97: accept

Lin Jingyu's gaze, sharp as iron, swept over the iron-blooded fortress behind Qin Shanhe.

The protection of the Demon Suppression Division was indeed tempting, but getting embroiled in a power struggle was absolutely not what he wanted.

What he needed was a slaughterhouse, evolution points, not a political quagmire.

"No need for the deputy commander position."

Lin Jingyu's voice was firm and resolute, "Just give me the title of Guest Elder, I'll take missions and kill demons. I'll handle my own injuries."

He revealed his Demon Slaying Token, the profound iron beast head gleaming coldly in the dim light.

A glint flashed in Qin Shanhe's eyes, then he burst into laughter: "Good! Straightforward! The position of Guest Elder, with the highest authority in the Demon Suppression Division! Resources will be provided, and missions can be chosen freely!"

He waved his hand, "Zhao Hu! Take Guest Official Lin to the Black Prison Institute for recuperation!"

A black-armored captain at the Peak Bone Forging Realm immediately stepped forward, respectfully leading the way.

Lin Jingyu said no more, following him into the fortress.

The heavy stone gate boomed shut behind him, cutting off countless prying gazes from outside.

The Black Prison Institute was an independent small courtyard, built with massive stones and equipped with its own isolation Formation.

Lin Jingyu sat cross-legged on the stone bed, holding the black water mysterious serpent demon king pill in his palm.

"System, convert!"

[Ding! Converting black water mysterious serpent demon king pill (Dharma Aspect Realm First Layer)! Gained evolution points: 150,000 points!]

A faint golden light flashed, and the demon pill disappeared. The evolution points counter jumped.

"Heal injuries!"

[Ding! Consumed 50,000 evolution points! Repaired visceral tremors and Meridian damage! Life signs restored to 95%!]

A warm current washed over his limbs and bones, the intense pain rapidly subsided, and his pale complexion regained its color.

"Strengthen Star Body Tempering Method!" Lin Jingyu didn't hesitate.

[Ding! Consumed 100,000 evolution points! Star Body Tempering Method upgraded to Major Achievement! Star Glow tempers bones, defense doubled!]

Boom! Majestic Star Power poured into him from the Void Realm!

Lin Jingyu's muscles bulged, his bones cracked, and a river of silver Star Glow flowed beneath his skin.

The weakness from his severe injuries was swept away, and his Aura was even stronger than before!

[host]: Lin Jingyu

[Realm]: Peak of the Divine Treasury Realm Eighth Layer

[evolution points]: 0 points

[Cultivation Techniques]:

Star Body Tempering Method (Major Achievement) (Star Glow tempers bones! Defense doubled!)

Chaos Heaven Opening Art (Minor Achievement Peak) (Bottleneck severely loosened! Insufficient energy!)

Archaic God-Demon Visualization Chart (Major Achievement Peak)

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

Shrinking the Ground to an Inch (Major Achievement Peak)

"Just one step away!" Lin Jingyu clenched his fists, Chaos Qi Flow surging and roaring within him.

From Minor Achievement Peak to true "Major Achievement" requires tearing apart Chaos and opening up one's own power!

This Bottleneck, relying solely on evolution points is not enough; it requires a life-and-death struggle to ignite it!

The next morning, Zhao Hu's voice rang out from outside the courtyard: "Guest Official Lin! The commander has an urgent mission!"

The mission Jade Slip landed in his hand. The information was cold:

Location: Black Wind Ridge (three hundred li northwest of the Imperial Capital)

Event: Three villages annihilated, souls captured, suspected demon king at work!

Rank: Blood Calamity Rank (requires Dharma Aspect Realm combat power)

Objective: Investigate and execute the culprit!

Reward: Five thousand Demon Suppression Merits, one hundred High Grade Origin Stones.

"Demon King?" Ferocious light erupted in Lin Jingyu's eyes!

evolution points! Opportunity for Breakthrough!

His figure flickered, Shrinking the Ground to an Inch activated, and he vanished from the spot.

Zhao Hu only felt a strong wind hit his face, and the person was gone, his expression horrified: "So... so fast!"

Black Wind Ridge. A mournful wind howled, and Death Qi permeated the air.

Three villages had been reduced to scorched earth, with dried black blood staining the ruined walls.

Dense Demonic Qi mixed with the wails of vengeful spirits, forming a visible grayish-black miasma.

Lin Jingyu stepped onto the scorched earth, his Evil Qi soaring into the sky! He took a deep breath, and the pungent resentful Evil Qi filled his nostrils.

"You who hide your head and show your tail, get out!" A furious roar, infused with the terrifying Qi and blood of the Peak of the Divine Treasure Realm, exploded like thunder!

Boom—!

A hundred zhang ahead, the ground suddenly exploded! Amidst the flying dirt and shattered stones, a massive black shadow shot into the sky!

It was a giant python! Its entire body was covered in dull, iron-like scales, a single horn grew from its head, and its crimson vertical pupils were as large as lanterns, filled with savagery and greed.

It coiled in mid-air, its Demonic Qi forming a tangible black cloud that enveloped half the valley!

The terrifying pressure was like a collapsing mountain, and the air was as viscous as glue!

Dharma Aspect Realm! Third Heaven Demon King!

"Hehehe... such vigorous Qi and blood! If I devour you, this King will surely advance further!" The One-Horned Black Python spoke human words, a foul wind assaulted him, and poisonous saliva dripped to the ground, corroding it with sizzling white smoke.

Lin Jingyu's pupils constricted slightly, his entire body's muscles instantly tensed like steel cables! Dharma Aspect Realm!

But there was no fear in his eyes, only boiling Battle Intent and naked greed!

"Your demon pill, I'm taking it!" Lin Jingyu roared, advancing instead of retreating! His right foot stomped heavily on the ground!

Rumble!

The earth shattered! His figure transformed into a dark golden meteor tearing through the air, directly charging at the Demon King!

Simple! Brutal! Without any fancy moves!

Chaos Heaven Opening Fist—Mountain Splitting Style!

Wherever his fist passed, space distorted! Chaos Qi Flow intertwined, carrying the primordial might of opening the heavens!

"An ant trying to shake a tree!" The One-Horned Black Python hissed disdainfully, its massive snake tail, like a collapsing mountain, stirred up black demonic wind and slammed down fiercely!

Before the tail even arrived, the terrifying gale had already plowed a several-zhang deep trench in the ground!

Fist and tail, collided with a thunderous impact!

Clang—!!!

The colossal clang of metal shattering the clouds! A visible circular shockwave swept out, completely leveling the surrounding ruins of houses!

Lin Jingyu's body shook violently, shooting backward like a cannonball, his feet plowing two tens of zhang long deep trenches in the ground before he barely managed to stabilize himself.

The scales on his fist were shattered, oozing faint golden blood, and his arm felt slightly numb.

In contrast, several scales on the One-Horned Black Python's massive snake tail were cracked, and dark red demon blood seeped out.

A trace of astonishment flashed in its vertical pupils.

A human in the Divine Treasure Realm could actually withstand its Dharma Aspect demon body and even injure it?

"A little interesting! But... this is where it ends!" The Black Python Demon King's vertical pupils flared with fierce light, and its single horn suddenly glowed with dazzling black light!

A destructive energy was rapidly gathering, locking onto Lin Jingyu!

"Black Fiend Annihilation Light!" The Demon King roared!

A jet-black beam of light, as thick as a bucket and condensed to the extreme, tore through space and arrived in an instant!

Wherever it passed, all things withered, and even light was swallowed!

This was a fatal blow containing the destructive Law of the Dharma Aspect Realm!

The Aura of death instantly enveloped him! Lin Jingyu's hair stood on end! He couldn't dodge! Too fast!

"Roar!" At the brink of death, Lin Jingyu roared to the sky!

The Chaos Qi Flow within him surged wildly at an unprecedented speed!

The Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies Art operated to its limit, his muscles coiling like flood Dragons!

The Star Body Tempering Method shone with brilliant silver light!

He crossed his arms, protecting his chest, and all his strength was unreservedly concentrated at one point!

He would take it head-on!

Boom—!!!!

The jet-black beam slammed fiercely onto Lin Jingyu's crossed arms!

Blinding energy light instantly engulfed his figure! Destructive power wildly impacted, eroded, and annihilated!

The ground beneath his feet silently turned to dust, forming a massive deep pit!

The light dispersed.

In the center of the deep pit, Lin Jingyu knelt on one knee.

The sleeves of his arms were completely shattered, revealing his steel-like, knotted muscles, which were covered in charred cracks, with faint golden blood continuously seeping out and dripping.

He panted heavily, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but his back remained straight as a spear!

Those eyes burned with an unyielding flame, fixed intently on the Demon King in the air!

"Not dead?!" The One-Horned Black Python Demon King's vertical pupils constricted sharply, disbelief evident! A Divine Treasure Realm human, taking its innate Divine Ability head-on, was only injured?!

Lin Jingyu slowly stood upright, wiped the blood from his mouth, and revealed a blood-stained, savage grin: "Dharma Aspect Realm? Nothing more than that! Your demon pill, I'm definitely taking it!"

Within him, the Bottleneck of the Chaos Heaven Opening Art let out a groaning wail under the extreme pressure of death!

Just one last opportunity! One last surge of power!

"System! Lock target! Prepare to deduce Dharma Aspect!" Lin Jingyu roared in his heart, his gaze locked firmly on the single horn on the Demon King's head, which condensed destructive power!