96: Entering the city

His body churned like the sea, and every breath brought a dull ache to his internal organs.

Lin Jingyu forcibly suppressed the metallic sweetness in his throat, his dark golden body, its luster dimmed, flashing rapidly across the wilderness. Every time he used Shrinking the Ground to an Inch, the cracks in his Meridians sent a needle-like sting.

The magnificent silhouette of the Imperial Capital, sprawling like a primordial behemoth, finally appeared on the hazy horizon.

"I must enter the city quickly!" Lin Jingyu's eyes were icy, betraying a hint of weakness that was hard to detect.

He knew exactly how bad his current condition was.

His evolution points were zeroed out, preventing instant recovery... The impact of the residual will of a Dharma Aspect Realm Ninth Level Ancient Demon Saint and the suppression of the Law were far from something a Divine Treasury Realm Physical Body could easily withstand. If not for the deep Foundation of the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies, Only I Am Supreme Art and the Star Body Tempering Method, coupled with the final, desperate 100,000-point enhancement to Shrinking the Ground to an Inch, he would have long turned to dust.

The black water mysterious serpent demon king pill clutched tightly in his hand transmitted a chilling energy through his skin; it was his only “resource” at the moment. He tried to communicate with the System, and the cold notification tone immediately sounded:

[Ding! A massive item containing pure demonic power has been detected: black water mysterious serpent demon king pill (Dharma Aspect Realm First Level). It can be converted and absorbed, estimated evolution points obtainable: 150,000 points! Convert now?]

"No!" Lin Jingyu replied without hesitation.

Convert now? These few evolution points were merely a drop in the bucket, far from enough to heal his severe injuries, let alone push his Cultivation Technique to evolve.

This Demon Pill was his only trump card and fallback plan right now; it had to be used at a crucial moment!

What alarmed him even more was the surging Chaos Qi Flow within his body.

Under the stimulation of near-death, the Bottleneck of the Chaos Heaven Opening Art loosened drastically—the membrane leading to Minor Achievement Peak felt as if it could be pierced with a single touch!

But with his severely injured body and depleted Qi and blood, forcing a Breakthrough would be akin to destroying his own Great Wall.

"That damned old bone!" Lin Jingyu cursed under his breath, increasing his speed again, causing a series of low sonic booms as he rushed toward the massive, cloud-piercing city gate inscribed with countless defensive Runes—the Vermilion Bird Gate.

At the city entrance, the flow of people was dense, and the guards were strict.

The City Guards, clad in crimson Armor and exuding a fierce Aura, sharply scrutinized every person entering the city.

When Lin Jingyu's mountain-like, blood-soaked, and ferocious figure appeared at the edge of their vision, all the guards instantly tensed up!

"Stop!" The leading petty captain, a muscular man at Meridian Opening Realm Peak, shouted sternly, pointing his long spear horizontally.

The terrifying Evil Qi and heavy scent of blood still emanating from Lin Jingyu made them instinctively feel extreme danger. "State your name and Origin! Submit to inspection!"

Lin Jingyu's steps did not pause. His eyes were indifferent as ice, and without even glancing at the long spear, he walked straight toward the city gate.

Severely injured, he had neither the time nor the energy to waste words on these small fry.

"Impudence!" Seeing that the other party dared to ignore him, the petty captain roared in fury. His Meridian Opening Realm Qi and blood erupted, and he infused strength into his long spear, fiercely stabbing toward Lin Jingyu's shoulder!

This strike was swift and vicious, enough to pierce the defenses of an ordinary Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist!

Hiss!

The spear tip touched the exposed skin beneath Lin Jingyu's damaged clothes.

Sparks flew everywhere!

The expected sight of flesh and blood flying did not occur.

The long spear seemed to have struck ten thousand years of Profound Iron; its tip instantly twisted and shattered!

An overwhelming, irresistible counter-shock force surged up the shaft of the spear!

"Pfft—!" The petty captain was struck as if by a heavy hammer. The web of his hand burst open, blood sprayed wildly, and he was sent flying backward like a broken sack, smashing heavily against the thick city gate with a dull thud, embedding himself into it, his life status unknown!

Silence! Deathly silence!

All the guards, including the people queuing to enter the city, were dumbfounded, as if their throats had been seized!

The Meridian Opening Realm Peak Captain launched a full-power strike, yet the opponent didn't even lift an eyelid—the spear shattered, and the man flew?

Lin Jingyu didn't even look at the result. His figure showed no pause, he stepped over the threshold, and disappeared into the shadows of the city gate tunnel.

Only chaos on the ground and widespread terror remained.

"Mo... Monster!" Only after a long while did someone let out a horrified scream.

In a private room on the second floor of a tea stall not far from the Vermilion Bird Gate.

The withered Corpse Demon in gray robes, his murky, deathly still eyes, precisely captured Lin Jingyu's figure entering the city through the window.

His fingers, thin and dry as firewood, lightly tapped the tabletop, making a dull knocking sound.

"Jie jie... He really came in."

A hoarse laugh came from his throat, like the cry of a night owl.

"His Aura is disordered, his Qi and blood are depleted, and his injuries are even heavier than expected... Good! Excellent!"

Opposite him, a lean man dressed as a merchant immediately bowed and whispered, "Lord Corpse Demon, the target has entered the Vermilion Bird Gate. A secret order came from Eunuch Wei's side; all hidden sentinels in the city have been activated, and the 'Hounds' outside the Heavenly Prison have also been released. As soon as he settles down..."

The Corpse Demon waved his hand, interrupting him, "No rush. The Imperial Capital runs deep; we aren't the only ones watching him. First, let those blind fools test the waters and consume his remaining strength. Tell our people to watch closely. Where he goes, who he contacts—I want to know his every move!"

"Yes!" The lean man took the order and quietly retreated.

The Corpse Demon picked up the cold tea on the table, and his murky eyes flickered with greed and cruelty: "Such a perfect Physical Body... when severely injured, it is the weakest moment, and the easiest time for the will to be corroded... Those old things in the Heavenly Prison will surely 'love' this grand gift..."

The corners of his withered mouth stretched into a spine-chilling curve.

Lin Jingyu endured the pain and traveled through the bustling and prosperous streets of the Imperial Capital.

The huge city was like a maze, bustling with people and traffic. Cultivators, Martial Artists, and Mortals mingled within. The air was filled with Spiritual Qi several times denser than in the Prefecture, but it was also mixed with more subtle demonic Evil Qi and the stench of corrupt nobility.

His target was clear—the Demon Suppression Division.

His severe injuries required a safe place to recuperate, and the Demon Suppression Division, a violent organization directly under the Imperial Family specializing in eliminating demons and evil spirits, was theoretically the most suitable destination for him, the “Demon Slayer Madman.”

More importantly, the highest-Rank “Demon Slaying Token” in his hand represented his connection to Qin Shanhe, the highest authority in the Demon Suppression Division.

As he traveled, he keenly sensed several obscure gazes, like maggots clinging to bone, projecting from different directions, carrying scrutiny, greed, and cold killing intent.

The waters of the Imperial Capital were indeed unfathomably deep.

He remained outwardly calm, merely operating the Chaos Heaven Opening Art faster. While suppressing his injuries, he also emitted an even fiercer Aura, like a wounded Archaic Vicious Beast, warning the hidden observers.

Following the guidance of the Demon Slaying Token, Lin Jingyu finally arrived at the core area of the Imperial Capital.

A massive fortress, built entirely of pitch-black megaliths, stood before him. The fortress resembled a crouching behemoth, radiating an Aura of iron-bloodedness, solemnity, and coldness.

Above the towering gate hung a massive Profound Iron plaque, inscribed with three powerful characters, written with iron strokes and silver hooks, radiating Evil Qi that pierced the sky—Demon Suppression Division!

The guards at the entrance had an Aura far stronger than the city gate soldiers; they were at least Bone Forging Realm and their eyes were sharp as eagles.

When Lin Jingyu approached, the sky-high Evil Qi and dense smell of blood immediately put them on high alert, and they all tightened their grip on the hilts of their swords.

Lin Jingyu directly displayed the ancient, heavy Profound Iron token engraved with a ferocious beast head.

"Demon Slaying Token?!"

The guard leader's pupils suddenly contracted. He gasped in surprise, and his attitude instantly became incomparably respectful, even carrying a hint of awe. "Please wait, Sir!"

He dared not delay, immediately turned around, and rushed into the interior of the fortress at top speed to report.

After just a moment, a tall and sturdy figure walked out with the gait of a Dragon and a tiger.

He was clad in the profound black official robe of a Demon Suppression Division Commander. He had a square face, thick, blade-like eyebrows, and his eyes flashed with brilliant light when opened and closed, commanding authority without anger.

It was precisely the Demon Suppression Division Commander, Qin Shanhe!

Qin Shanhe's gaze immediately fell upon Lin Jingyu. His sharp eyes instantly pierced through Lin Jingyu's forced Aura, seeing the disordered Qi and blood and damaged Meridians within his body. He frowned almost imperceptibly.

"Little Friend Lin?"

Qin Shanhe's voice was loud, carrying a hint of surprise but more solemnity.

"Since we parted at the Prefecture, Little Friend's demeanor is even greater than before. But... these injuries?"

Lin Jingyu's expression remained unchanged. He clasped his fists and said, "Commander Qin. I ran into a bit of trouble on the road and was ambushed by an old, immortal bag of bones."

His tone was calm, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Bag of bones?"

A sharp light flashed in Qin Shanhe's eyes. To be able to injure this young man, who had already displayed terrifying strength in the Prefecture and whose Aura now seemed even more profound, that “bag of bones” was certainly extraordinary!

His thoughts raced, but he displayed a hearty smile: "Hahaha, no matter! For minor injuries, my Demon Suppression Division has plenty of Spirit Pills and wonderful medicines! I am overjoyed that Little Friend has come to the Imperial Capital and came straight to my Demon Suppression Division!"

He took a step forward, lowering his voice, which carried undeniable sincerity and weight: "Little Friend, my sincerity was lacking during the recruitment in the Prefecture last time. This time, I, Qin Shanhe, representing the Demon Suppression Division, sincerely invite Little Friend to join again! The position of deputy commander is reserved for you! The Division's resources and Cultivation Technique secret vault are yours to use! As long as Little Friend agrees, any demons or monsters who dare to touch you within the Imperial Capital must first ask if my 100,000 Demon Slaying Guards of the Demon Suppression Division agree!"

He waved his large hand, pointing to the fortress behind him, which resembled a primordial behemoth. His words were resolute, carrying iron-blooded Evil Qi: "Join my Demon Suppression Division, and you are a brother! Your injuries are the Division's responsibility! Your enemies are the enemies of the Demon Suppression Division! What do you say?"

Protection! Resources! Status!

The conditions offered by Qin Shanhe were much more generous and direct than those offered in the Prefecture!

Especially the line, “any demons or monsters who dare to touch you must first ask my Demon Suppression Division,” which carried immense weight in the ears of the severely injured Lin Jingyu at this moment!

Lin Jingyu looked calmly at Qin Shanhe, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

The Demon Suppression Division was undoubtedly an excellent sanctuary, allowing him to gain valuable recovery time.

But getting involved in the vortex of Imperial Power and the Demon Suppression Division—the benefits and drawbacks were hard to predict. The black water mysterious serpent demon king pill in his hand felt slightly warm inside his sleeve.

Inside his body, the Qi Flow of the Chaos Heaven Opening Art grew increasingly restless under the stimulation of his severe injuries. The loosening sensation of the Bottleneck was crystal clear, as if only one last surge of violent energy was needed to burst through!

[System Interface]

[host]: Lin Jingyu

[Realm]: Divine Treasury Realm Eighth Level Peak! (Severe Injury! Origin Undamaged! Chaos Heaven Opening Art Bottleneck drastically loosened!)

[evolution points]: 0 points

[Cultivation Technique]:

Star Body Tempering Method (Minor Achievement) (Slowly repairing injuries)

Chaos Heaven Opening Art (Minor Achievement Peak) (On the verge of Breakthrough! Insufficient Energy!)

Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart (Major Achievement Peak)

Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies, Only I Am Supreme Art (Minor Achievement) (Damaged)

Shrinking the Ground to an Inch (Major Achievement Peak)

[Item]: black water mysterious serpent demon king pill *1 (Contains massive pure demonic power / Convertible to 150,000 evolution points)

[Status]: Severe Injury (Internal organs shaken, Meridians damaged)! Urgent need for energy to repair or Breakthrough!