82: Want to be recruited

Above the Black Wind Mountain Range, the air solidified like iron.

Commander Qin of the Demon Suppression Division stood before Lin Jingyu like a mountain, his aura of iron-blooded slaughter clashing violently with the chilling Sword Intent of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Star Sword Sovereign, Situ Hao.

The standoff between the two experts of the Dharma Aspect Realm made the entire space seem unable to bear the burden, ready to shatter at any moment.

Situ Hao's face was so gloomy it could drip water, and murderous intent surged in his eyes: "Qin Shanhe! Does your Demon Suppression Division really want to tear faces with my Heavenly Sword Sect for the sake of this ignorant brat?!"

Qin Shanhe's tiger-like eyes flashed like lightning, his voice ringing out like clashing metal: "Old man Situ! Enough nonsense! Lin Jingyu slew a Dharma Aspect Realm Demon King; he is a hero of our Human Race! Your Heavenly Sword Sect wants to strangle a talent for a personal vendetta? My Demon Suppression Division will be the first to refuse! If you want to fight, then let's fight; I will accompany you to the end!"

His aura erupted, and a vague phantom of a giant god wreathed in iron-blooded Evil Qi appeared behind him, its pressure intensifying!

Lin Jingyu stood behind Qin Shanhe, covered in blood yet with his spine as straight as a spear.

He gripped the still-warm Demon King core, feeling the massive energy fluctuations within, and glanced at the glaring "302,000 evolution points" on his System panel, his thoughts racing.

"Joining the Demon Suppression Division is indeed a good platform for legally hunting Advanced demons and obtaining massive amounts of evolution points. This Qin Shanhe seems forthright, but the waters of the Imperial Capital are deep... However, as long as I can kill demons, who cares how deep the water is! The old dogs of the Heavenly Sword Sect... Hmph, sooner or later, I will uproot them entirely!"

Just as the two Dharma Aspect Realm experts were at daggers drawn and the atmosphere was on the verge of exploding—

"Roar—!!!" A majestic, sacred, and piercing Dragon roar came from above the Nine Heavens!

This Dragon roar carried a grand, upright pressure that instantly diluted the tense, murderous atmosphere on the scene.

A patch of brilliant golden auspicious clouds broke through the high-altitude gales and descended rapidly.

Atop the auspicious clouds stood a massive carriage pulled by the skeletons of nine flood dragons, each emitting a faint Dragon power!

The carriage was made of solid red gold, carved with Dragons and Phoenixes, exuding a terrifying, heart-palpitating Dynasty majesty!

In front of the carriage stood an old eunuch dressed in a purple-gold python robe, with a pale, beardless face and an effeminate yet unfathomable aura. He was The Grand Eunuch of the Dynasty's inner court—The Grand Eunuch!

Behind him stood eight Imperial Dragon Guards in golden armor, all at the Peak of the Divine Treasury Realm!

"The Imperial Decree has arrived—!" The Grand Eunuch's shrill yet highly piercing voice rang across heaven and earth, carrying an unquestionable majesty. "Sword Sovereign Situ of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Commander Qin of the Demon Suppression Division, and that hero Lin who slays demons: Your Majesty has an edict. Please cease your hostilities and listen to the decree!"

The carriage landed, golden light flowing, its majesty vast.

The Grand Eunuch held a bright yellow Imperial Decree, his gaze sweeping over Situ Hao and Qin Shanhe before finally landing on Lin Jingyu, a flicker of imperceptible light flashing in his eyes.

Situ Hao's expression changed slightly, and he snorted coldly, retracting some of his Sword Intent.

Qin Shanhe also frowned, and the giant god phantom behind him slowly dissipated.

An imperial envoy had arrived in person, holding the Imperial Decree, which represented the will of the Human Emperor. Even experts of the Dharma Aspect Realm could not openly defy it.

The Grand Eunuch unfurled the Imperial Decree, his voice clearly spreading across the wilderness:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that there is a hero in the Prefecture named Lin Jingyu, whose courage and martial prowess are unparalleled. He fought and slew the Dharma Aspect Demon King Black Mountain in the Black Wind Mountain Range, upholding the might of our Human Race. This is truly a blessing for the nation! My heart is greatly comforted!"

"In consideration of Minister Lin's meritorious service to the nation, he is specially conferred the title of 'Demon Suppression Earl,' granted the Red Dragon Token, entitled to the salary of an Earl, and bestowed a mansion in the Imperial Capital! Furthermore, by special decree, he is recruited into the Imperial Dragon Guard and granted the position of Deputy Commander to guard the palace and await the Emperor's command!"

"I hope you appreciate the imperial grace and will hasten to the capital to express your gratitude, share my burdens, and serve the Dynasty! Thus it is decreed—!"

The reading of the Imperial Decree finished, and the entire scene fell into dead silence!

Demon Suppression Earl! Deputy Commander of the Imperial Dragon Guard! These were real, substantial Dynasty titles and powerful positions! The Imperial Dragon Guard were the personal guards of the Human Emperor, holding a transcendent status, and the Deputy Commander could even reach the Emperor's ears directly! This reward could not be called anything but heavy!

The Human Emperor's move was clearly intended to firmly grasp this newly risen sharp blade, Lin Jingyu, in the hands of the royal family!

The Grand Eunuch looked at Lin Jingyu with a smile, handing over the Imperial Decree and a token engraved with a Red Dragon pattern that radiated the Dragon Qi of the imperial path: "Earl Lin, Your Majesty is thirsty for talent and has bestowed vast grace. Why do you not quickly accept the decree and express your gratitude?"

Everyone's gaze focused on Lin Jingyu.

Situ Hao's eyes were gloomy, filled with deep apprehension and a trace of unwillingness.

Qin Shanhe's brows were tightly knitted. The Demon Suppression Division and the Imperial Dragon Guard belonged to different Systems; if Lin Jingyu accepted the decree, the matter of recruiting him would be completely ruined.

Lin Jingyu looked at the glittering Imperial Decree and the Red Dragon Token, then at the Demon King core in his hand that contained terrifying demon energy, and finally, his gaze swept over the 300,000 evolution points on his System panel.

"The Emperor wants to recruit me? Confer titles and promote me? It sounds infinitely glorious..." The corners of Lin Jingyu's mouth slowly curled into a mocking arc.

"Unfortunately... what I want is to kill demons, to become stronger! I want power! Not to go to the Imperial Capital to be some watchdog, serving the Emperor! Deputy Commander of the Imperial Dragon Guard? Can it let me unleash my hands and feet to kill the demons beneath the Imperial Capital? Can it let me go to the Demon Kingdom and slaughter in all directions?"

He raised his head, his gaze calm as he looked at The Grand Eunuch. His voice was not loud, but it clearly carried a firm and ironclad refusal:

"Grand Eunuch, thank Your Majesty for his kindness on my behalf."

"However, I am just a rough man, used to being wild, and cannot stand the constraints of the rules in the Imperial Capital. I cannot accept this official position."

"As for slaying demons..."

Lin Jingyu weighed the Demon King core in his hand, an undisguised, pure, and wild killing intent erupting in his eyes: "As long as the demons in this world are not yet wiped out, my, Lin Jingyu's, fists will not stop!"

"You—!" The smile on The Grand Eunuch's face instantly froze, and a look of incredulous anger flashed in his eyes!

The eight golden-armored Dragon Guards behind him erupted with aura, locking onto Lin Jingyu!

To dare to reject the Emperor's decree so directly, so arrogantly?!

Situ Hao was stunned at first, then a trace of schadenfreude and coldness flashed in his eyes.

Qin Shanhe's tiger-like eyes brightened, and his gaze toward Lin Jingyu became even more appreciative!

"Audacious Lin Jingyu! To dare to defy the imperial decree! To despise the majesty of Heaven! Do you know this is a crime punishable by the execution of your nine generations?!" The Grand Eunuch shrieked, his effeminate aura becoming chillingly cold!

"Execution of nine generations?"

Lin Jingyu seemed to have heard a joke. He grinned, revealing his white teeth, and a fierce, unparalleled aura of evil, as if coming from the primordial era, mixed with the pressure of 3 billion jin of Divine Power, erupted!

"I am alone, nine generations? You tell me, who are you executing?!" He stepped forward, and that terrifying pressure made the eight golden-armored Dragon Guards unable to help but retreat half a step, their faces turning pale!

"Demons and evil spirits are the only enemies of Lin Jingyu! The Human Emperor's decree cannot constrain my fist that kills demons!"

Lin Jingyu's voice was like a thunderclap, carrying an arrogance that ignored rules and honored only his own heart: "I will not accept this decree! I will not take this official post! I will go to the Imperial Capital myself! But not to be an official!"

"Grand Eunuch, please return!"

The words fell, striking the ground with a resounding thud! Carrying the determination to sever everything!

The Grand Eunuch's face darkened completely, like storm clouds before a tempest.

He stared fixedly at Lin Jingyu, murderous intent and apprehension intertwined in his eyes.

This youth's talent and strength were terrifying, and his Heart-Nature was unruly, lawless!

By rejecting the Imperial Decree today, he had completely stood on the opposite side of the royal family!

"Good... a very good Lin Jingyu! I will remember you!"

The Grand Eunuch threw out a sinister sentence, then violently flicked his horsetail whisk: "Return to the capital!"

The red gold carriage pulled by nine flood dragons soared into the sky, turning into a streak of golden light and disappearing into the horizon.

But that oppressive imperial majesty and the cold, sinister look from The Grand Eunuch before he left hung over them like a shadow.

Seeing this, Situ Hao knew that with Qin Shanhe present today, he could no longer make a move against Lin Jingyu.

He swept a cold glance at Lin Jingyu and said coldly: "Lin Jingyu, the Heavenly Sword Sect has noted today's events! When we meet again in the Imperial Capital, it will be the day your head rolls! Let's go!" After speaking, the sword light carried the two Elders, and they vanished instantly.

In the blink of an eye, the battlefield that had just been at daggers drawn was left with only Lin Jingyu and Qin Shanhe, along with the chaotic, shattered wilderness.

Qin Shanhe looked at Lin Jingyu and suddenly burst into earth-shaking laughter: "Hahaha! Good! Good lad! You're mad enough! You've got enough backbone! To dare to directly retort the Emperor's decree! Satisfying! This is exactly to my, old Qin's, taste!"

He stepped forward and heavily patted Lin Jingyu's shoulder, his eyes burning: "This is the kind of person my Demon Suppression Division needs! Whatever bullshit titles or official posts, they are all empty! Only by slaying demons and protecting the common people can one be a true hero! Lin Jingyu, from today on, you are a 'Demon Slaying General' of my Demon Suppression Division's Imperial Capital headquarters! Hold my token, and you will have unimpeded access to the Imperial Capital's Demon Suppression Division! Missions, resources, intelligence, everything you need! There is only one requirement—Kill! Kill those demons and evil spirits hard for me!"

Qin Shanhe shoved a black iron token, carved with a ferocious beast head and wreathed in blood-colored Evil Qi, into Lin Jingyu's hand.

The token felt heavy and cold in his hand; the front was engraved with the character "Slay" in iron-drawing and silver-hook calligraphy, and the back had the two characters "Demon Suppression."

"Commander Qin, rest assured."

Lin Jingyu gripped the token tightly, feeling the iron-blooded will contained within, his Battle Intent boiling in his eyes: "Demons, I am determined to kill them! No matter how many there are, I will kill them all!"

"Good!"

Qin Shanhe was full of heroic spirit: "You go to the Imperial Capital's Demon Suppression Division first to report and familiarize yourself with the environment. I will handle some loose ends here in the Prefecture and will follow shortly! The waters of the Imperial Capital are deep, but with my Demon Suppression Division there, those clowns from the Heavenly Sword Sect cannot stir up big waves! Remember, when you reach the Imperial Capital, besides killing demons, you must be careful of those ghosts and monsters hiding in the shadows, such as... the Evil God Cult!"

"The Evil God Cult?" Lin Jingyu's eyes narrowed.

"Correct!"

Qin Shanhe's face became slightly more serious: "Recently, bloody sacrifice tragedies have been occurring frequently in various places, and the shadow of the Evil God Cult is behind all of them. The Imperial Capital... I fear it is not peaceful either. This might just be a good opportunity for you to stretch your limbs and obtain 'resources'!"

He looked meaningfully at the Demon King core in Lin Jingyu's hand.

A cold light flashed in Lin Jingyu's eyes: "Understood."

"Go! See you in the Imperial Capital!" Qin Shanhe said no more, his figure turning into a streak of red-gold light and disappearing into the horizon.

On the wilderness, only Lin Jingyu remained. He put away the Demon Slaying General token and the Demon King core, casting his gaze toward the northwest; that was the direction of the Imperial Capital.

The imperial envoy? The Heavenly Sword Sect? The Demon Suppression Division? The Evil God Cult? And that mysterious "Ruins"...

"The Imperial Capital... it really is getting more and more interesting." Lin Jingyu's mouth curled into a smile full of power and wildness, and with one step, his figure merged into the spatial ripples, speeding toward that dragon's den and tiger's lair—the center of it all!