7: Invincible Shield! Evolution!

The worn wooden door slammed shut behind him with a "clang," sealing off the murky street air and the sharp sneers of the two Martial Arts Hall Disciples.

This establishment, the "Youcai Inn," located in Black Stone City's most dilapidated Western District, had a vulgar name and an even worse environment... Lin Jingyu pushed open his own door; the screeching sound was grating.

The room was pitifully small, containing nothing more than a wooden bed that groaned the moment he sat on it, a small, greasy table, and a three-legged stool.

The cracks in the walls were big enough to stick a finger through, and cold drafts whistled inside.

His burly physique made the cramped space feel even more confining.

He pulled out the two thin booklets he had brought from the desolate village—the Iron Cloth Shirt and the Savage Bull Strength.

The covers of the booklets were rough, the pages yellowed and curled, exuding poverty and sloppiness... The contemptuous words of the two Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Hall Disciples still echoed in his ears: "trash," "dead muscle," "wasted effort"... "System," Lin Jingyu silently chanted in his mind, his eyes calm as a deep pool, "bring up the panel."

[host: Lin Jingyu]

[Realm: Body Refining Seventh Layer]

[Cultivation Techniques/Martial Skills:]

[Iron Sand Palm: Three Hundred Years of Mastery (Perfected) -> Evolvable Path: Iron Sand Palm -> Stone Splitting Hand -> Earth Splitting Palm -> Sea Overturning Seal -> Heaven Overturning Seal ->...]

[Vajra Shield (Initial Glimpse) -> Evolvable Path: Iron Cloth Shirt -> Vajra Shield -> Indestructible Vajra Divine Art -> Star Body Tempering Method -> ...]

[Savage Bull Strength (Not Started) -> Evolvable Path: Savage Bull Strength -> Great Strength Bull Demon Fist -> Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique -> Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies, Only I Am Supreme Art -> ...]

[evolution points: 155]

Looking at the "Perfected" Realm marker for the Iron Sand Palm on the panel and the deep accumulation of three hundred years of mastery, Lin Jingyu felt no disturbance in his heart.

The searing sensation of shattering a rotten skull with a single palm strike among the corpses in the desolate village was still fresh in his mind.

This was merely the starting point of his path to power... His gaze fell upon the two newly acquired booklets. "Record the Iron Cloth Shirt and Savage Bull Strength."

[Ding! A complete Martial Art, the Iron Cloth Shirt (Mortal Body Forging Basic Chapter), has been detected and recorded in the System database!]

[Ding! A complete Martial Art, the Savage Bull Strength (Mortal Qi Strength Basic Chapter), has been detected and recorded in the System database!]

The two worn booklets instantly transformed into countless fragments of light, surging into his glabella!

A massive flood of information branded itself onto the depths of his consciousness!

[Vajra Shield Current Status: Beginner (0/100 evolution points required to deduce to "Initial Glimpse"). Evolvable Path: Iron Cloth Shirt -> Vajra Shield -> Indestructible Vajra Divine Art -> ...]

[Savage Bull Strength Current Status: Beginner (0/100 evolution points required to deduce to "Initial Glimpse"). Evolvable Path: Savage Bull Strength -> Great Strength Bull Demon Fist -> Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique -> ...]

The System clearly displayed the terrifying, yet captivating, future hidden behind these two "trash" Cultivation Techniques!

"Vajra Shield!" Lin Jingyu's gaze was fixed on the evolution path of the Iron Cloth Shirt. The searing pain and shock of the Demonic Wolf King's steel-rending claws striking his back resurfaced.

Defense! In the world of evil spirits, formidable defense was the foundation of survival!

The Vajra Shield, merely at the "Initial Glimpse" stage, was not enough... "System, deduce the evolution path of the Vajra Shield—invest 100 evolution points and directly deduce it to 'Mastery'!" His intent was focused and decisive. If he was going to evolve, he would do it in one go!

[Command confirmed! Consuming 100 evolution points! Beginning deduction of the Vajra Shield and raising proficiency to "Mastery"!]

[Deducing... 1%... 10%... 50%... 100%!]

[Deduction complete! Vajra Shield (Mastery) has been acquired!]

Hmmm—!!!

The instant the notification sound fell silent, an indescribable, majestic power erupted from the deepest parts of Lin Jingyu's body!

The wooden bed he was sitting cross-legged on let out a miserable "creak" under the unbearable weight.

A deep golden light, like viscous molten gold, burst forth from every pore on his body, instantly enveloping him!

Beneath his skin, dark golden streams of light surged and flowed at an unprecedented speed, emitting a deep, rumbling sound like distant thunder.

His coiled muscles seemed to come alive, intensely expanding, contracting, wrapping, and tightening!

Crack! Snap... The already three-legged stool beneath him let out a brittle sound under the pressure of this sudden, terrifying power; one leg completely snapped off, shortening the stool.

A husky, terrified shout immediately came from the next room: "Which bastard is tearing the place down! Are you going to let people sleep or not!" accompanied by frantic pounding on the wall.

Lin Jingyu paid no attention.

He felt as if he had been thrown into a massive furnace!

Burning hot! Heavy! Yet overflowing with power!

His skin, muscles, and even bones were undergoing a qualitative transformation under the constant washing of the dark golden light!

An unprecedented feeling of toughness, density, and the security of having donned invisible heavy armor filled his entire body... [Ding! Vajra Shield deduction and upgrade complete! Current Realm: Mastery (0/500 evolution points required to deduce to "Proficient")!]

[Physical Body strength, defense, and counter-shock force have vastly increased! Qi and blood circulation accelerated!]

[host Realm Breakthrough! Body Refining Realm Seventh Layer -> Body Refining Realm Eighth Layer!]

[Strength increased! Muscle and bone density increased!]

A feeling of even greater power surged forth from his limbs and bones, as if he had broken free from an invisible chain!

Body Refining Eighth Layer... Lin Jingyu slowly opened his eyes; a flash of dark golden light seemed to flicker deep within his pupils.

He lowered his head and looked at his palm.

His skin was still bronze, but beneath the solid dark golden sheen, it exuded a cold, hard texture, like poured metal.

He extended his index finger toward the remaining, relatively intact wooden leg of the three-legged stool, and flicked it gently.

"Dong!"

A muffled sound, like striking a solid iron anvil.

The arm-thick wooden leg snapped instantly.

The fracture was smooth and clean, as if split by a sharp axe! Yet, not a single white mark was left on his fingertip.

"Minor Achievement Vajra Shield..." Lin Jingyu felt the surging power within him and the layer of indestructible density surrounding his body, settling his heart.

Could the Demonic Wolf King's claws still easily tear him apart now?

On the panel, the evolution points had dropped from 155 to 55... Lin Jingyu's eyes deepened as he glanced at the enormous amount of evolution points required for the subsequent deduction of the Savage Bull Strength and the Vajra Shield.

55 points, a drop in the bucket!

He needed more, much more... "Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Hall... Wang Family..." He chewed on the names he had heard upon entering the city, a cold light gathering in his eyes... These places must hold better "trash," right?

Just then, several rough voices discussing something faintly drifted up from the lobby downstairs, mixed with the crisp clinking of wine bowls, clearly audible through the broken floorboards:

"Did you hear? Instructor Wang of the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Hall is openly recruiting new apprentices tomorrow at noon in the Southern City Training Ground! I heard there are only twenty spots this time!" a rough voice shouted.

"Hey, Instructor Wang's Eagle Claw Technique is notoriously vicious! And Instructor Li's Wind Chasing Steps are as fast as a ghost! If only we could learn a move or two..." another voice said, full of longing.

"Dream on! Zhang Laosan! Without ten taels of silver for the initiation fee, don't even think about touching the threshold! Plus, they look at aptitude! Poor folks like us are only good for watching the excitement!" the third voice said, pouring cold water on the idea.

"Sigh, Li Laosi is right... But it doesn't hurt to go and watch, what if an instructor takes a liking to someone? I heard the Wang Family will also send people this time to scout for good prospects to enter their clan school..." The rough voice lowered.

Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Hall! Open recruitment! Wang Family!

Lin Jingyu slowly stood up. He walked to the table and picked up a coarse porcelain teacup. His five fingers gently closed around it.

"Ka... Krack... Poof!"

The subtle sound of crushing and squeezing rang out... Throughout the entire process, not a single red mark appeared on the skin of his fingers.

A cold, bloodthirsty smile slowly curled up at the corner of his mouth.

"Tomorrow... Noon... Training Ground?"

He clapped his hands, shaking off the porcelain powder completely, as if brushing away insignificant dust. Then, he walked to the broken wooden bed, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

The night was still long... But how long could the capital that some people relied on to show off their strength last in the face of true power?

The Southern City Training Ground, tomorrow at noon, will be the beginning of the collapse of certain people's perceptions.