48: Upon first encountering a disciple of a sect, he was arrogant and haughty!

Deep within the Black Evil Demonic Den, corpses lay everywhere, and a pungent stench filled the air.

Lin Jingyu stood in the center of a mountain of demon remnants, the miniature starlight points around him slowly fading.

At his feet, the head of a “Black Evil Rock Demon,” whose body was like a small mountain and whose aura had reached Marrow Cleansing Realm Stage Two, was shattered, and black blood gushed out.

Ding! Killed “Black Evil Rock Demon (Marrow Cleansing Realm Stage Two),” gained evolution points: 8500 points!

Ding! Killed several demonic creatures such as “Black Evil Demonic Bat,” gained evolution points: 4500 points!

Total evolution points gained: 13000 points!

Current evolution points: 26350 + 13000 = 39350 points!

The System's prompt was cold.

39350 points! Only one step away from the 30,000 points needed for Shrinking the Ground to an Inch!

A cold glint flashed in Lin Jingyu’s eyes as he looked deeper into the Demonic Den.

From there, even more violent roars faintly echoed.

Just then—

“Boom!”

A violent explosion came from the direction of the Demonic Den's entrance!

Crushed stones rained down!

Several powerful auras accompanied by arrogant shouts penetrated inward:

“Demons inside, listen! Ziyang Sect is clearing out the Demonic Den. Surrender now, and we will leave your corpses intact!”

“Hmph, why bother talking to these unintelligent beasts! Senior Brother Zhao’s ‘Purple Sun Thunder Talisman’ is enough to flatten this place!”

Lin Jingyu frowned slightly.

Ziyang Sect? It's them again.

His figure flickered, as if merging with the shadows, instantly appearing behind a huge stalactite near the entrance of the Demonic Den.

Smoke and dust filled the entrance,

Five young men and women, dressed in Ziyang Sect Inner Sect Disciple attire, stood proudly.

The leader was none other than Zhao Qian, who had been driving the carriage in the city earlier!

He held a Talisman shimmering with purple lightning patterns, a condescending arrogance on his face.

Beside him was the aloof Chen Yu, and three other Disciples whose auras ranged from Peak Bone Forging Realm to quasi-Marrow Cleansing Realm.

At their feet, several demonic creatures that had just been startled and rushed out were charred and shattered, clearly killed by that Thunder Talisman.

“Senior Brother Zhao’s Divine Might! These outer demons are no match!” a Disciple fawned.

“Don’t be careless.” Chen Yu vigilantly scanned the deep cave. “The Evil Qi here is dense; there might be a big fellow deeper inside.”

“A big fellow?” Zhao Qian sneered, toying with the Thunder Talisman. “It’s perfect for testing the power of my newly acquired ‘Purple Cloud Thunder Talisman’! The Sect’s mission requires us to clear the source of the Demonic Den, so this credit should rightfully belong to me, Zhao Qian!”

His gaze swept over the piled-up demon corpses in the cave, and when he saw the massive Black Evil Rock Demon corpse, a hint of greed flashed in his eyes: “Oh? This Rock Demon’s corpse is perfectly preserved, its demon core intact! And these demonic Materials... Haha, lucky us! It seems some ignorant fellow cleared out the small fry for us, which works out perfectly for us! Junior Brother Wang, Junior Sister Li, quickly go collect the demon core and Materials!”

“Yes! Senior Brother Zhao!” The two Disciples looked delighted and quickly rushed towards the Rock Demon's corpse.

“Wait.” Chen Yu suddenly spoke, her sharp gaze fixed on the stalactite where Lin Jingyu was hiding. “Who’s there? Come out!”

Lin Jingyu’s face was expressionless as he slowly walked out from the shadows. His burly figure instantly attracted the attention of all the Ziyang Sect Disciples.

“Bone Forging Realm? No... Tendon Changing Realm Stage One?”

Zhao Qian swept him with his Divine Sense, first startled, then a deep scorn curled at the corner of his mouth. “A mere Tendon Changing Realm Stage One dares to venture deep into the Demonic Den alone? You have some guts, but unfortunately, your brain isn’t working.”

He completely failed to connect Lin Jingyu with the mountain of corpses and sea of blood before him, merely assuming he was some ignorant Martial Artist who had stumbled upon a stroke of luck.

“Kid!”

Zhao Qian lifted his chin slightly and commanded, “Did you kill these demons? You have some skill. But now, this place is under the jurisdiction of my Ziyang Sect! Considering your merit in clearing out the small fry, leave all your gains, and then... scram!” His tone was as if bestowing a great favor.

“Senior Brother Zhao...” Chen Yu frowned slightly, feeling something was off. The aura of the person before them was terrifyingly profound, yet he showed no fear in front of their five-person group.

Lin Jingyu’s eyes were indifferent, as if looking at a group of noisy ants. “Scram, or die.”

“Presumptuous!”

Zhao Qian was furious!

A bumpkin from the wilderness dared to defy a Ziyang Sect Inner Sect Disciple? “You’re courting death!”

He disdained to act personally and barked at a burly Disciple next to him, whose aura had reached the quasi-Marrow Cleansing Realm: “Zhang Meng! Cripple him! Let him know the immensity of heaven and earth!”

“Understood! Senior Brother Zhao!”

Zhang Meng grinned ferociously and stepped forward!

The vital Qi of a Peak Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist erupted, muscles bulging, his right fist, accompanied by a piercing whoosh, slammed towards Lin Jingyu’s face like a heavy hammer! “You suicidal fool! Get on your knees for me!”

Facing this fierce strike, Lin Jingyu didn’t even raise an eyelid.

He merely casually raised his right hand, fingers spread, and gently grabbed at Zhang Meng’s fist, which was as large as a cooking pot!

“Crack! Splat!”

The sickening sound of bones cracking and flesh bursting erupted simultaneously!

Zhang Meng’s fist, capable of shattering stone monuments, was instantly crushed like a fragile egg, along with half his arm, at the moment Lin Jingyu’s five fingers closed!

Turning into a spray of blood mist and minced flesh!

“Ah—!!!” Zhang Meng’s ferocious grin instantly twisted into extreme pain and terror, letting out a shrill, distorted scream! Blood gushed from his severed arm like a spring!

“What?!” The arrogance on Zhao Qian, Chen Yu, and the others’ faces instantly froze, turning into boundless horror!

Zhang Meng was at Peak Bone Forging Realm, an elite highly cultivated by the Sect!

Yet he was... his arm was crushed by the opponent with a casual gesture?!

“Bastard! Attack together! Kill him!” Zhao Qian was both shocked and enraged, roaring furiously! The purple light of the Purple Cloud Thunder Talisman in his hand flared intensely!

The other two Disciples also reacted, roaring as they drew their longswords, sword light flashing, stabbing directly at Lin Jingyu’s vital points!

Chen Yu’s eyes narrowed, and she also conjured a gleaming Flying Sword, which transformed into a streak of light and slashed towards Lin Jingyu’s neck!

A cold glint burst forth in Lin Jingyu’s eyes!

Courting death!

He moved!

Facing the incoming sword light and Flying Sword, he neither dodged nor evaded! His right hand formed a fist, millions of pounds of immense power erupted, and he threw a simple, brutal punch!

“Boom!”

The air was compressed by the extreme force, forming visible white Qi explosion ripples!

The first Disciple to bear the brunt, both person and sword, was like being struck by a charging ancient giant elephant!

“Bang!”

The Protective Aura instantly annihilated!

His body exploded into a bloody mist in mid-air! He didn't even have time to scream!

The momentum of the punch was not exhausted!

A violent torrent of power swept forth!

The other Disciple’s longsword slashed at Lin Jingyu’s fist wind, like decaying wood hitting divine iron!

“Crack!”

The longsword shattered inch by inch!

That Disciple only felt an irresistible immense force, spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, flew backward, crashed against the cave wall, his bones and tendons completely severed, and died on the spot!

Chen Yu’s Flying Sword slashed at Lin Jingyu’s neck!

“Clang!”

A deafening clang like metal striking metal!

Sparks flew!

The Flying Sword, as if it had struck ten-thousand-year-old profound iron, let out a wail, its brilliance dimmed, and fine cracks even appeared on its blade!

The recoil made Chen Yu’s face turn pale, she grunted, her mind suffering damage!

“Impossible!” Chen Yu shrieked, her eyes filled with disbelief!

Her Flying Sword was a High Grade Magical Artifact!

Yet it couldn't break through the opponent's Physical Body?!

“Thunder Talisman! Die for me!” Zhao Qian’s horror turned into hysterical madness! He violently slammed the intensely glowing purple Thunder Talisman in his hand forward!

“Boom!”

A purple lightning bolt, as thick as a water bucket and exuding destructive aura, fiercely struck towards the top of Lin Jingyu’s head!

This was a killing move capable of severely injuring a Marrow Cleansing Realm expert!

Lin Jingyu looked up at the descending purple lightning, his eyes showing no fluctuation.

He didn’t even bother to assume a defensive stance.

He simply, casually, raised his right fist, which had just crushed a person!

And punched towards the violent purple lightning!

“Boom—!!!”

An earth-shattering roar!

The imagined scene of Lin Jingyu being struck by lightning and turned into charcoal did not occur!

Not even a trace of charring was left on his fist!

“Pfft!” Zhao Qian was hit hard, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face as pale as paper!

With the Thunder Talisman destroyed, his mind suffered severe damage!

His eyes were finally filled with boundless fear! “Mon... monster! You are a monster!”

Lin Jingyu took a step, appearing before the terrified Zhao Qian as if by instantaneous movement.

“No! I am a Ziyang Sect...” Zhao Qian was scared out of his wits, his plea for mercy just escaping his lips.

A large hand had already pressed onto his crown.

“Pfft!”

Like crushing a ripe watermelon.

Red and white instantly exploded!

Zhao Qian’s headless corpse swayed and then softly fell.

“Senior Brother Zhao!” Chen Yu let out a shrill scream, her eyes filled with extreme malice and terror!

Without hesitation, she violently crushed a jade pendant at her waist! A faint, imperceptible streak of light instantly vanished into the Void Realm!

At the same time, her figure rapidly retreated, fleeing desperately towards the outside of the cave! “You’re dead! The Elder won’t let you off!”

Lin Jingyu didn't even look at the fleeing Chen Yu, his cold gaze falling on Zhang Meng, who was wailing with his severed arm.

Zhang Meng met those emotionless golden pupils, scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering: “Mercy... Senior, mercy...”

Lin Jingyu flicked a finger!

A condensed, almost material dark-gold Qi shot out, piercing the air!

“Pfft!”

A bloody hole appeared in Zhang Meng’s glabella, his voice abruptly ceased, and the vitality in his eyes rapidly dissipated.

Ding! Killed “Zhang Meng (Peak Bone Forging Realm),” gained evolution points: 800 points!

Ding! Killed Ziyang Sect Disciples x2, gained evolution points: 1600 points!

Ding! Killed “Zhao Qian (quasi-Marrow Cleansing Realm),” gained evolution points: 1500 points!

Total evolution points gained: 3900 points!

Current evolution points: 39350 + 3900 = 43250 points!

“Elder?” Lin Jingyu listened to the System’s prompt, glanced in the direction Chen Yu disappeared, and a cold arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“Perfect.”

His gaze returned to the surging black mist deep within the Demonic Den, where a more powerful aura was awakening.

“Still a little short on evolution points.” He took a step, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

There were still prey to be found.