Lin Yinuo left the noisy teleportation point far behind. Under the Infernal Realm's terrifying gravity, a hundred times that of the Yulan Continent, his exquisite use of spatial fluctuations still allowed him to move like a phantom, racing across the scorched, cracked wasteland and leaving trails of afterimages.
He needed to find a relatively safe place to stay as soon as possible. The wilderness of the Infernal Realm not only had a harsh environment, but also harbored countless dangerous creatures and even more dangerous... others like himself.
At last, deep within a sheltered forest of massive black rocks, he found a narrow, naturally formed cave. A few fallen rocks half concealed its entrance, keeping it hidden. Only after carefully probing it with his spiritual power and confirming there was no danger did he dart inside.
The cave was dark and dry, and the air smelled of sulfur and stone. With a wave of his hand, he set up a few simple warning and concealment magic formations. Although their effects were greatly diminished in the Infernal Realm, they were better than nothing.
Once he had finished, he sat cross-legged, drew a deep breath, and suppressed the slight agitation of his first arrival in the Infernal Realm. It was time for his first weekly check-in! He was full of anticipation for the upgraded system.
"System, perform this week's check-in."
The instant he issued the command, Lin Yinuo seemed to feel the surrounding void tremble slightly. An invisible power far deeper and more immense than any on the Yulan Continent was stirred into motion and descended upon this place.
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations to the host on completing your first weekly check-in in the Infernal Realm's [Bloodstained Wasteland]. Rewards obtained: [Destruction Edict Fragment · Annihilation] and [Soul Stone Essence ×10]!]
Boom!
An insight into an edict utterly different from the laws of the Fire Element and space, filled with the essence of ultimate destruction, ending, and returning to nothingness, surged into Lin Yinuo's sea of consciousness like a raging torrent! [Destruction Edict Fragment · Annihilation]!
Unlike the relatively orderly elemental laws, the Destruction Rule was more abstract, closer to the essential nature of the world's end. It pursued neither creation nor change, only the utmost destruction and a return to deathly stillness! This insight was overwhelmingly domineering. Had Lin Yinuo's soul not been special and powerful in its very essence, the impact of this conception would likely have overwhelmed his mind in an instant.
He held his mind steady, devoting all his effort to absorbing this edict fragment concerning "annihilation." Though it was only a fragment, it gave him the most direct contact with "destruction." He felt that if he could incorporate even a trace of this conception into his attacks, their destructive power would undergo a qualitative transformation!
At the same time, ten crystals appeared in his hand, each about the size of a fingernail, pitch-black throughout yet radiating pure, gentle soul fluctuations-[Soul Stone Essence]! These were treasures formed from highly condensed soul essence in the Infernal Realm, with extraordinary effects on strengthening soul power and repairing soul damage. They were far more precious and purer than the Soul Gold Beads of the Yulan Continent!
The Destruction Rule! It's actually the Destruction Rule, one of the Four Edicts! Although this is only a fragment, its value far exceeds that of an ordinary elemental law fragment! And this Soul Stone Essence... it's just what I need to further strengthen my soul, adapt to the Infernal Realm's environment, and lay a firmer foundation for a future soul mutation!
Without any hesitation, he immediately took out a piece of Soul Stone Essence, held it in his palm, and circulated his spiritual power to begin absorbing it.
Incomparably pure soul energy flowed into him like sweet spring water, nourishing his soul, which had been slightly depleted by traveling between planes, and making it more solid and powerful. He could clearly feel that although the range of his spiritual power remained suppressed by the Infernal Realm's edicts, the clarity and resilience of his perception had improved considerably! His affinity for and control over the surrounding violent elements also seemed more effortless.
Good stuff! With these ten pieces of Soul Stone Essence, I can strengthen my soul's foundation considerably.
He carefully put away the remaining Soul Stone Essence, then devoted himself fully to comprehending the [Destruction Edict Fragment · Annihilation]. Unlike comprehending laws, which involved extrapolating runes and understanding their essence, comprehending edicts placed greater emphasis on "feeling" and "attunement." He immersed himself in the conception of all things ending and everything returning to nothingness, attempting to incorporate this trace of it into the technique he knew best, the "Fire Condensation Finger."
Time slipped quietly by as he cultivated. After an unknown length of time, Lin Yinuo abruptly opened his eyes, and a black light of annihilation seemed to flash through them. He raised a finger. A spark danced at its tip, no longer dark red, but a deep, shadowy black.
Go!
The shadowy black spark shot out, striking a hard black rock on the cave's inner wall.
There was no sound, no explosion, and no heat.
A small piece of the rock silently vanished, as though rubbed away by an invisible eraser. The cut surface was smooth as a mirror, as though that piece had never existed! It had not melted or shattered. This was the most direct form of-"annihilation"!
It worked! Although I've only incorporated the barest trace, the power of the "Fire Condensation Finger," particularly its destructive effect on material structures, has increased severalfold and more! The Destruction Rule really is terrifying!
He was thoroughly satisfied with the gains from his first weekly check-in. Increasing his strength was the foundation for establishing himself in this cruel Infernal Realm.
Leaving the cave, he checked his bearings. From a faint stream of information the system had supplied along with the check-in rewards earlier, which seemed to be a new feature of checking in on a High Plane, he learned that he was currently on the outskirts of the "Zijing Continent," one of the Infernal Realm's seven continents. The nearest sizable settlement was an enormous city named "Blood Peak," reportedly ruled by a powerful Asura.
Zijing Continent... Blood Peak City... I'll go take a look there first. The Infernal Realm is boundless. To obtain information and resources quickly, joining a faction or integrating into a city is a necessary step. Besides, establishing the "Dragon Shadow" organization also requires a starting point.
He adjusted his course and set off once more toward the direction where he sensed relatively concentrated elemental fluctuations and a gathering of numerous life auras.
Along the way, he encountered several attacks from magical beasts native to the Infernal Realm. These beasts had ferocious appearances, with strength generally ranging from Saint to Lowgod, and relied on their powerful bodies and innate divine abilities to fight fearlessly to the death. Lin Yinuo used them to practice, incorporating his newly comprehended conception of the Destruction Rule into his attacks with tremendous efficiency. He often ended a fight with a single strike, collecting some valuable materials from the beasts along the way.
He also gave a wide berth to several areas emanating powerful divine might. Midgods and even Highgods who had comprehended profound mysteries clearly occupied those places.
Several days later, the outline of a towering, majestic city finally appeared on the horizon.
It was an enormous city cast entirely from some kind of dark red metal. Its walls rose into the clouds, seemingly joining the dark red sky. Huge magical patterns radiating a murderous aura covered the walls, faintly forming a gigantic magic formation that enveloped the entire city. The city gate resembled the mouth of an enormous beast, swallowing and disgorging figures of every description: humans, demons, elves, beastmen... There were many races, and their auras varied in strength, but without exception, all bore the fierceness and vigilance unique to the Infernal Realm.
Above the city gate, two enormous ancient characters, seemingly written in blood, radiated a baleful aura that soared into the sky-Blood Peak!
This was Lin Yinuo's first stop in the Infernal Realm.
He reined in his aura and followed the crowd toward that enormous beast's mouth. A preliminary plan had already formed in his mind: first, enter the city and learn about the situation, use the resources and strength at his disposal to earn his first Inkstones, the common currency of the Infernal Realm, and then begin establishing Dragon Shadow's first base in the Infernal Realm.
The "Dragonblood Asura's" journey would officially begin here, in Blood Peak City.
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