47: The prosperous capital city hides hidden dangers.

Three thousand li of distance was like a short stroll under Lin Jingyu's feet.

Although his speed hadn't fully broken the sound barrier, it far surpassed that of an ordinary Tendon Changing Realm Martial Artist. In just half a day, the outline of Tianhuo Prefecture appeared on the horizon.

It was a steel behemoth sprawling across the desolate land!

City walls, dozens of zhang high and shimmering with metallic cold light, stretched for a hundred li. Runes flowed on the walls, and massive ballistas and Magical Artifact arrays glowing with spiritual light stood menacingly, exuding a heart-palpitating defensive power.

The city gates were majestic like a giant maw, with a ceaseless flow of people and carriages. The clamor could be faintly heard even from several li away.

The air was filled with a mixed aura several times denser than the borderlands: the smoke of the Mortal World, the Qi and blood of Martial Artists, the precious glow of Medicinal Pills... and the pervasive, even denser, demonic Evil Qi!

"The Prefecture..." Lin Jingyu's gaze swept over the colossal structure, his expression unperturbed.

Beneath the facade of prosperity, his keen perception could detect the foul aura stirring in the shadows at the base of the city walls, the faint scent of blood in the air, and the occasional flicker of numbness and terror in the eyes of seemingly ordinary pedestrians.

He chose not to enter through the main gate. His figure flickered, ghost-like, as he bypassed the main road and scaled a relatively secluded and less guarded section of the city wall.

The city wall, dozens of zhang high and reinforced with runes, was like a mere illusion in the face of his near-sound barrier speed and terrifying Physical Body explosive power.

The scene inside the city was completely different from the borderlands.

Wide bluestone streets could accommodate ten carriages abreast, with towering pavilions lining both sides, featuring upturned eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters.

Shops stood in profusion, offering a dazzling array of Medicinal Pills, weapons, Yao Beast Materials, and Cultivation Technique Jade Slips.

Martial Artists in various types of sturdy attire, exuding powerful auras, were everywhere. Those in the Pulse Connecting Realm and Bone Forging Realm were common, and occasionally, the subtle aura of a Marrow Cleansing Realm expert could be sensed.

The air was filled with the fragrance of spiritual food, the bitter scent of apothecaries, and... the faint smell of blood and fervent roars from the direction of the Arena.

"Get out of the way! Blind fool!"

A sharp shout accompanied by the crack of a whip echoed!

In the middle of the street, a luxurious carriage pulled by three "Dragon Scale Steeds"—covered in black scales, each with a single horn, and exuding a fierce aura—charged recklessly!

Driving the carriage were two arrogant young men in green cloud-patterned martial attire, their eyes disdainful, treating pedestrians like dirt.

A commoner girl carrying a medicinal basket, unable to dodge in time, was knocked down by the carriage wheel, her herbs scattering everywhere.

"Hahaha! Bad luck!" The green-robed youth driving the carriage, Zhao Qian, sneered. He raised his whip, which was wrapped in faint lightning, as if to strike, his eyes contemptuous as he looked at the ant-like figure.

"Senior Brother, calm your anger. Don't delay important matters. Starfall Lake can't wait," Chen Yu, a beautiful woman with cold eyes, spoke indifferently, her tone tinged with impatience.

The carriage continued without stopping, kicking up dust as it sped away. The surrounding pedestrians dared not speak out, scattering to avoid it, their eyes filled with fear.

"They are Inner Sect Disciples of the Ziyang Sect!"

"Shh... keep your voice down! The Ziyang Sect is one of the three great Sects in Tianhuo Prefecture. It's said that a Divine Treasury Realm mighty expert presides over their Elders! We can't afford to offend them!"

"Those Dragon Scale Steeds... each one is comparable to a Bone Forging Realm Yao Beast! They're truly wealthy and powerful..."

Whispers reached Lin Jingyu's ears.

"Ziyang Sect? Starfall Lake?" His eyes flickered as information from Zhao Wuji's Jade Slip surfaced. It seemed the Tianhuo Secret Realm was about to open, already attracting the top forces of the Prefecture.

He paid no mind to this interlude, his goal clear—the Black Fiend Abyss!

Following the markings on the Jade Slip, Lin Jingyu traversed streets and alleys that blended prosperity with decay.

The closer he got to the northwest district, the more dilapidated the scenery became.

Pedestrians had numb expressions and shifty eyes. Occasionally, fierce gazes swept over Lin Jingyu's unfamiliar and burly figure, filled with scrutiny and greed.

"Towards the Black Fiend Abyss, the last supply point, 'Old Lameleg's' general store." Lin Jingyu stopped in front of a small shop with a crooked facade and a greasy wooden sign.

Inside the shop, the light was dim, filled with a strange mixture of cheap tobacco and rust.

Behind the counter, a white-haired, one-eyed old man with a crude wooden prosthetic for his left leg was puffing on a dry pipe, his cloudy single eye lazily lifting.

"What do you want? Maps? Healing medicine? Or... 'black market goods'?" Old Lameleg's voice was hoarse, with a shrewd, worldly tone.

"The latest demon distribution map for the Black Fiend Abyss." Lin Jingyu's voice was calm as he tossed out a small bag of Low-Grade Spirit Stones. This was the travel money Zhao Wuji had "respectfully offered" before he left the borderlands.

Old Lameleg weighed the Spirit Stone bag, a flicker of surprise in his single eye, seemingly astonished by Lin Jingyu's wealth and his courage to head straight for the Black Fiend Abyss.

He slowly pulled out a dirty beast-skin scroll from under the counter and unrolled it. Crude lines and dark red paint marked the outer regions of the Black Fiend Abyss, with several places marked by ferocious skull symbols.

"Here, the latest. Don't go to the places marked with skulls; that's at least the territory of Marrow Cleansing Realm great demons, or where groups of evil cultivators are entrenched."

Old Lameleg pointed at the map with his pipe. "The Abyss hasn't been peaceful lately. The Evil Qi is surging fiercely, and small groups of demon spawns are pouring out like a tide, devouring many merchant caravans and adventurers. Those big shots from the Demon Suppression Division are busy with the 'great Opportunity' at Starfall Lake, and all their manpower has been drawn away. Here... hehe, fend for yourselves."

"The source of the demon tide?" Lin Jingyu's gaze fell on a mark deep within the map, surrounded by numerous skulls, labeled "Black Fiend Demonic Den."

"Who knows? Maybe some old Devil Head woke up and farted."

Old Lameleg exhaled a smoke ring, his tone numb with mockery. "A word of advice, young man, you seem to have vigorous Qi and blood, but the Black Fiend Abyss is murky water. Don't wade in if you're not a fierce Dragon. If you really must go, stick close to the escort groups of large merchant caravans, or... pay to hire some good hands."

Lin Jingyu put away the map, offered no response, and turned to leave.

"Tsk, another reckless fool looking for death." Old Lameleg watched Lin Jingyu's burly figure disappear around the street corner, shook his head, and continued to puff on his dry pipe.

Just out of the northwest city gate, he stepped onto the official road leading to the Black Fiend Abyss.

He had only traveled about ten li.

"Owooo—!"

From a mountain hollow ahead, a sudden, mournful beast roar, human shouts of anger, and terrified screams erupted!

A strong scent of blood drifted on the wind!

Lin Jingyu's eyes turned cold, his speed instantly increasing as he swept over a mountain ridge.

The scene below came into view: a merchant caravan consisting of over a dozen wagons was surrounded!

The attackers were not ordinary bandits, but a group of distorted demons!

They were nearly a zhang tall, with rough, grayish-black skin like rock, wolf-like or ape-like heads, tusks protruding, dripping with foul saliva.

Their limbs were thick, and their fingertips gleamed with dark, cold light.

There were over thirty of them, three of which were exceptionally massive and exuded fierce auras, clearly on the verge of the Marrow Cleansing Realm!

They were frantically assaulting the temporary defensive circle formed by the caravan. Although the caravan guards fought desperately, their blades and swords sparked against the grayish-black skin, failing to inflict fatal wounds. Instead, people were constantly being torn apart by sharp claws or sent flying by immense force, their screams endless!

"Stone Nightmare Demons! It's a pack of Stone Nightmare Demons from the outer Black Fiend Abyss!"

Han Li, the caravan leader, a middle-aged man at Bone Forging Realm eighth-layer, swung a great saber as wide as a door panel, barely fending off a heavy blow from a quasi-Marrow Cleansing Stone Nightmare Demon. The web of his hand split, bleeding profusely, as he roared in despair, "Form a formation! Hold the line! Send a distress signal!"

A crimson flare had just risen in Han Li's hand.

"Whoosh!"

A gray shadow, swift as a ghost, flashed past!

A sharp claw, covered in rock-like keratin and wreathed in black Qi, accurately shattered the distress flare!

It was the quasi-Marrow Cleansing Stone Nightmare Demon leader that had been lurking on the edge of the battlefield, its aura the most sinister!

Its crimson eyes gleamed with cunning and cruelty as it let out a low growl, seemingly mocking the futility of its prey!

"It's over!" Han Li's heart sank. With the distress signal destroyed, their caravan was likely to be entirely devoured by demons today!

Just then—

A terrifying pressure, heavy as a mountain and incomparably domineering, descended upon the battlefield like a tangible meteor!

All the frantically attacking Stone Nightmare Demons suddenly froze!

Fear from deep within their Bloodline instantly overwhelmed their bloodthirsty frenzy!

Even the three quasi-Marrow Cleansing Realm leaders looked towards the source of the pressure with alarm and uncertainty!

The caravan members felt their breath catch, as if an invisible giant hand had gripped their throats, and they looked on in horror!

They saw a burly figure in dark gold, who had appeared on the hillside at the edge of the battlefield at some unknown point.

The sunlight falling on him seemed to be twisted by an invisible force field, his muscle contours bulging beneath his robes, exuding a heart-stopping sense of power.

He coldly swept his gaze over the bloody battlefield below, like a deity looking down on ants fighting.

"Roar!" The Stone Nightmare Demon leader felt the threat and let out a violent roar, abandoning the caravan. It dropped to all fours and, like a siege ram, charged furiously towards the figure on the hillside, bringing with it a foul wind!

The other two quasi-Marrow Cleansing demonic beasts followed closely behind!

They intended to tear this prey, who dared to exude a threatening aura, into shreds!

Facing the three fiercely charging quasi-Marrow Cleansing demonic beasts, Lin Jingyu remained expressionless.

He didn't even change his stance.

He simply raised his right hand, fingers spread, and pressed it towards the demonic beast leader charging at the very front, from a distance!

"Boom—!!!"

The air seemed to be fiercely squeezed and crushed by an invisible hand of an ancient deity or demon!

The Stone Nightmare Demon leader, charging in mid-air, its grayish-black body as tough as rock, exploded like tofu hit by a ten-ton hydraulic press, without even time to let out a cry!

"Pfft!"

It instantly burst apart!

Transforming into a rain of foul blood and shattered bones, mixed with viscous black Qi, splattering everywhere!

The two quasi-Marrow Cleansing demonic beasts that followed closely behind were drenched by the terrifying aftershock of power and the rain of blood and shattered bones, their charge abruptly halted!

Their crimson beast eyes were instantly filled with boundless terror and bewilderment!

What happened?

The boss... was... was crushed from a distance?!

Lin Jingyu's figure had already vanished from its original spot.

The next instant, he appeared as if by teleportation in front of one of the terrified demonic beasts.

Still no superfluous movements.

Left fist, a simple, direct punch!

"Bang!"

The last demonic beast was finally roused from its extreme fear, letting out a desperate wail as it turned to flee!

Lin Jingyu raised his right foot, like a Divine Dragon wagging its tail, with a shriek that tore through the air, arriving later but striking first!

"Crack! Boom!"

The demonic beast's waist, as thick as a stone pillar, instantly snapped!

Swift as a rabbit, quick as a falcon!

In a flash of lightning!

The three quasi-Marrow Cleansing Realm Stone Nightmare Demon leaders, who had driven the caravan to despair, were utterly annihilated, like three flies casually swatted dead!

The entire battlefield fell silent.

The remaining twenty-odd ordinary Stone Nightmare Demons were as if struck by a paralysis spell, frozen in place, their crimson beast eyes filled only with boundless terror.

The caravan members were even more dumbfounded, their minds blank.

Han Li's great saber clattered to the ground, but he didn't even notice.

Crushing a quasi-Marrow Cleansing demonic beast from a distance?

Shattering the other two with a single punch and kick?

This... can a human really do this?

Lin Jingyu's gaze finally fell upon the group of terrified ordinary Stone Nightmare Demons.

His eyes were still cold.

"evolution points, even a mosquito's leg is still meat."

He moved.

His figure transformed into a dark golden storm, barely discernible to the naked eye, and swept into the demonic horde!

"Bang! Pfft! Crack! Boom!"

In just a few breaths.

The storm ceased.

Lin Jingyu's figure reappeared on the hillside, his dark golden robes immaculate.

Below the hillside, only a chaotic scene remained, a Shura field covered in foul blood, shattered bones, and fragmented internal organs.

Over twenty Stone Nightmare Demons, along with their leaders, had all been turned into fertilizer for the earth.

[Ding! Slayed "Stone Nightmare Demon Leader (Quasi-Marrow Cleansing)" x3, gained evolution points: 9000 points!]

[Ding! Slayed "Stone Nightmare Demon (Bone Forging Realm)" x27, gained evolution points: 8100 points!]

[Total evolution points gained: 17100 points!]

[Current evolution points: 9250 + 17100 = 26350 points!]

The cold System notification sounded in his mind.

Lin Jingyu didn't even look at the stunned caravan members below, who had survived the calamity. His figure flickered and shot away.

In the wind, only Han Li and the others' cries, as if waking from a dream and filled with extreme reverence, were left behind:

"Th-thank you, Senior, for saving our lives! May I ask Senior's esteemed name...?"

Their voices were soon left behind.

Lin Jingyu's target was the source of the demon tide, the potentially existing big one, and... more evolution points!

He had already witnessed the "prosperity" of the Prefecture, and this "danger" was merely an appetizer.

The real hunting ground was at the bottom of the Abyss!

Prey and hunter? It had always been a matter of his single thought.