41: Physical transformation, bones as strong as steel

At the edge of the Rotting Bone Forest, the silence was broken by a dark-gold figure tearing through the air.

Lin Jingyu's speed was astonishing; the immense power gained from his Breakthrough to the ninth level of the Bone Forging Realm, combined with the Major Achievement of the Phantom Step movement technique, made him resemble a golden meteor flying close to the ground!

Wherever he passed, Qi waves surged, and dead branches and fallen leaves were ripped into dust by invisible force!

While speeding, he simultaneously examined his inner self.

The changes brought by the Breakthrough far exceeded his imagination!

As his consciousness sank into his body, his two hundred and six bones seemed forged from dark, heavy Star Divine Steel, radiating an eternal luster.

His bone density had increased to an incredible degree, supporting the immense power surging through his body like a great river.

Deep within his bone marrow, specks of starlight floated in the viscous, mercury-like dark-gold blood. Every heartbeat pumped out a torrent of vital Qi and blood, brimming with terrifying life force, washing over every inch of his muscles, tendons, and skin!

**Buzz!**

With a slight shift of his mind, he bent his finger and lightly flicked a half-person-tall, hard black rock beside him!

**Pfft!**

A soft sound.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, but where his fingertip touched the black rock, a bowl-sized hole appeared instantly, its edges smooth as a mirror, as if pierced by the sharpest drill bit!

Spiderweb-like cracks silently spread around the hole, and then the entire boulder, as if its structure had been removed, collapsed with a crash into a pile of fine stone powder!

“Power contained within, controlled by will...” A flash of satisfaction appeared in Lin Jingyu's eyes.

Reaching the Peak of the ninth level of the Bone Forging Realm, where his bones were tempered to the extreme, not only granted terrifying defense and support but also elevated his strength control to new heights!

Unrivaled might and effortless control were now separated by a single thought!

He clenched his fist, feeling the muscle fibers beneath his skin—knotted like Dragons and containing explosive power—as well as the layer of more restrained and deep eternal golden light flowing over his body surface.

“Indestructible Vajra has reached the highest level, and the Star Body Tempering Method has achieved Initial Mastery... Unmatched defense and immense power.”

He murmured to himself, “The Tendon Changing Realm... requires tempering the great tendons, completely integrating this power to unleash speed and flexible explosive force that surpasses limits!”

The Tendon Changing Realm means strength reaching a million jin, and speed breaking the sound barrier! That is a qualitative leap for the Physical Body Martial Dao!

The Yin Fiend Token in his arms felt warm to the touch. The ancient, cold will deep within the token seemed to have gone dormant, but Lin Jingyu could feel it slowly and continuously absorbing the faint, wandering Yin Qi from the surroundings.

The message of the “Legacy Guidance” was like a deep vortex, carrying both temptation and warning.

“Ancient Corpse Refinement Technique...” Lin Jingyu's eyes were cold. “It's an unorthodox path, merely external aid in the end. My path is the pure Physical Body achieving Sainthood! Overcoming all techniques with a single force! This token... can be used as a tool, but not relied upon!”

He suppressed the urge to investigate the unknown Legacy, his goal clear—Border Wasteland City!

A brief rest, digesting his gains, and then... the target is the Prefecture!

Border Wasteland City, East Gate.

The atmosphere was oppressive and tense.

On the city walls, the defending soldiers were no longer merely recovering from shock like days before, but were instead filled with a deeper anxiety and unease.

Their gazes frequently turned toward the depths of the wilderness, where golden light soaring to the heavens and terrifying roars had erupted, ultimately giving way to a heart-stopping silence.

“Commander Zhao, a whole day and night has passed... Lord Lin, he...” A young soldier, his face pale, quietly asked the solemn Zhao Tianhao beside him.

Zhao Tianhao stared intently at the wilderness, his fists clenched: “Shut up! Lord Lin... he will be fine!” Although he said this, his heart felt as heavy as a massive stone.

The final desperate roar from the depths of the Rotting Bone Forest and the subsequent silence made even him, a Marrow Cleansing Realm Martial Artist, feel his Soul tremble.

No matter how strong Lin Jingyu was, he was ultimately only in the Bone Forging Realm... Could he truly survive an encounter with that kind of existence?

The City Lord's Mansion's order had long been issued: strictly monitor the movements in the wilderness, and report immediately upon any news of Lin Jingyu! At the same time, strengthen the city defenses and guard against possible subsequent changes.

Just then—

**Boom!**

In the distant sky, a dark-gold streak of light tore through the gloomy firmament, rushing toward the East Gate of Border Wasteland City like a falling meteor, carrying a suffocating, heavy Divine Might.

Its speed far surpassed that of an ordinary Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist!

“Wha—What is that?!” The soldiers on the city wall instantly stirred, gripping their weapons as if facing a formidable enemy!

Zhao Tianhao's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart pounded!

That familiar aura, imbued with terrifying power... it was Lin Jingyu! He had returned!

And... this aura, wasn't it several times stronger than when he left?!

“It's Lord Lin! Open the city gate quickly!” Zhao Tianhao suddenly reacted, his voice filled with excitement and indescribable shock, roaring hoarsely!

The heavy city gate slowly opened a crack amidst the sound of the winch.

The dark-gold streak of light did not slow down at all, passing through the gate like a phantom the moment it opened!

The violent Qi waves generated by his passage blew the soldiers on both sides of the gate stumbling!

The streak of light suddenly decelerated upon entering the city, and Lin Jingyu's robust figure appeared on the slightly dilapidated street.

The golden light around him was restrained, but the heavy Divine Might, like that of a primeval behemoth, could not be completely concealed and silently spread out.

The Mortals on both sides of the street scattered like startled quail, instantly hiding inside their houses, doors and windows tightly shut.

Some low-level Martial Artists turned utterly pale, finding it hard to breathe, and their gaze toward that figure was filled with boundless awe and fear!

Zhao Tianhao, accompanied by several trusted aides, scrambled down from the city wall and quickly rushed to stand before Lin Jingyu. He cupped his fists and bowed deeply, his posture extremely respectful, his voice trembling slightly: “Lord... Lord Lin! You... you've returned! The depths of the Rotting Bone Forest...”

Lin Jingyu did not stop walking. His gaze swept over Zhao Tianhao, his golden pupils showing no ripple: “The Demon Den is destroyed, and the Centuries-Old Great Demon has been executed. The Rotting Bone Forest poses no further threat.”

These plain words exploded in the ears of Zhao Tianhao and the others like a thunderclap!

The Demon Den... destroyed? The Centuries-Old Great Demon... executed?!

Zhao Tianhao and the trusted aides behind him instantly turned to stone, their minds blank!

Although they had suspected it, hearing this mythical fact spoken directly by Lin Jingyu, the shock still caused their minds to tremble, making them almost unable to think!

Destroyed the Demon Den! Slew the Ancient Demon!

This... what kind of world-shaking great power was this?!

The chronic problem that generations of Border Wasteland City Lords and countless Martial Artists had failed to solve, was actually eradicated by one person... single-handedly?!

“Lord... Lord Lin's Divine Might! Your merit... covers the Border Wasteland! We...” Zhao Tianhao was so excited he was incoherent, his body trembling slightly.

Lin Jingyu waved his hand, interrupting his meaningless compliments: “I need a quiet place to rest for half a day. Also, keep an eye out for information related to the Prefecture for me, especially large gathering points for demons or Secret Realms opening soon.”

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable will.

“Yes! Yes! Your subordinate will arrange it immediately! The City Lord's Mansion has the finest quiet room...” Zhao Tianhao quickly responded.

“No need.” Lin Jingyu turned his steps toward his own modest courtyard. “I'll go back to my original residence. Do not disturb me... unless necessary.”

Watching Lin Jingyu's robust figure, which radiated an invisible sense of oppression, disappear around the street corner, Zhao Tianhao finally let out a long breath, his back soaked in cold sweat.

“Quick! Immediately report the news of Lord Lin's return, and... and everything he said, word for word, to the City Lord!” Zhao Tianhao urgently ordered his trusted aide, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement and awe. “Also, use all channels to gather the Prefecture intelligence Lord Lin requires!”

“Yes!” The trusted aide took the order and ran off.

Zhao Tianhao stood rooted to the spot, looking in the direction where Lin Jingyu had vanished, then glancing at the Rotting Bone Forest in the depths of the wilderness, which seemed completely “dead.” He muttered, “The Demon Den is truly destroyed... The sky of the Border Wasteland... no, the entire structure of the Border Wasteland is about to change because of him!”

At the same time, deep within the Li Family Manor.

In a secret room permeated with a strong medicinal smell and cold, Yin Qi.

Li Yuankun, the Li Family Elder, was sitting cross-legged. Before him were several items radiating an ominous and evil aura: a fragment of Mountain Guardian Heavy Armor stained with dark red blood, a wisp of Scarlet Nightmare's essence blood aura sealed by a secret technique, and a miniature, ghastly green Soul Fire (taken from the scout heavily injured by Lin Jingyu's gaze) that still emitted faint resentment.

His face was as dark as water, and his eyes flickered with greed, malice, and a trace of barely noticeable fear.

“The commotion deep within the Rotting Bone Forest... that golden light soaring to the heavens... and that final desperate roar...” Li Yuankun murmured, his voice hoarse. “Did that little beast... really...”

Just then, the secret room door was lightly knocked, and the voice of a trusted aide came through, filled with panic: “El—Elder! That... that Lin Jingyu... he's back!”

“What?!” Li Yuankun suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light bursting forth! “How... how is his condition?”

“Completely unharmed! His aura... is even more terrifying than when he left! Zhao Tianhao personally welcomed him, and it is said... it is said that he personally admitted... the Rotting Bone Forest Demon Den is destroyed! The Centuries-Old Great Demon was slain by him!” The trusted aide's voice was trembling.

**Boom!**

Li Yuankun was struck by lightning, suddenly standing up! The small table in front of him was shattered into pieces by the uncontrolled Qi from his body!

“Destroyed the Demon Den? Slew the Ancient Demon?!” He roared hoarsely, the color draining from his face, leaving only boundless shock and... a trace of fear! “How... how is this possible?! He's only in the Bone Forging Realm!”

But the news delivered by his trusted aide, coupled with the fact that the depths of the Rotting Bone Forest had fallen into silence, all confirmed the worst possible outcome!

“Trash! Mountain Guardian and Scarlet Nightmare are both trash! And that Ancient Demon is trash among trash!”

“So many treasures... chi yans essence blood, Demon Core, Mountain Guardian Heavy Armor... and the Ancient Demon's collection... did they all fall into the hands of that little beast?!”

Thinking of those rare treasures that could vastly increase the Li Family's foundation, Li Yuankun's heart bled!

Greed instantly overpowered his fear!

“No! I absolutely cannot let this go!”

Ferocious light flashed in his eyes, and he abruptly stopped. “No matter how strong he is, he is just one person! Even a strong Dragon cannot suppress a local snake! Since he killed Mountain Guardian and Scarlet Nightmare, he must have residual resentment marks left by the Great Demons before their deaths... Perhaps... I can borrow a knife to kill!”

A sinister plan quickly formed in his mind. His gaze turned toward an inconspicuous black bone jar in the shadows of the secret room corner, engraved with twisted runes. From the mouth of the jar, faint, heart-stopping gnawing sounds could be heard...