118: Self-determination

He urgently needed a suitable venue to test the results of his recent seclusion.

And while he was at it, he wanted to see if he could level up the proficiency of his attack skills.

In the suite at Insect Dwelling?

A scene instantly flashed through Lin Yu's mind: a million-fold Lightning Spell going out of control, incinerating the entire core system of Insect Dwelling into charcoal.

No.

Absolutely not.

Insect Dwelling's defense system couldn't withstand his current "routine" operations.

He had to go out and find a place.

A place sturdy enough, secluded enough, where he could let loose and mess around as he pleased.

Lin Yu walked to the adjacent room.

His younger sister, Lin Yao, was sitting cross-legged in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, her eyes closed, her entire being enveloped in a faint, almost solidified glow of magic.

The elements in the air were being absorbed into her body at a speed far beyond normal, transforming into the purest magic.

Lin Yu could feel that his sister's basic attributes were significantly increasing... Damn it, getting stronger just by breathing the air, without any elixirs... ridiculous!

This cultivation speed was simply astonishing.

Truly worthy of an Omniscient Sage.

A smile appeared on Lin Yu's face.

He didn't disturb her, but simply left a short voice message for Lin Yao through the room's communication system.

"Yaoyao, I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back soon, no need to worry."

After speaking, he turned and left the suite.

Stepping out of the door, the luxurious and spacious corridor was silent, the thick carpet absorbing all footsteps.

Lin Yu strolled forward, his mind rapidly calculating.

Testing skills.

He had to find a suitable place.

Although the Black Market had dedicated dueling arenas and training rooms, those places were too small.

And it was a mixed bag, with too many eyes.

Any random skill he used now, even if cast instantly with Primordial Snap, had a power far beyond what it used to be.

The scene of the million-fold Lightning Spell's world-destroying power was still vividly imprinted in his mind.

If Insect Dwelling's defense system couldn't handle it, those small venues in the Black Market would probably shatter at a touch.

He needed a place that was large enough, sturdy enough, preferably secluded enough, where he could act without restraint and mess around as he pleased.

A name, without any warning, emerged from the depths of his memory.

"Sky Dome Peak."

The largest and most renowned private training ground outside Linzhou City.

It was said that the boss there had immense connections and spent a fortune collecting unique spatial materials from all over the world to build dozens of fully simulated environments.

Volcanoes, glaciers, primeval jungles, even zero-gravity spaces.

Everything imaginable.

There was nothing they couldn't do, only things one couldn't think of.

Of course, the price was also astronomical.

However, money was just a number to him now.

It was a perfect place to thoroughly test the results of his recent seclusion.

Just as he made up his mind, his phone vibrated slightly.

Lin Yu raised his hand and glanced at it.

It was a series of urgent communication requests and encrypted messages from Old Ghost and Seventh Master.

He casually opened them.

"Boss, people from the Black Market Management Office are here, their purpose is unknown."

There was only one message; Old Ghost no longer had time to send others.

Black Market Management Office... Lin Yu's movements didn't falter in the slightest as he continued towards the exit of Insect Dwelling.

His heart remained undisturbed.

Aren't they from the three major potion merchants?

Since it was an internal dispute within the Black Market, then let the rules of the Black Market resolve it.

Old Ghost and Seventh Master had been entrenched in the Black Market for many years; one was skilled in unorthodox methods, the other adept at array formations and contracts—neither was an easy opponent.

What he needed were capable subordinates who could handle things independently, not burdens who needed him to clean up after them for everything.

Thinking this, Lin Yu quickly tapped his fingertips on his phone a few times, composed a message, and mass-sent it to Old Ghost and Seventh Master.

The content of the message was extremely simple.

"Full discretion, no need to consult me."

After sending, he closed the communication interface.

Even if they handled it poorly, it wouldn't come to blows, right?

If it was just negotiations, his presence or absence wouldn't make much difference.

Even if he talked himself blue in the face, his experience and worldly wisdom couldn't compare to those two old foxes, Seventh Master and Old Ghost.

Trust, sometimes, had more power than being physically present.

He trusted his judgment.

Passing through the long corridor, he arrived at Insect Dwelling's exclusive elevator.

Lin Yu's figure suddenly paused.

He slowly raised his hand, spread his fingers, and then slowly closed them.

Just now, as his thoughts flowed, the vast and docile life energy within him, brought by Origin Vitality Nourishment, produced a peculiar tremor.

He could clearly "see" every muscle fiber, every inch of bone, and even every cell beneath his skin undergoing extremely subtle, controllable changes according to his will.

This was... an extension of the Body Control ability?

An interesting idea sprouted in his mind.

He tried to concentrate, pouring his willpower into his face.

The muscles beneath his skin began to 蠕動 in an inhuman way, the height of his cheekbones changed, the lines of his jaw became sharper, and even his nose bridge quietly became more prominent.

Within mere seconds.

A completely different, yet equally handsome, somewhat stern, unfamiliar face appeared on the mirror-like metal door of the elevator.

This was no longer a simple disguise.

This was fundamentally altering his physical form.

Interesting.

Lin Yu released his control over his face, returning to his original appearance.

This new discovery was undoubtedly a huge surprise.

This meant that from now on, he had an absolutely safe trump card for moving through the world.

However... he didn't need it yet.

He was just going back to Linzhou City, to a publicly operating training ground, there was no need to be so mysterious and secretive.

Ding.

The elevator door slowly opened.

Lin Yu, wearing the disguised outfit provided by Insect Dwelling, stepped inside.

As the elevator steadily descended, the complex scent unique to the Black Market, a mixture of various potions, metals, and desires, once again assailed him.

He didn't linger in the lobby of Insect Dwelling, walking straight towards the exit.

Black Market residents he encountered along the way, whether ferocious-looking mercenaries or hurried merchants, instinctively moved aside when they saw Lin Yu, casting gazes of awe.

The identity of a high-paying guest in Insect Dwelling's exorbitant suites was, in itself, a sufficiently weighty calling card in the Black Market.

Lin Yu passed through the heavy door, which seemed to separate two worlds, and returned to the Black Market's main street, which was always brightly lit and bustling with people.

When one possesses strength and confidence, and when one does not.

Standing in the same place, one's state of mind is completely different.

When he knew that all the people in this entire Black Market combined probably weren't qualified to last a few rounds against him.

He felt an immense sense of freedom, confidence, and peace of mind.

A natural aura, the aura of a strong person, emanated from Lin Yu.