46: Target: the state capital!

Inside the crude stone room, Lin Jingyu sat cross-legged, resembling a slumbering Archaic God Statue.

The enormous waves of upheaval caused by the destruction of the Li family were completely isolated by this thin door.

At this moment, his mind was focused, and the pale blue screen in the depths of his consciousness clearly unfolded:

[Martial Arts Modification System - Status Panel]

host: Lin Jingyu

Realm: Bone Forging Realm · Ninth Layer (Peak) → [Breakthrough Available]: Tendon Changing Realm First Layer (Requirement: 50,000 evolution points)

evolution points: 69,250 points

Core Cultivation Techniques:

1. Indestructible Vajra Divine Art (Achieved Perfection) → [Evolution Available]: Star Body Tempering Method (Requirement: Tendon Changing Realm First Layer, 50,000 evolution points)

2. Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Art (Major Achievement)

3. Phantom Step (Major Achievement)

Physical Body Status:

Bone Density: Dark Star Divine Iron Grade (Extreme Tempering)

Qi and Blood Intensity: Mercury flowing, vitality immense (Contains faint Star Power)

Muscle and Tendon Strength: Coiled like Horned Dragons, explosive power astonishing

Skin and Membrane Defense: Contained Immortal Golden Light

“Tendon Changing Realm... Star Body Tempering Method...” Lin Jingyu's gaze fixed on the System prompts.

The total evolution points required for the Breakthrough and evolution was 100,000, and he currently held nearly 70,000 of that immense sum!

More crucially, he took out the purified Demon Core of the Centuries-Old Great Demon.

The egg-sized black crystal floated in his palm, as deep as the night sky, with a miniature nebula slowly rotating inside, emitting pure, vast energy and a faint but real Star Aura.

This was the perfect catalyst for evolving the Star Body Tempering Method!

“System!” Lin Jingyu's will was ironclad. “Break through to the Tendon Changing Realm! Simultaneously evolve the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art into the Star Body Tempering Method! Use the Demon Core as a catalyst to maximize the tempering effect!”

[Command Confirmed!]

[evolution points Consumed: 50,000 points (Breakthrough) + 50,000 points (Evolution) = 100,000 points!]

[Current evolution points: 69,250 - 100,000 = Deficit! Detected host possesses special energy source "Centuries-Old Demon Core (Purified · Star Attribute)", which can substitute for a portion of the evolution point consumption! Commence Fusion?]

“Fuse!” Lin Jingyu did not hesitate.

[Executing Command... Fusing "Centuries-Old Demon Core (Purified · Star Attribute)", substituting 40,000 evolution points!]

[Actual evolution points Consumed: 60,000 points!]

[Current evolution points: 69,250 - 60,000 = 9,250 points!]

[Breakthrough Initiated! Cultivation Technique Evolution Simultaneously Activated!]

“Boom—!!!”

An indescribably terrifying torrent instantly erupted from the deepest parts of Lin Jingyu's body!

It did not originate from the System, but from the activated Demon Core!

Extremely pure energy mixed with faint Star Power, like a bursting stellar river, violently surged into every inch of his muscles and every major tendon!

“Ugh!” Even with Lin Jingyu's iron will, he let out a muffled groan. This energy was too massive, too overbearing! It felt as if it would explode and tear his body apart!

However, the dark golden bones within his body hummed, emitting an immortal luster, forcefully stabilizing against the violent impact!

The sturdy Foundation brought by the Major Achievement of the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Art manifested at this moment!

His muscles coiled like billions of dragons and pythons, frantically absorbing and refining this torrent!

**Tempering the major tendons!**

This was the essence of the Tendon Changing Realm!

The major tendons of the human body connect bones and muscles, governing explosive power and flexibility!

At this moment, under the dual effect of the Demon Core's energy and the System's might, all of Lin Jingyu's major tendons were like they had been thrown into a Star Furnace!

**Hiss, hiss, hiss!**

Subtle yet dense tempering sounds rang out within his body.

His originally tough major tendons were undergoing extreme stretching, compression, and reshaping!

Impurities were burned away completely, and his tendons became tougher and more elastic, like bowstrings forged from Star Divine Gold!

An unprecedented feeling of immense power, accompanied by tearing agony, wildly surged throughout his limbs and bones!

**Boom!**

The layer of contained dark golden halo on his body surface suddenly surged!

A dark golden Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke, condensed almost into substance, shot up from his crown without warning!

It instantly pierced through the stone room's roof and soared straight into the sky!

Above Border Wasteland City, the wind surged and clouds churned!

A thick dark golden pillar of light tore through the dim sky, emitting a terrifying Aura that was savage, overbearing, and crushed everything!

Every living being in Border Wasteland City, whether Mortal or Martial Artist, felt as if a great mountain had been pressed onto their hearts at this moment; breathing became difficult, and their Souls trembled!

“Qi... Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke! Soaring into the heavens!” On the City Lord's Manor watchtower, Zhao Wuji stared at the pillar of light piercing the sky, crying out in shock, “Tendon Changing Realm! He really broke through! This Aura... it's even more terrifying than a Marrow Cleansing Realm Old Ancestor!”

Family representatives like Wang Lie and Sun Buer were pale-faced, their legs turning soft.

Merely the sign of the Breakthrough was enough to shatter the minds of Bone Forging and Meridian Connecting Martial Artists like them—what kind of monster was this?

Inside the stone room, the tempering reached its most critical point!

The Demon Core's energy was frantically extracted; the rotating nebula inside accelerated its collapse, releasing the last of its Star Power!

This power was no longer violent; instead, it carried a deep, cold tempering characteristic, perfectly merging into the torrent of the System's evolution!

**[Star Body Tempering Method · Initial Glimpse!]**

The cold System prompt echoed in his mind!

In that instant!

The surging golden light on Lin Jingyu's body surface suddenly changed!

Countless fine, brilliant silver light spots appeared out of thin air, like miniature stars, slowly rotating around his robust body!

A grander, deeper Aura permeated the area, as if he himself had transformed into a nascent starry sky!

The sunlight spilling through the hole in the roof was actually distorted by an invisible force, and faint stellar phantoms flickered around the pillar of light!

**Tendons and bones resonated together! Thunderous sounds rolled!**

Inside Lin Jingyu's body, his bones roared like divine iron being hammered, and his major tendons vibrated like Dragon roars!

A terrifying force of a million catties surged, condensed, and finally... completely flowed through his limbs and bones!

**Rumble!**

It was as if an invisible shackle within his body had been completely shattered! An irresistible, immense sense of power capable of shaking mountains filled his entire body!

The dark golden Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke suddenly increased by a third, and the specks of starlight contained within became clearer and more brilliant!

Tendon Changing Realm, First Layer! Success!

Star Body Tempering Method, Initial Achievement!

Lin Jingyu suddenly opened his eyes! In the depths of his pupils, dark golden divine light seemed to intertwine with brilliant starlight, captivating the Soul! He slowly clenched his fist.

**Buzz!**

The air around his fist was instantly compressed and distorted by the extreme power!

A million catties of immense force, controlled at will!

He felt his body had never been so light yet explosive, as if a simple step could break the sound barrier!

The miniature stellar light spots surrounding his body not only provided a strong defense bonus but also subtly established a faint connection with the distant starry sky.

“Star Body Tempering Method... using the power of the stars to temper the body is truly extraordinary.” Lin Jingyu understood this as he felt the fundamental transformation. This was merely the Initial Glimpse, yet the future potential was boundless!

With a thought, the System panel updated:

[Martial Arts Modification System - Status Panel]

host: Lin Jingyu

Realm: Tendon Changing Realm · First Layer!

evolution points: 9,250 points

Core Cultivation Techniques:

1. Star Body Tempering Method (Initial Glimpse) → [Evolution Direction]: Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart (Requirement: Divine Treasury Realm First Layer, 200,000 evolution points)

2. Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Art (Major Achievement) → [Evolution Available]: Primordial Unity Qi Art (Requirement: Marrow Cleansing Realm First Layer, 80,000 evolution points)

3. Phantom Step (Major Achievement) → [Evolution Available]: Shrinking the Ground to an Inch (Requirement: Tendon Changing Realm Third Layer, 30,000 evolution points)

Physical Body Status:

Strength: Starting at a million catties!

Speed: Approaching the sound barrier!

Defense: Indestructible Vajra merged with Star Power, intensity greatly increased!

Qi and Blood: Wolf Smoke soaring to the heavens, containing Star characteristics!

“9,250 points... far from enough.” Lin Jingyu's gaze swept over the enormous point requirements for subsequent Cultivation Technique evolutions. There was no ripple in his eyes, only deeper killing intent and anticipation.

Resources are obtained only through slaughter!

He picked up the Jade Slip presented by Zhao Wuji and immersed his Divine Sense. The information regarding the periphery of Border Wasteland City flashed past, and his gaze finally settled on the description of the Prefecture deep within the Jade Slip:

“Heavenly Fire Prefecture: Governs thirteen cities, population of ten million, Martial Dao flourishing, Sects and aristocratic families stand numerous, Demon Suppression Division stationed there...”

“Recent Anomalies: Three thousand li northwest, the 'Black Fiend Abyss' has frequent demonic activity, suspected of brewing a small Demon Tide...”

“Four thousand li southeast, the waters of 'Fallen Star Lake' are strange and treacherous. Recently, an unusual light soared from the island at the heart of the lake, suspected to be a sign of the 'Heavenly Fire Secret Realm' opening (Note: The Secret Realm is highly dangerous; even Marrow Cleansing Realm experts risk death, but the opportunities are immense)...”

“Black Fiend Abyss... Demon Tide? Fallen Star Lake... Heavenly Fire Secret Realm?” A cold arc curved on Lin Jingyu's lips.

A Demon Tide meant massive numbers of demons, which meant evolution points! A Secret Realm meant opportunity, and also meant stronger enemies and... more evolution points!

Border Wasteland City was too small a pond; it could no longer hold a fierce flood Dragon like him, who was about to transform into a true Dragon!

He stood up and pushed the door open.

The sunlight outside the door was dazzling, yet it could not conceal the terrifying Aura emanating from him, which had just broken through and was not yet fully contained.

Although the dark golden Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke was now contained, the oppressive feeling, like that of a primordial giant beast, instantly suffocated those secretly observing from afar.

Lin Jingyu's gaze swept over the small Border Wasteland City, like a deity looking down upon the Mortal world.

There was nothing left here worth his stay.

He took a step forward!

“Prefecture, I have arrived.”