15: Entry into the city

"Boom—!!!"

The underground cavern groaned and trembled under the destructive power of the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art.

The arms of the Corpse Fiend Master, which had gathered all its corpse fiend energy in an attempt to block, shattered and disintegrated like rotten wood the instant they made contact with the golden fist!

The violent Dragon-Elephant Power pierced through without any obstruction, slamming heavily into its cyan-black, steel-hard skull!

"Crack! Boom—!!!"

It was as if a giant leather bag filled with filthy blood had been smashed open by a hammer!

That hideous skull exploded instantly! Thick, foul-smelling black brains mixed with shattered bone fragments sprayed backward like fireworks!

The massive headless body twitched violently, sent flying backward by the remaining overwhelming force, and slammed heavily into the bone altar behind it, which was covered in blood-red runes!

"Rumble!"

The altar gave an overwhelmed groan and collapsed by more than half! Countless pale bones turned to dust under the immense force!

The three-meter-tall headless corpse twitched a few times, and the corpse fiend black flames churning on its surface dimmed and dissipated like a snuffed-out candle flame. Finally, it collapsed to the ground with a thud, kicking up dust filled with a pungent stench of corpses.

Inside the cavern, there was a deathly silence.

Only the sound of gravel falling from the rock walls and the ripples on the surface of the blood pool remained.

【Ding! Killed Peak Bone Forging Realm Corpse Fiend Master! evolution points +1500!】

The cold notification sound was like music to his ears!

Lin Jingyu slowly retracted his fist. The immortal golden light covering his body receded like a tide, finally vanishing beneath his skin, leaving only a faint dark golden luster flowing over it.

"Peak Bone Forging Realm... is nothing more than a single punch!" He felt the surging power within his body, looked at the massive headless corpse on the ground, and a cold arc curved at the corner of his mouth.

Crushing an opponent of a higher Realm; with a Meridian Opening Realm body, he had forcefully shaken the Peak Bone Forging Realm Corpse Fiend Master and blown its head off with a single punch!

【Current evolution points: 1531!】

A massive amount of evolution points! An unprecedented wealth!

"System, pull up the panel!"

【host: Lin Jingyu】

【Realm: Meridian Opening Realm, Ninth Level Peak】

【Cultivation Technique: Indestructible Vajra Divine Art (Initiate)】—Immortal and indestructible, warding off all evil!

【Martial Skill: Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique (Minor Achievement)】—Dragon-Elephant Power, suppressing Hell!

【Movement Technique: Wind Chasing Steps (Major Achievement)】

【evolution points: 1531】

"Peak of the ninth level of the Meridian Opening Realm... just one step away from the Bone Forging Realm!" A sharp light exploded in Lin Jingyu's eyes. With his current accumulation, if he wanted to, he could immediately consume evolution points to forcefully break through to the Bone Forging Realm!

But he wanted to see if, relying on the accumulation of his Indestructible Vajra Divine Art and Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique, he could break through naturally in the coming slaughter! By accumulating and waiting for the right moment, his Foundation would be even more unbreakable!

His gaze swept over the chaotic cavern.

In the ruins of the altar, a point of dark red light caught his attention.

He walked over, pushed aside the broken bones and filth, and found a bead the size of a dragon's eye, dark red all over, with what looked like viscous blood flowing inside, lying quietly there.

It felt cold to the touch, yet it contained a vast and pure Origin of corpse fiend energy, far exceeding the demon core of that old poison master from before!

【Corpse Fiend Blood Bead (Peak Bone Forging Realm): Contains pure corpse fiend Origin, can be used for Body Refining or refining Evil Path Magical Artifacts. System recycle price: 500 evolution points!】

"500 points? Good stuff!" Lin Jingyu did not hesitate. "Recycle!"

【Recycle successful! evolution points +500!】

【Current evolution points: 2031!】

"Very good!" Lin Jingyu nodded in satisfaction. No longer lingering, he turned and strode out of this tomb filled with the Aura of death.

Outside the mass grave, the setting sun had completely sunk below the horizon, leaving only a touch of dark red in the sky. The night wind blew with the bleakness unique to the wilderness and a faint scent of blood.

Lin Jingyu's burly figure appeared exceptionally tall in the twilight.

His coarse linen clothes were already tattered from the repeated fierce battles, revealing the powerful muscles beneath that were knotted like dragons and shimmering with a dark golden luster.

The filthy blood and flesh stained on his skin quickly dried and flaked off in the night wind, leaving not a trace, revealing the profound mystery of the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art.

He identified the direction, his footsteps steady and swift; every step he took carried a sense of heavy power as he sped towards "Black Stone City," a small city in the borderlands from his memories.

He traveled swiftly all night.

When the first ray of dawn pierced the darkness and dispersed the thin mist of the wilderness, the outline of a city built from huge black rocks appeared on the horizon.

Black Stone City! One of the three cities in the borderlands, a gathering place where Mortals, low-level Martial Artists, merchant caravans, and various gray forces struggled to survive in the cracks between demons and monsters.

The city walls were tall and thick, covered in cuts from blades and axes and dried dark brown bloodstains, silently recounting the cruelty this place had experienced.

There were few people at the city gate, and the atmosphere was oppressive. The soldiers guarding the city wore old leather armor, their eyes scanning everyone approaching with vigilance and numbness.

Lin Jingyu's arrival immediately drew the attention of the guards at the city gate.

"Stop!" a guard with a scar on his Face, who seemed to be the captain, shouted sternly, his eyes vigilant as he subconsciously gripped the long spear in his hand. The several guards behind him also became nervous and raised their weapons.

"What are you here for? State your name! The city entry fee is one tael of silver per person!" The scar-faced captain scanned Lin Jingyu with scrutiny and a hint of imperceptible greed. Such lone travelers who looked like they had just been through a bloody battle often had some "oil and water" on them.

Lin Jingyu did not stop his pace, walking straight to within a zhang of the city gate before stopping. He was expressionless, his gaze sweeping calmly over these guards, who were at most at the seventh or eighth level of Body Refining.

"Entering the city." His voice was low, carrying an unquestionable tone.

"Silver!" The scar-faced captain felt his heart tighten under the gaze of Lin Jingyu, which contained immense pressure even in its calmness. But duty called, and relying on the City Lord's Mansion behind him, he bit the bullet and reached out his hand.

Lin Jingyu's brows furrowed imperceptibly.

He possessed nothing of value; silver? He had plenty of Materials from killing demons, but obviously not for these small fries.

He couldn't be bothered with nonsense and directly stepped forward.

"Presumptuous!" Seeing that the other party dared to ignore him, the scar-faced captain immediately felt he had lost Face in front of his subordinates and shouted angrily, "Stop him! Take him down!"

Although the few guards were a bit intimidated by Lin Jingyu's Aura, they dared not disobey the captain's order and bit the bullet, raising their spears to thrust at him! The spear tips flashed with cold light, accompanied by the sound of breaking wind!

A cold light flashed in Lin Jingyu's eyes! He didn't even have the interest to make a move against these ant-like obstructions!

"Scram!"

A low shout, like a muffled thunderclap!

The Qi and blood power of the Ninth Level Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm, mixed with the might of a Dragon-Elephant, erupted with this low shout!

"Hum—!"

An invisible, mountain-heavy wave of air suddenly expanded from Lin Jingyu as the center!

"Bang bang bang bang!"

Those guards who had thrust their spears were hit in the chest as if by a stampeding wild bull; their spears instantly bent and flew from their hands! Several people screamed and flew backward, slamming heavily several zhang away, blood spilling from their mouths and noses, struggling but unable to get up!

The scar-faced captain was a bit further away, but he also felt a massive force slam into his chest. His Qi and blood churned, and he stumbled back seven or eight steps before barely standing firm. His Face turned deathly pale, and his gaze toward Lin Jingyu was filled with horror!

"Qi... Qi and blood smoke? Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm?!" The scar-faced captain's voice went out of tune. In this small borderland city, the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm was definitely considered a top-tier expert! It was simply not someone these gate-keeping small fries could provoke!

The originally sparse pedestrians at the city gate were also stunned by this sudden change, stopping one after another to watch the burly figure, who looked like a Vicious Beast, with awe.

"Trash!" A cold snort filled with arrogance and dissatisfaction came from inside the city gate.

A young man dressed in luxurious brocade martial attire, wearing jade at his waist, with a somewhat sinister look on his Face, walked out surrounded by a group of fierce-looking guards.

The young man was about twenty years old, with arrogant eyes. His gaze swept over the groaning guards on the ground and the pale-faced scar-faced captain, finally falling on Lin Jingyu, with undisguised scrutiny and a trace of contempt.

"Zhao... Young Master Zhao the Third!" Seeing the newcomer, the scar-faced captain, as if grabbing a lifeline, crawled over and pointed at Lin Jingyu, adding oil and vinegar to his story: "Young Master the Third! This person's Origin is unknown, he is extremely fierce, refused to pay the city entry fee, and even injured the guards! He is defying the laws of our Black Stone City! Please, Young Master the Third, make the call!"

Young Master Zhao the Third, Zhao Tianhao, was a direct descendant of the Zhao Family, one of the three great Families of Black Stone City. He was himself an expert at the sixth level of the Meridian Opening Realm and had always been a bully in this borderland area.

"Oh? Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm?" Zhao Tianhao raised an eyebrow, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes, but it was immediately replaced by even greater arrogance.

The Zhao Family's influence in Black Stone City was deeply rooted, and there was even an Old Ancestor at the Bone Forging Realm in the Family! An outsider at the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm was not worth his attention.

He paced forward, blocking Lin Jingyu, and lifted his chin slightly: "Your Excellency, such great might! To beat a dog, one must look at its master! You injured the guards of my City Lord's Mansion, and you want to just walk away like this?"

Lin Jingyu stopped his steps, his gaze finally landing on Zhao Tianhao.

That gaze was calm and waveless, yet like a cold pool in an abyss, making Zhao Tianhao's heart inexplicably tremble.

"Move." Lin Jingyu's voice remained low, carrying a hint of impatience.

In his eyes, this kind of aristocratic playboy was no different from the guards just now; they were all bugs that could be crushed at will.

He only wanted to enter the city now, inquire about news, and find more traces of demons to gain evolution points; he had no interest in playing these boring games with them.

"Move?" Zhao Tianhao seemed to have heard a huge joke, his Face instantly darkening. In this Black Stone City, no one had ever dared to speak to him in such an imperative tone! "Good! Very good! This Young Master would like to see how much weight you, a Peak Meridian Opening Realm, really have!"

Before the words even fell, a fierce look flashed in Zhao Tianhao's eyes, and the Qi and blood in his body surged!

The five fingers of his right hand instantly turned pitch black as ink, carrying a pungent, fishy-sweet scent. Like a poisonous snake coming out of its hole, he grabbed fast and viciously toward Lin Jingyu's chest!

"Black Fiend Poison Claw!"

One of the Zhao Family's unique skills! The claw wind was sharp and contained deadly poison. Once hit, the toxins would invade the body, and even a Martial Artist of the Meridian Opening Realm would suffer a great loss!

A chorus of exclamations rang out! Young Master Zhao the Third had actually made a move directly! And it was a killing blow from the start!

Facing this sinister and vicious claw, a cold killing intent finally flashed in Lin Jingyu's eyes.

Seeking death!

He did not dodge or avoid it, and did not even use his Dragon-Elephant Power; he simply moved his mind!

Hum!

A layer of dark golden luster, condensed as if substantial and flowing with an immortal charm, instantly covered the skin on his chest! The Indestructible Vajra Divine Art operated on its own!

"Clang—!"

It was like metal striking metal!

Zhao Tianhao's confident Black Fiend Poison Claw, which was enough to pierce through iron plates, grabbed heavily onto Lin Jingyu's chest!

The sound of tearing flesh that he expected did not appear!

He felt as if he had grabbed onto ten-thousand-year cold iron with one claw! A heart-piercing pain came from his fingertips!

"What?!" The savage grin on Zhao Tianhao's Face instantly froze, turning into extreme horror! He felt as if the bones of his five fingers were about to shatter!

Lin Jingyu's eyes were cold, as if looking at a dead person.

"Scram!"

This time, it was not a reprimand, but carried substantial power!

He did not make a move, just his chest shook violently! The counter-shock force of the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art erupted!

"Bang!"

An overwhelming force surged back along Zhao Tianhao's arm!

"Ah—!"

Zhao Tianhao let out a shrill scream! His right arm, which had grabbed at Lin Jingyu, twisted and deformed at a speed visible to the naked eye! The bones of his five fingers shattered inch by inch! His whole body was like something hit by a giant hammer; he spat blood, and his body flew backward uncontrollably!

"Rumble!"

Zhao Tianhao slammed heavily into the hard black city wall, making a muffled sound! Even the surface of the city wall showed fine cracks!

He slid limply to the ground, his right arm hanging loosely, blood continuously pouring from his mouth, his eyes unfocused, filled with unbelievable fear.

"Young Master the Third!"

"Protect the Young Master!"

The group of guards brought by Zhao Tianhao finally woke up from their dream, screaming in terror as they rushed over, scrambling to lift the unconscious Zhao Tianhao. Their gaze toward Lin Jingyu was like looking at a terrifying demon god, filled with fear; not a single person dared to step forward to stop him.

The entire city gate was deathly silent. Everyone was stunned by this scene that happened in a flash!

Young Master Zhao the Third, an expert at the sixth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, used the Zhao Family's unique skill to sneak attack, and as a result... the opponent didn't even move, and the Young Master himself was shocked away, vomiting blood, his arm completely shattered?!

This... what kind of monster is this?!

Lin Jingyu didn't even look at Zhao Tianhao, who was like a dead dog, or the guards who were scared out of their wits. His gaze swept over the scar-faced captain, who was silent as a cicada in winter and wished he could shrink himself into a crack in the ground.

The scar-faced captain trembled all over, his crotch instantly wet, and he scrambled to clear the way, his head buried low, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Lin Jingyu withdrew his gaze, expressionless, and with one step, walked into the deep city gate tunnel of Black Stone City.

The sunlight was blocked behind his burly figure; in front of him were the noisy and chaotic streets of this small borderland city.

Having just set foot here, he declared his arrival with the most domineering and arrogant posture.

A Zhao Family? It was just a small interlude on his path to finding more demons.

A cold arc curved at the corner of Lin Jingyu's mouth.

He hoped that in this city, he could be brought enough... evolution points!