestation (Initial Completion)

[Divine Ability]:

Eye of Annihilation (Left: Chaos Divine Fire! Right: Primordial Stars!)

Heaven and Earth Conformity (Elementary)

Heart Fire Burns the Heavens (Minor Achievement)

[Items]:

yin prison token *1 (Dormant! A wisp of extremely faint Abyssal Qi, completely different from the demon core, quietly entwines within the deep cracks of its core!)

blood fiend division master token *1

fragmented claw of the sovereign *2 (The dark-gold demon patterns flicker with a faint glow under the stimulation of the Imperial Dragon Qi, showing signs of awakening!)

bone yama demon core *1 (Third Heaven of the Domain Realm! Abyssal Entanglement!)

Red Slaughter Demon Core *1 (Peak Fifth Heaven of Dharma Manifestation Realm! Abyssal Entanglement!)

[evolution points]: 0

[Status]: Entering the Palace for an Audience! Demon Core Hidden Danger! Fragmented Claw Anomaly! Imperial Dragon's Den!

---

The Imperial Palace, deep as the sea.

Passing through layers of strict palace ban, the Dragon Qi pressure grew increasingly intense. Amidst its grandeur and majesty, there was an indescribable chill and a sense of decline.

The air was filled with the rich scent of dragon's saliva incense, attempting to mask a deeper, more decaying smell.

The guiding Old Eunuch walked silently, his eyes downcast, yet he felt a prickle on his back.

The several Imperial Household Consecrated Guards were even more tense, forming a semi-encirclement that subtly guarded Lin Jingyu in the middle. It was less a protection and more a precaution.

Lin Jingyu's face was like iron, his steps unwavering.

The two Dominator demon cores in his embrace, under the continuous stimulation of the dense Dragon Qi, had their internal violent demonic origins become abnormally active. The Abyssal Qi entwined around them even subtly squirmed like living things, bringing faint, icy stabs of pain, attempting to erode his flesh and blood.

'Dragon Qi... Abyss... mutually stimulating each other?'

Lin Jingyu's mind stirred slightly. His Myriad Tribulations Indestructible Body circulated on its own, and faint golden vital Qi surged beneath his skin, easily dispelling the erosion into nothingness.

His attention was more focused on another place in his embrace—the two fragmented claws of the Dominator!

The dark-gold demon patterns flickered with increasing frequency under the washing of the vast Dragon Qi!

As if a sleeping viper had been startled awake, an extremely subtle will, carrying greed and the instinct for destruction, was slowly reviving from deep within the fragmented claws!

It was no longer residual ferocity, but some higher-level existence, peering through these two severed remains at the Imperial Palace shrouded in Dragon Qi!

"Hmph." Lin Jingyu coldly snorted in his heart. A more domineering and chaotic aura emanated from the Primordial Chaos Divine Demon Diagram, instantly suppressing the anomaly of the fragmented claws.

The faint glow of the demon patterns flickered a few times unwillingly, then fell silent again, but the feeling of being spied upon did not completely disappear.

'Abyssal Will? Or the demonic lord's imprint remaining on the claws themselves? The Imperial Palace... is indeed not simple.'

Finally, the group stopped before a palace hall.

The three gilded characters "Imperial Study" hung high, solemn and majestic.

The hall door opened silently, and a rich scholarly scent mixed with an even richer dragon's saliva incense wafted out. The light inside the hall was slightly dim, and behind a massive desk, a figure was hidden behind a hanging pearl curtain, indistinct and unclear.

Only a heavy, abyss-like pressure, yet with a hint of decay, permeated the air, causing a chilling sensation.

The Old Eunuch bowed outside the door and sharply announced, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Blood Fiend Division Master Lin Jingyu of the Demon Suppression Division has been brought."

"Enter." A slightly hoarse voice, lacking vigor, came from behind the pearl curtain.

Lin Jingyu stepped in.

The hall was empty. Besides the figure behind the desk, there were only two Old Eunuchs standing like stone statues, their auras obscure and profound. They were both Dharma Aspect Realm masters!

In the corner's shadow, a grey-robed figure almost merged with the shadow, its aura even more ethereal and unpredictable, carrying a sharp edge—a Domain Realm Consecrated Guard!

Lin Jingyu walked to the center of the hall and did not perform a grand bow, merely nodding slightly: "Lin Jingyu greets Your Majesty."

His voice was calm, neither humble nor arrogant.

The figure behind the pearl curtain seemed to stir. A sharp gaze pierced through the curtain, landing on Lin Jingyu, filled with scrutiny, and even more, a condescending inquiry and... an obscure greed?

That gaze lingered for a moment on his unbelievably powerful Physical Body, finally seeming to settle on his bulging embrace.

"Minister Lin..."

The hoarse voice spoke again, with a hint of deliberate gentleness, "I heard that you ventured alone deep into the core of the Demon Kingdom, achieved immense merit, slew a Dominator, destroyed its node, and even brought back top-secret intelligence concerning the survival of the Imperial Capital?"

"Yes." Lin Jingyu's reply was concise.

"Good! Good! Good!"

The figure behind the pearl curtain praised three times, his tone filled with exaggerated approval. "Minister Lin is truly the pillar of my Great Yin! Such great merit shall be recorded in history! I am deeply comforted!"

"I wish to heavily reward you! The position of Imperial Advisor awaits, the Great Yin's treasury is open to you, Divine Abilities, secret manuals, Heaven And Earth Treasure are yours to choose! And even..."

The voice paused, carrying a hint of temptation, "My precious daughter, at the prime of her youth, can also be betrothed to you, to share wealth and glory! What does Minister Lin think?"

The hall was dead silent. The grey-robed Consecrated Guard in the corner seemed to lift an eyelid.

Lin Jingyu's face showed no ripple, as if he had only heard a street vendor's cry.

He looked directly at the figure behind the pearl curtain, his voice still calm, yet with an undeniable penetrative power:

"Your Majesty's kindness, I, Lin, appreciate. The position of Imperial Advisor, I have no interest in. The princess, even less interest."

He changed his tone, like a drawn sword, pointing directly to the core:

"My request is simple: the value of the Demon Kingdom intelligence, Your Majesty and the Demon Suppression Division will have their own judgment. I, Lin, only take equivalent items—top-tier Body Refining divine materials, exotic Ore containing special energy, or... priority exploration rights to ancient ruins!"

Lin Jingyu deliberately emphasized the last phrase, "ancient ruins."

Silence fell behind the pearl curtain.

The gentle praise seemed to freeze instantly.

An invisible pressure permeated the hall, carrying the cold anger of being defied.

The grey-robed Consecrated Guard in the corner, his aura suddenly became sharp, like a peerless fierce blade about to be unsheathed!

The two Old Eunuchs also slightly raised their lowered eyelids.

"Minister Lin..."

The hoarse voice sounded again, this time completely shedding its disguise, leaving only the emperor's indifference and indisputability, "This is boundless imperial grace! I, seeing your immense merit, bestow upon you supreme honor! Do not... fail to appreciate my favor!"

"Fail to appreciate my favor?"

Lin Jingyu’s lips curled into a cold sneer, his eyes sharp as blades, sweeping over the pearl curtain, then over the grey-robed Consecrated Guard in the corner. "I, a mere martial artist, only believe in fists. Rewards are taken by skill. Transactions are based on value. As for favor?"

He suddenly took a step forward!

Boom!

A ferocious and peerless Chaos Qi, as if from the dawn of Grandmist, erupted! The violent vital Qi smoke uncontrollably soared into the sky, instantly scattering the dense dragon's saliva incense in the hall, illuminating the dim Imperial Study in a dark-gold hue!

Space around him slightly twisted, rippling visibly to the naked eye!

"I don't need it!"

"Presumptuous!" A cold, sharp shout exploded from the corner!

The grey-robed Consecrated Guard moved!

His figure was like a ghost, instantly disappearing from his spot, reappearing the next moment beside Lin Jingyu. A withered hand formed into a claw, carrying a shriek that tore through the Void Realm, aiming straight for Lin Jingyu's vital point under the ribs!

The claw wind was chilling to the bone, containing terrifying power capable of freezing vital Qi and shattering Dharma Manifestations!

The pressure of the First Heaven of the Domain Realm crushed down without reservation!

"Scram!"

Lin Jingyu didn't even turn his head, merely uttering a cold word!

He casually waved his left hand backward, fingers spread, as if swatting a fly!

Buzz!

As his palm swung, the air let out an unbearable explosion! There was no dazzling light, only pure, ultimate, terrifyingly condensed power!

The muscles on his arm bulged, veins coiled like dragons and snakes, and faint golden vital Qi surged beneath his skin, instantly covering it with a chaotic hue!

Bang—Crack!

The withered claw and the chaotic palm collided fiercely!

A sickening crunch of bone shattered! Followed by the grey-robed Consecrated Guard's suppressed groan of pain!

The withered sharp claw, at the moment of contact with Lin Jingyu's palm, was as if it had struck a mountain forged from divine iron of a billion years!

Its five fingers instantly twisted and deformed, finger bones shattering inch by inch!

Violent power surged up his arm, and his entire limb groaned under the unbearable strain!

The grey-robed Consecrated Guard's face drastically changed, his eyes flashing with horror. He felt as if he hadn't grabbed a Physical Body, but the entire solidified space!

That overwhelming and irresistible power far exceeded his imagination!

He wanted to retreat quickly, but Lin Jingyu's palm was like a bone-sticking maggot, and his five fingers suddenly closed!

"Puff!"

Blood mist exploded! That withered claw, along with half an arm, was actually crushed by Lin Jingyu!

The grey-robed Consecrated Guard screamed as he flew backward, crashing heavily into the Imperial Study's coiled-Dragon golden pillar, causing spiderweb-like cracks to appear on the steel-hard golden pillar. He spurted blood from his mouth, his aura instantly withered, and his gaze towards Lin Jingyu was filled with utter terror!

The hall was dead silent! One could hear a pin drop!

The two Dharma Aspect Realm Old Eunuchs froze in place, their faces pale.

The figure behind the pearl curtain also seemed to have solidified.

Lin Jingyu slowly withdrew his hand, flicking off the bits of flesh and blood adhering to his fingers, as if he had just done a trivial thing.

He didn't even look at the severely injured Consecrated Guard, his gaze once again cast towards the pearl curtain, his voice like ten thousand years of cold ice:

"Your Majesty, can we now properly discuss the reward? Or, would you like to personally test my fists?"

The fragmented claw of the Dominator in his embrace, stimulated by the chaotic vital Qi that had just erupted, caused its dark-gold demon patterns to suddenly glow brightly for an instant. A faint, extremely subtle fluctuation of will, carrying greed and destruction, flashed by, as if craving more, stronger power collisions!

Behind the pearl curtain, there was a deathly silence.

After several breaths, the hoarse voice finally sounded again, carrying a hint of barely suppressed trembling and... deeper apprehension:

"Good... good indeed, 'taken by skill'! Minister Lin... I grant your requested reward! The Demon Suppression Division will handle the handover with you! Top-tier divine materials, exotic Ore, as long as they are in the treasury, you may choose as you wish! As for ancient ruins..."

The figure behind the pearl curtain seemed to lean forward slightly, his voice carrying a strange fluctuation.

"Coincidentally, three thousand li outside the Imperial Capital, deep within the Black Wind Mountain Range, an ancient ruin, the 'Ancient God Burial Ground', which has been dormant for ten thousand years, is about to appear! This is a secret of my Great Yin Imperial Family! I shall use the 'core exploration rights' to this ruin as an additional reward for Minister Lin's merits this time! How about it?"