News that "Dragonblood Asura" Lin Yinuo had single-handedly wiped out the Bloodblade Bandit Group struck the deep waters of Blood Peak City like a massive stone, stirring waves far beyond his own expectations.
The Fiend Castle immediately verified the mission's completion and raised his Fiend rank straight to Three-Star Fiend! Leaping from one star to three through a single mission was rare even in Blood Peak City's history. His mission payment and half the wealth accumulated by the bandit group-worth over four million Inkstones-were also paid in full, instantly leaving Lin Yinuo flush with funds.
What followed was attention and probing from various powers.
The small courtyard he rented began to bustle with visitors. Representatives from the city's major merchant associations hoped to work with him or buy some of his spoils; other Fiend squads extended invitations for him to join; even the heads of some small and medium-sized families visited in person, their words carrying more than a few hints of recruitment and marriage alliances.
Lin Yinuo politely declined them all, leaving Amy to receive the visitors and explain that her master was in seclusion and unavailable. He entrusted most mundane affairs to Baton and the other two, while he rarely ventured out, digesting the gains from this battle and continuing to refine his combined use of the Destruction Rule and the Laws of Space.
However, fame did not bring only benefits.
One day, three Midgods with fierce auras and arrogant expressions arrived uninvited and barged straight into the courtyard. Their leader was a man with strange green markings on his face and two sabers on his back. His aura was cold and sinister-he was actually a Four-Star Fiend!
"Tell that newcomer, 'Dragonblood Asura,' to come out and see me!" The green-marked man's voice was hoarse and commanding. The two behind him also released the powerful pressure of Midgods, brazenly looking over Baton and the other two as they hurried over upon hearing the commotion.
Barton's expression grew grave. He stepped forward and said, neither servile nor overbearing, "My lords, my master is in seclusion and is not receiving visitors. If you have important business, I can pass on a message."
"Hmph! An upstart who got lucky and killed Blood Blade-who does he think he is, putting on airs?" A burly bald man behind the green-marked man snorted disdainfully. "He should be honored that our Venom Fang squad thinks well of him! Tell him to come out. Our captain has something to discuss with him!"
Clearly, this was a veteran Fiend squad that, seeing Lin Yinuo's rising fame, had come to put him in his place or forcibly "invite" him to join.
Just as Baton and the other two were feeling such intense pressure that they could barely hold on, a calm voice came from the meditation chamber:
"What is all this noise?"
The voice was quiet, yet seemed to carry a strange penetrating power, instantly dispelling the combined pressure of the three Midgods. Lin Yinuo walked slowly out of the meditation chamber, his calm gaze settling on the green-marked man at their head.
The green-marked man, Venom Fang, narrowed his eyes slightly and carefully sensed Lin Yinuo's presence, only to find that his aura remained as inscrutable as mist. This tempered some of his earlier disdain.
"You're Lin Yinuo?" Venom Fang said. "I'm the Four-Star Fiend Venom Fang. Your strength seems decent. Interested in joining my squad? Follow me, and I guarantee you'll earn more than you would on your own, and be much safer too."
Though his tone had softened slightly, it remained condescending.
Lin Yinuo gave him an indifferent glance. "Not interested."
The blunt refusal darkened Venom Fang's expression. The burly bald man behind him snapped angrily, "Brat, don't spurn our goodwill! Our captain came to invite you in person because he thinks highly of you!"
Lin Yinuo turned his gaze toward the burly bald man, his eyes suddenly turning cold. An invisible force containing a trace of destruction and spatial pressure swept over him like an icy tide!
The burly bald man felt as though the space around him had frozen and countless fine needles were piercing his soul. An overwhelming terror of all things ending and his own imminent annihilation surged within him. His face instantly turned as white as paper, and he staggered back several steps, nearly falling onto his backside, his eyes filled with horror!
Just a single glance!
Venom Fang and his other teammate also paled slightly. They could sense the terrifying essence contained within that force.
What a terrifying aura of destruction! And spatial pressure too... This man cannot be judged by ordinary standards!
Venom Fang drew a deep breath, knowing he had met his match today. He gave Lin Yinuo a long look and cupped his fist. "Since you have no interest, Brother Lin, sorry for the disturbance. Let's go!"
With that, he turned and left without hesitation, taking his two still-shaken teammates with him. They departed as quickly as they had arrived.
After this incident, those who had been itching to cause trouble or take advantage of him temporarily backed down. "Dragonblood Asura" was not only immensely powerful; his methods were also strange and unfathomable. He was by no means someone to trifle with.
Having dealt with these troubles, Lin Yinuo returned his attention to important matters. After his efforts over this period, Baton finally brought more specific information about Zijing Main City.
Inside the meditation chamber, Baton reported respectfully:
"My lord, Zijing Main City is extremely far away. The journey requires crossing several dangerous regions, including some perilous areas ravaged by Spatial Turbulence. The usual method is to use a large teleportation array, but the fee is steep-one million Inkstones per person per trip. Alternatively, you could join a large caravan or Fiend group heading to the main city to share the risks, but travel is slow and would take several years or even longer."
"As for establishing yourself in the main city, it is extremely difficult. Aside from possessing the strength of a Five-Star Fiend or enormous wealth, there is another way-obtaining a special recommendation through a Fiend Medal, or... qualifying by winning a hundred consecutive matches in the Asura Arena."
"The Asura Arena?" Lin Yinuo's gaze sharpened.
"Yes, my lord," Baton explained. "It is a public fighting arena in Zijing Main City, with a Highgod Messenger involved behind the scenes. Any Deity-level powerhouse can register for its life-and-death battles. The longer your winning streak, the greater the rewards and prestige. Anyone who achieves a hundred consecutive victories not only receives an enormous reward, but also gains permanent residency in the main city and is awarded the title of Quasi-Asura. It is a shortcut to fame for countless powerhouses, but... the death rate is extremely high."
The Asura Arena? A hundred consecutive victories? That sounds like a good place to quickly qualify and hone my strength. But before that, I need greater strength and more trump cards.
He waved Baton away, his decision already made. Going to Zijing Main City was inevitable, but he needed to be fully prepared. His next goal was to raise his Fiend rank to four stars or even five as quickly as possible in Blood Peak City, accumulate enough resources, and further refine his strength.
And right now, he had an opportunity for rapid improvement-the new week's check-in.
He left the courtyard and, this time, went to Blood Peak City's central square. A massive statue stood there, said to depict Blood Peak City's first city lord, a powerful Asura. The statue itself seemed to contain some powerful will and power of rules, and was one of Blood Peak City's landmarks.
Standing in the statue's shadow, Lin Yinuo felt its faint Asura pressure and silently said:
Check in.
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations to the host for checking in beneath Blood Peak City's landmark, the [Asura Statue], triggering rule resonance and receiving the rewards: [Willpower (faint) blessing] and [Divine Ability: Eye of Illusion-Breaking (beginner)]!]
An indescribable, faint power that seemed to originate from the very source of the world quietly flowed into the core of Lin Yinuo's soul like a gentle stream! [Willpower (faint) blessing]!
This did not directly increase his energy or comprehension of the Laws, but instead elevated his soul's "essence" and "standing"! It made his perception of the Laws and Rules clearer, strengthened his resistance to soul attacks, and even allowed him to faintly influence the rules of reality! This was a level of power accessible only upon reaching the Asura Prefect level or refining a Sovereign Spark! Though it was only an extremely faint trace, its significance far surpassed that of any divine artifact or divine spark!
At the same time, the method for using the [Eye of Illusion-Breaking] flooded his mind. This was a supplementary Divine Ability that, when activated, allowed him to see through false appearances, illusions, and concealment to a certain extent, and even vaguely perceive weaknesses in an opponent's energy circulation and the flow of the Profound Mysteries of the Laws!
Willpower! It's actually Willpower! Though faint, this means my soul has already begun to touch a higher level! And the Eye of Illusion-Breaking... It's simply an incredible ability for combat and exploration!
The rewards from this check-in were nothing short of heaven-defying! They laid an incomparably solid foundation for his future pursuit of higher realms, and even for facing true Asuras and Prefects!
He stood beneath the Asura Statue, feeling that faint yet undeniably real trace of Willpower deep within his soul, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.
Blood Peak City is no longer enough for me to grow quickly. It's time to make the final push before heading to Zijing Main City. Five-Star Fiend... My next goal!
He turned, his shadow stretching across the square as he strode firmly toward the Fiend Castle. There, more missions awaited him-more dangerous, and more rewarding.
Dragonblood Asura's journey was about to enter a new stage.
Before you continue