83: Intercept

The crimson-gold carriage pulled by the nine Dragon skeleton tore through the gale, moving at an extreme speed.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was as oppressive as an ice cellar.

The Grand Eunuch sat in the main seat, his face like still water, the rejected imperial edict in his hand burning as hot as a branding iron.

His knuckles were white from clenching, and his effeminate face no longer held a trace of a smile, only bone-chilling coldness.

"What a Lin Jingyu... what an arrogant boor who doesn't know his place!"

His voice was sharp, each word squeezed out from between his teeth, "Publicly defying an imperial edict, showing contempt for heavenly might! Slapping Your Majesty's face right in front of this eunuch and that old scoundrel Situ Hao! This child... has found a path to his own death!"

Behind him, eight Golden Armored Dragon Guards were silent, not daring to breathe loudly.

One of the Dragon Guard squad leaders, a Peak of the Divine Treasure Realm cultivator, also bowed his head at this moment, cautiously saying, "Chief Steward, please calm your anger. That Lin Jingyu is only so arrogant because he relies on a bit of brute force and Qin Shanhe's backing. Once he enters the Imperial Capital and is far from the protection of the Demon Suppression Division, won't he be at your mercy, Chief Steward? Your Majesty's dignity will surely be restored."

"At my mercy?"

The Grand Eunuch snorted coldly, a venomous, sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "This child's Physical Body has already matured. At Divine Treasure Realm sixth level, he can already contend with a Dharma Aspect Realm Demon King. His potential... is unfathomable! That boor Qin Shanhe gave him the 'Demon Slayer General' token, clearly intending to incorporate him into the Demon Suppression Division's System. Once he reaches the Imperial Capital, with the Demon Suppression Division as his backing, it will be difficult to touch him!"

His gaze swept over the imperial edict, then fell upon the rejected Crimson Dragon Token in his hand.

The Crimson Dragon coiled on the token also seemed to have lost its luster.

"However... does he think that by rejecting the imperial edict, everything will be fine?"

The Grand Eunuch's lips curled into a cruel, cold smile. "An imperial edict contains Imperial Dragon Qi; how can it be an ordinary object? He has been tainted by the aura of the imperial edict. As long as he is within ten thousand li of the Imperial Capital, this eunuch can sense his location! Although the Crimson Dragon Token has not recognized a master, it is itself an 'introducer'... That old fox Situ Hao will never let go of this opportunity!"

He suddenly looked up and sharply ordered the outside of the carriage: "Pass on the order! Secretly send an urgent dispatch to the 'Shadow Guards' in the Imperial Capital to closely monitor all paths leading from the Black Wind Mountain Range to the Imperial Capital! Once Lin Jingyu's tracks are discovered, especially... if anyone makes a move on him before he reaches the Imperial Capital, be sure to record it in detail! Especially the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

"Yes!" A Dragon Guard immediately took out a jade talisman shimmering with faint light, imprinted the command into it, and flicked his finger. The jade talisman transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the sky.

"Lin Jingyu... this eunuch wants to see if your unruly blade can cut through the storms of the Imperial Capital, or... be broken on the road!"

The Grand Eunuch closed his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the Crimson Dragon Token. Only the whistling sound of the nine skeletal Flood Dragons flying through the wind remained in the carriage.

The wind of the wasteland stirred up blood and dust.

Lin Jingyu's figure moved at high speed across the shattered earth, each step covering tens of zhang, his form appearing and disappearing within spatial ripples, moving so fast that he left trails of afterimages.

His goal was clear — the Northwest Imperial Capital!

In his mind, the System panel was crystal clear:

[host]: Lin Jingyu

[Realm]: Divine Treasure Realm sixth level (Three billion catties of Divine Power!)

[evolution points]: 302,000 points (Huge sum awaiting use!)

[Cultivation Techniques]:

Star Body Tempering Method (Minor Achievement) Star Glow into Marrow!

Chaos Heaven Opening Art (Minor Achievement Peak) Chaos Great Power!

Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart (Minor Achievement Peak) primordial divine magic aspect Manifestation!

Shrinking the Ground to an Inch (Major Achievement) Hundred Li Teleportation!

[Divine Abilities]: [Stellar Gravity (Minor Achievement Peak)], [Heart Fire Burns the Heavens], [Source of Vitality], [Power of Thick Earth], [Geng Metal Sharpness], [Xuanming True Water (Minor Achievement)]

[Martial Skills]: [Chaos Heaven Opening Fist (Minor Achievement)], [God-Demon Burning Heaven Fist (Initial Glimpse)], [Star Plucking Hand (Initial Glimpse)]

[Items]: ...omitted... "Three hundred thousand points..." Lin Jingyu gazed at the dazzling number on the panel, his heart beating powerfully.

With a flip of his palm, the inner core of the Black Rhinoceros Demon King, containing immense Dharma Aspect Realm demonic power, appeared in his grasp, emitting a dark, unsettling luster and energy fluctuations.

"The energy contained in this demon core far exceeds any previous gains. Directly absorbing it? Too inefficient. System deduction... is the kingly way!"

His mind focused on the [Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart] on the panel.

This ancient Body Refining method, obtained from the core of a Prefecture Secret Realm, had reached Minor Achievement Peak, subtly touching the threshold of condensing a primordial divine magic aspect.

If he could use the power of this demon core to deduce and Breakthrough in one go... "System!"

Lin Jingyu inwardly roared, "Consume evolution points, using the Black Rhinoceros Demon King's core as an lead, deduce the 'Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart' to Major Achievement Realm, and condense the prototype of a primordial divine magic aspect!"

[Command confirmed! Beginning deduction of 'Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart'...]

[Detected high-purity Dharma Aspect Realm Demon King core (Earth attribute), compatibility 73%, can be used as core energy to accelerate deduction...]

[Estimated evolution points consumption: 280,000 points! Confirm?]

Two hundred eighty thousand! Almost emptying his entire fortune!

Lin Jingyu's eyes showed no fluctuation. "Confirm!"

[evolution points -280,000!]

[Fusing Black Rhinoceros Demon King core... beginning deep deduction!]

Buzz—!

An indescribable torrent instantly rushed into Lin Jingyu's mind!

Countless profound pieces of information about divine-demon bodies, the Origin of power, the movement of stars, and the rules of heaven and earth surged, decomposed, and reassembled madly!

More vast and profound than any previous deduction!

"Ugh!" Lin Jingyu grunted, his sprinting figure abruptly stopping! His feet sank deep into the ground!

Rumble—!

A dazzling dark-gold light instantly erupted from his body! Beneath his skin, the circulating silver Star Glow was covered and fused by this heavy, vast earthy-yellow energy!

His muscles, tendons, bones, internal organs, and even the depths of his bone marrow, all emitted a thunderous sound of being overwhelmed yet rapidly strengthening!

On the surface of his skin, countless profound and complex, even deeper and vaster star-demon patterns crazily spread and intertwined!

Vaguely forming a blurred giant phantom, standing on the earth, head touching the stars, muscles bulging like mountains, exuding endless power and a heavy aura!

This phantom flashed behind him, yet it caused the surrounding earth to tremble and the air to emit dull explosions!

A domineering aura, centered on Lin Jingyu, violently spread out!

The shattered rocks and dust within a hundred zhang radius were instantly crushed into powder by this invisible force field!

[Deduction complete!]

['Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart' advanced to — Major Achievement Realm!]

[primordial divine magic aspect prototype successfully condensed!]

[Physical Body strength, power, defense, and recovery have achieved a fundamental leap!]

[Realm Breakthrough: Divine Treasure Realm sixth level → Divine Treasure Realm seventh level!]

[Power: Three billion catties → Five billion catties!]

[Obtained primordial divine magic aspect Divine Ability: [Earth Pulse] (Initial Glimpse)]

Whoosh—!

Lin Jingyu opened his eyes, feeling the surging, terrifying power within him, enough to shake mountains and rivers. Dark gold and starlight intertwined and flowed beneath his skin, his defense strengthened by an unknown multiple!

"Five billion catties... primordial divine magic aspect prototype..."

He clenched his fist, and the air in his palm exploded, producing a deafening sonic boom! "Very good! This 'generous gift' from the Heavenly Sword Sect truly didn't disappoint me!"

His lips curled into a grin, revealing his stark white teeth, and Battle Intent burned in his eyes like a tangible flame.

He had just broken through, and his aura had not yet fully converged. The domineering and unparalleled divine-demon pressure from the Major Achievement Realm 'Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart' and the heavy sensation brought by five billion catties of Divine Power were as clear as a torch in the dark.

Hundreds of li away from Lin Jingyu, above a desolate Gobi Desert.

Three sharp sword lights, like shooting stars chasing the moon, were rapidly approaching Lin Jingyu's direction!

The leader was none other than Heavenly Sword Sect Elder Situ Ming!

Behind him were two other Sword-Wielding Elders, whose auras were equally powerful, having reached Divine Treasure Realm eighth level.

Situ Ming's face was grim, and a special soul-tracking jade talisman in his hand was emitting an increasingly fiery red light, pointing towards Lin Jingyu's location!

This was given to him by Situ Hao before he left, containing a trace of Situ Hao's Sword Intent and a tracking secret method, capable of sensing Lin Jingyu's lingering strong aura.

"Elder Situ! That Lin Jingyu's aura... suddenly surged a great deal! And... there's an extremely heavy, domineering pressure, as if from ancient times!" one of the Sword-Wielding Elders spoke in surprise, his sensing Magical Artifact also trembling violently.

Situ Ming's eyes grew even colder: "Hmph! He must have refined the Black Mountain Demon King's inner core! What a waste of heavenly treasures! A mere martial artist, worthy of enjoying such a spiritual object? Perfect! He just broke through, his aura is unstable, this is the perfect time to kill him! Accelerate!"

The sword light suddenly sped up, tearing through the sky!

As Lin Jingyu was still getting used to his surged power, his Divine Thought keenly captured three undisguised, murderous, sharp auras rapidly approaching!

Their direction was straight at him!

"Heh... so impatient."

Lin Jingyu's eyes showed no fear; instead, a flame of excitement burned within them. "Just broke through, and someone delivers themselves to be a whetstone... Heavenly Sword Sect, this 'favor,' I, Lin Jingyu, will remember!"

Instead of fleeing, he stopped, standing like a mountain on the wasteland, quietly waiting.

A few breaths later!

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Three dazzling sword lights tore through the air, hovering in a ' people' (person) formation a hundred zhang above Lin Jingyu!

The Sword Qi was chilling, stirring up wind and clouds, carving countless crisscrossing sword marks into the wasteland below!

Situ Ming stood on his Flying Sword, looking down from above, his eyes as if he were looking at a dead man: "Lin Jingyu! You have courage, you're not running anymore?"

Lin Jingyu looked up, his gaze calmly sweeping over the three, finally settling on Situ Ming, his voice like muffled thunder rolling across the wasteland: "Run? Just you three old dogs from the Heavenly Sword Sect? Are you worthy?"

"Arrogant!"

Situ Ming flew into a rage, his terrifying Divine Treasure Realm ninth-level Sword Intent erupting like a storm! "You killed my Heavenly Sword Sect Core Disciple, stole my Sect's precious Star Core, and disrespected Sword Venerable! Today, this place will be your burial ground! Form the formation—[Three Talents Immortal Slaying Sword Formation]!"

"Form the formation!"

"Slay this fiend!"

The other two Sword-Wielding Elders shouted in unison, and dazzling star sword lights simultaneously erupted from the longswords in their hands!

Lin Jingyu merely grinned, revealing a powerful, ferocious smile.

"This sword formation again? All flash and no substance!"

He stomped his right foot fiercely!

Boom—!!!

The already shattered earth beneath his feet instantly collapsed into a giant crater tens of zhang in diameter, as if struck by a meteor!

The recoil from the five billion catties of Divine Power propelled his body into a dark-gold streak of light that tore through space, not retreating but advancing, slamming head-on into the terrifying sword domain descending from the sky!

No technique, no evasion!

Only the purest, most barbaric, most violent — Physical Body collision!

"Break for me—!!!"