42: Chapter 42 Half-Step Core Formation

The entire Demon Suppression Division, from the Bronze Medal Envoys down to the sweepers, was frozen in place.

After all that fuss, this aggressive great demon... was here to acknowledge its ancestor?

And it was acknowledging King of Hell Lin?

Just as everyone stood bewildered in the wind, a gentle voice rang out from behind them.

"Disperse, everyone. It's just a minor demon that happened upon a bit of an Opportunity. Look at how scared you all are."

The Silver-Rank Supervisor had appeared in the field at some unknown point. He glanced at Huang Fugui, who was prostrate on the ground, then at the calm Lin Feng, a flicker of a smile crossing his eyes.

"Lin Feng, come with me."

Lin Feng nodded, grabbed Huang Fugui by the scruff of the neck like a little chick, and followed the Supervisor into the quiet courtyard.

The Supervisor sat by the pond and pointed to the stone stool opposite him, signaling Lin Feng to sit as well.

"My Demon Suppression Division has had one ironclad rule since its founding."

The Supervisor spoke leisurely, "Humans and demons walk different paths. A Demon Slayer must not associate with demons, let alone keep a demon pet privately. Violators will have their cultivation abolished and be thrown into the Death Cell."

Huang Fugui trembled so hard he nearly wet himself on the spot.

Lin Feng, however, remained unfazed and said calmly, "Rules are dead; people are alive."

"Well said."

The Supervisor nodded approvingly. "Rules are meant to restrain the mediocre. For a true Genius, rules are meant to be broken."

His tone shifted, and his gaze became sharp.

"This Yellow Weasel Demon has good potential and has gained from your Opportunity; its future achievements will be limitless. I can make an exception and allow you to keep it by your side."

Huang Fugui was overjoyed upon hearing this and was about to kowtow in gratitude.

"However."

The Supervisor's voice suddenly turned cold. "Remember, as a member of my Demon Suppression Division, you must uphold the Dao of the Demon Suppression Division. You can use it as an informant or an assistant. But if it dares to harm a single innocent civilian or commit a single atrocious act..."

He paused, his gaze like lightning, staring straight at Lin Feng.

"I will cut down both you and it together."

These words were spoken plainly, yet they carried an unquestionable dominance and majesty.

Lin Feng knew he wasn't joking.

"Rest assured, Supervisor."

He replied calmly, "My blade only slays demons that deserve to be slain and only kills people who deserve to be killed."

"Good. With those words, I am at ease."

The Supervisor nodded with satisfaction. "Go now. The future of this world still depends on you young people."

When Lin Feng emerged from the Supervisor's courtyard with Huang Fugui, the news once again shocked the entire Demon Suppression Division.

The Supervisor had actually broken the ironclad rule for Lin Feng!

Allowing him to keep a demon pet!

This was a unique honor, the first of its kind since the establishment of the Nanyan Prefecture Demon Suppression Division!

"Brother Lin is really going places!"

Zhao Tie and Li Rui were full of envy.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng had already returned to his own courtyard.

"Master! You are practically my second parent, my everything! I, Huang Fugui..."

"Enough, stop the nonsense."

Lin Feng interrupted Huang Fugui's flattery. "Tell me, after being in seclusion for so long, what new skills have you gained?"

At the mention of this, Huang Fugui immediately perked up, puffed out his little chest, and said proudly, "Master, just you watch! I am not what I used to be!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his small body suddenly blurred.

With a 'whoosh,' over a dozen identical Huang Fuguis materialized on the spot. Each was lifelike, even mimicking the wretched look in his eyes perfectly.

"This is my innate Divine Ability—'Multi-Shadow Clone'! Wait, no, it's 'Yellow Wind Phantom'! It's enough to pass for the real thing and confuse the enemy!"

Next, he opened his small mouth and blew gently toward a decorative rock in the courtyard.

Whoosh!

A visible, condensed yellow wind blade shot out instantly, silently slicing the hard rock in two with a cut as smooth as a mirror.

"This is my natal Demonic Technique—'Bone-Eroding Demonic Wind'! It withers bone and turns blood to water, indestructible!"

Huang Fugui grew more boastful as he spoke, feeling that he had become incredibly formidable.

However, just as he was preparing to continue demonstrating his 'earth-shattering' power...

A playful smile curled at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth.

"Not bad, you've made some progress."

With a thought, he opened the System panel.

[Ding! Consumed 20,000 critical hit points, Nine Yang Infinite Art critical hit successful!]

Nine Yang Infinite Art, Beginner!

Cultivation, Half-Step Core Origin!

Boom!!!

A terrifying pressure of supreme Yang and extreme hardness instantly erupted from Lin Feng's body!

This pressure wasn't even deliberately aimed at anyone; it was just naturally radiating outward.

But Huang Fugui, who was smugly showing off his power, felt as if he had been struck by an invisible divine mountain!

Thump!

His fierce Demonic Qi was instantly scattered into disarray.

All the phantoms exploded with a 'pop,' and his own legs gave way as he fell prostrate on the ground. His yellow fur clung tightly to his skin, and he shook like a leaf.

He felt as if he were facing not a human, but a brilliant sun walking the earth!

That pressure caused the fear of a natural predator, rooted deep within his Bloodline, to be infinitely magnified!

"Master... Master... Old Ancestor..."

Huang Fugui's voice was trembling, and he couldn't even lift his head.

The bit of confidence he had just built up was crushed to dust by Lin Feng's display.

"How about it? Still feel like you're a big deal?"

Lin Feng withdrew the pressure and asked with a smile.

"I'm not! Not at all!"

Huang Fugui scrambled to Lin Feng's feet, clinging to his boots and wailing with snot and tears.

"Master, you're the truly formidable one! You're the father of the Bull Demon King, absolutely peerless! In front of you, I don't even count as a single strand of bull hair!"

...

After personally experiencing what it meant to be 'dimensionally suppressed,' Huang Fugui became completely submissive. The way he looked at Lin Feng now could no longer be described as mere admiration; it was a pious and fanatical devotion, as if looking at a god or buddha.

To make up for his mistake of 'showing off in front of an expert,' he exerted all his efforts to frantically please Lin Feng.

One moment he was kneading shoulders, the next he was pounding legs, and then he used his tail as a duster to sweep every speck of dust from the courtyard.

"Master, please sit, please sit."

Huang Fugui bowed and scraped as he served Lin Feng a cup of hot tea. "Master, with your strength, I feel that forget this tiny Nanyan Prefecture, even in the entire Great Xia Dynasty, you could walk wherever you please!"

Lin Feng took a sip of tea without speaking.

Huang Fugui's eyes darted around. Believing he understood his master's thoughts best, he leaned in and said in a low, conspiratorial 'I get you' tone:

"Master, I know you have high aspirations and no interest in those mundane women. But then again, that girl from the City Lord's Manor is truly exquisite—that figure, that face, tsk tsk tsk..."

As he spoke, he used his front paws to gesture an extremely exaggerated hourglass curve.

"I can see her intentions for you are as clear as day. Master, even if you aren't interested in a Dual Cultivation Dao Companion, taking her in as a plaything to warm your bed and massage your back wouldn't be bad. When you're bored, you could have her sing a little tune to entertain you. Since she's offering herself up, it'd be a waste not to take her, wouldn't it? Hehehe..."