Junlin Breaks Through, Shi Yong Joins

In the quiet room of the Misty Rain Tower's stronghold, Ye Junlin sat cross-legged, holding the "Barrier Breaking Pill" obtained from the system's lottery.

The pill was amber in color, with a faint spiritual light flowing across its surface. A pure medicinal power emanated from its skin, causing the surrounding Spiritual Energy to stir slightly.

"The bottleneck from the mid-stage to the late-stage of Grandmaster, I'll use this to break through."

Ye Junlin whispered and put the Barrier Breaking Pill into his mouth.

The pill dissolved upon entering his mouth, transforming into a warm, gentle current that surged into his Dantian.

Unlike the violent nature of ordinary pills, this medicinal power was like a trickling stream, yet it possessed an unstoppable penetrative force, slowly seeping into the bottleneck within his Meridians.

Ye Junlin circulated the Supreme God-Demon Scripture, guiding the medicinal power to impact that invisible restraint.

"Buzz—"

The Spiritual Energy in his Dantian was stimulated by the medicinal power, surging and washing over the bottleneck like a tide.

At first, the bottleneck remained unmoved, even faintly resisting. But the medicinal power of the Barrier Breaking Pill seemed to carry a certain "momentum," continuously seeping in and wearing it down.

Half an hour later, a faint crisp sound echoed within his body. The bottleneck that had troubled Ye Junlin for days was finally broken!

Spiritual Energy surged like a bursting dam, circulating through his Meridians before converging entirely into his Dantian. His aura climbed steadily, finally stabilizing at the late-stage Grandmaster realm.

Ye Junlin slowly withdrew his energy. When he opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashed within them.

With every movement, his Spiritual Energy circulated more smoothly. Although still in the Grandmaster realm, he already possessed a subtle aura of returning to simplicity.

"System, display personal panel."

[Ding, instruction received]

[Host]: Ye Junlin

[Age]: 17 years old

[Realm]: Grandmaster Late Stage

[Physique]: Supreme God-Demon Physique (Supreme Grade)

[Cultivation Method]: Supreme God-Demon Scripture (Supreme Grade)

[Martial Skills]: Emperor Seal Art, Shadow Step, Ye Family Thirteen Forms

[Items]: Eternal Night Heaven Token x10, Storage Ring x3, Mid-grade Spirit Stones x100,000, ...

[Energy Points]: 5000 points

[Summoned Characters]:

Six Ultimates: Yuan Tiangang (Heavenly Human Realm Late Stage)

Seven Stars: 1. Di Yun (Nirvana Mid Stage) 2. Linghu Chong (Nirvana Mid Stage)

Eight Guards: 1. Jing Ke (Void Glimpse Realm Peak), 2. Yao Li (Void Glimpse Realm Late Stage), 3. Nie Zheng (Void Glimpse Realm Peak), 4. Zhuan Zhu (Void Glimpse Realm Late Stage), 5. Yu Rang (Void Glimpse Realm Late Stage), 6. Cao Mo (Void Glimpse Realm Late Stage) 7. Chu Yu (Void Glimpse Realm Late Stage)]

Ye Junlin looked at the panel, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

The potential of the Supreme God-Demon Physique and the Supreme God-Demon Scripture needed no further explanation. With his cultivation now advancing further, although there was still a gap between him and the top powerhouses, he was already capable of handling many situations.

Meanwhile, in a general store deep within Qingzhou City's Black Market, Ground Rat was tidying the shelves when he saw the curtain being lifted and a man in rough, short-sleeved attire walk in.

The man was burly, with broad shoulders and a thick back. A scar ran from his brow bone to his jawline.

His eyes were filled with hatred and killing intent, and the tiger's mouth of his right hand was covered in thick calluses.

"What can I get for you, sir?"

Ground Rat asked habitually, his gaze falling on the calluses on the man's tiger's mouth.

He secretly mused—judging by his appearance, he looked like a seasoned fighter who had wielded weapons for years.

Unexpectedly, the man shook his head, his voice hoarse:

"I'm not here to shop, nor am I here for a bounty."

He paused briefly, looking directly at Ground Rat, "I've come to implore the Misty Rain Tower for an opportunity to join it!"

Ground Rat was stunned, then realized, "You wish to join the Misty Rain Tower?"

"Precisely." The man nodded.

"My name is Shi Yong. I've long heard of the Misty Rain Tower and yearn to join."

"Although I'm not a top expert, I possess great brute strength. I hope to be given this chance."

Ground Rat sized him up. Those who wished to join the Misty Rain Tower were clearly no ordinary individuals.

However, he was merely a guard of the Sub-Stele. How could he dare to make decisions on his own?

He said, "I can't make this decision. Please wait here. I'll go report it."

With that, Ground Rat lifted the cloth curtain and entered the inner room. He approached the Sub-Stele and condensed Spiritual Energy with his fingertip, inscribing a line of text:

"Someone calling himself Shi Yong is requesting an audience. He wishes to join Misty Rain Tower. His cultivation is late-stage Grandmaster, he's burly, and his eyes are filled with hatred and killing intent."

Inside the Rain-Gazing Pavilion, a stronghold of Misty Rain Tower, the main monument suddenly lit up with a green glow, displaying new text.

Jing Ke, who was discussing recruitment matters with Nie Zheng and others, stood up with a smile upon seeing this.

"Yo, we just started talking about recruiting and someone's already at our door? I thought it was another bounty."

Nie Zheng leaned in for a closer look. "Shi Yong, late-stage Grandmaster. The hatred and killing intent in his eyes certainly fit our standards for an assassin."

"I'll go take a look." Jing Ke adjusted the dagger at his waist.

"It's a good opportunity to check out the vicinity of the Black Market and see if I can run into a few more rogue cultivators."

With that, Jing Ke's figure flickered and disappeared outside the Rain-Gazing Pavilion.

Inside the general store, Shi Yong stood quietly in a corner, his gaze falling on the various goods on the shelves, his expression somewhat complex.

Ground Rat emerged from the back room. "Please wait a moment. My lord will be here shortly."

Shi Yong nodded, saying no more. He simply straightened his back, as if awaiting a judgment that would decide his fate.

A moment later, the door curtain moved without wind, and a figure appeared silently within the shop. It was Jing Ke.

His gaze swept over Shi Yong, his eyes lingering for a moment on the thick calluses on the man's hand and the scar on his face.

His second glance landed on the hatred and killing intent in the big man's eyes. Someone like this would be perfectly suited to become an assassin.

He then smiled and said, "You are Shi Yong?"