Chapter 495: Rotten Life, Fight If You Don't Accept

The man's expression drastically changed, and he immediately bowed. "Greetings, Demonic Lord Jifa," he said. "This humble one will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back, and explain all the circumstances clearly!"

Wang Yu said coldly, "I have no time to discern the truth of what you say. Kneel!"

The immense pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator condensed around him. This person was merely a low-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, utterly unable to resist. The Soul-Sifting Malice Ship was then unleashed, thoroughly plundering his memories.

Wang Yu's spiritual sense swiftly swept through the memories.

Wang Yu had initially thought it was a foolish act by the remnants of Jin Lin, but he quickly found he had been too presumptuous. The person tailing him was, surprisingly, Jin Chixuan's subordinate. His immediate act of submission just now was merely a temporary ploy, intending to shift the blame onto Jin Lin's remaining followers. Unfortunately, Wang Yu didn't have the patience for such trivialities. Furthermore, the deliberate openings left in that dissolute young noble's memories were actually a form of self-incrimination, intended to lead Wang Yu to suspect Jin Lin's remnants.

"Clever trick," he mused.

Murmuring to himself, Wang Yu lightly blew a breath of cold air. The man, starting from his feet, instantly turned into a pile of crimson ice shards right there on the street. Surrounding pedestrians quickly backed away.

Countless pairs of eyes stared at Wang Yu in horror, astonished that he dared to commit murder in broad daylight.

Jinchang City's status was similar to that of Tianbao City. Such commercial cities deeply resented any disturbance to their order. Murder in broad daylight was, of course, a great taboo. It was possible Jin Chixuan had intentionally allowed himself to be detected to provoke him into killing.

As for why he was targeted, the reason was simple. His relationship with Jin Miaoshan was too close, and he appeared at a critical juncture, right when the candidates were about to decide the victor. Who knew if he was a helper summoned by Jin Miaoshan? To be able to act preemptively and clip a competitor's wings, they naturally wouldn't pass up such a good opportunity.

Wang Yu's thoughts were far simpler. He, a dignified late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivator, the foremost demonic cultivation prodigy in Chiyuan, and the one with the greatest potential! How could he possibly endure such humiliation? Wouldn't all his cultivation have been in vain?!

In any case, he had nothing to lose; if he didn't like it, he'd fight. Except for situations requiring strategic retreat, he had never backed down from anyone.

As the crowd stirred, it quickly drew the attention of Jinchang City's law enforcement team. Wang Yu discreetly activated Jin Miaoshan's voice transmission jade charm, then let his aura expand further, fixing his gaze on this team, which was generally composed of Core Formation cultivators. The aura of a grand cultivator was unmistakable. The formidable enforcement team immediately ceased its aggressive advance. The captain's eyelid twitched, and he instantly put on a fawning smile.

"Esteemed Senior," he said, "did this person offend you? Don't worry... if it's confirmed, his death will be meaningless." Without Wang Yu needing to say a word, the enforcement captain immediately concocted a ready-made justification for him. Although it was, in fact, true, such considerate service truly created a welcoming atmosphere.

A smile touched Wang Yu's lips just as he was about to speak. A cold snort rang out. From the rooftop of a tavern on the side of the street, a figure immediately leaped down. He was clad in a black robe with a gray beard, and his eyes resembled a panda's, with prominent dark circles under them. In his hand, he spun a translucent green jade flute. The aura of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator was similarly unleashed, standing as an equal against Wang Yu. He chastised them, "Jin Yuanli, for Jinchang City to have an enforcement captain like you is simply a disgrace to the Tianchi Jin Clan! This person committed murder in broad daylight—is this how you maintain order?!"

The enforcement captain's expression drastically changed. He bowed his head at once and replied, "Senior Black-Eyed, this senior is Demonic Lord Jifa of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, who established unparalleled merits on the Bi Yun Sect battlefield. There's no need for him to lie."

Old Man Black-Eyed stared fixedly at Wang Yu and stated unequivocally, "It is precisely people of such great renown, who presume upon their past achievements, who are more likely to disregard the laws and regulations of Jinchang City. You had best deal with this strictly. What... are you still worried that a mere late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator could turn Jinchang City upside down?"

The enforcement captain found himself in a difficult position and could only look at Wang Yu with a troubled gaze. In reality, for such incidents, even if they weren't deliberately planned but rather genuine accidents, the usual approach was to defuse major incidents and simplify minor ones. They wouldn't gratuitously create enemies for the Tianchi Jin Clan; most of the time, they would show respect to powerful cultivators. As for laws and regulations, a reasonable explanation provided afterward was often sufficient. It wasn't considered a violation, after all, it was just a private conflict. However, if it concerned commercial transactions or merchant caravans being oppressed, Jinchang City would certainly intervene fairly to guarantee its reputation continued to grow in a positive direction.

As for Wang Yu's case, it was clearly a result of Jin Chixuan's machinations. The scheme was meticulously linked: if Wang Yu couldn't be expelled, then his eventual hostility towards the entire Tianchi Jin Clan would still be an acceptable outcome. Of course, for the situation to be manipulated, Jin Chixuan would have to accurately predict every one of Wang Yu's moves in advance.

Now, Wang Yu's eyes narrowed. He looked at Old Man Black-Eyed and said, "Black-Eyed, I know you. You hail from Taichu's Crane Return Valley and were expelled from your sect for cultivating the demonic ability, Demonic Sound of Chaos. Afterward, you wandered for three hundred years and then joined Jin Chixuan of the Jinman Tower, becoming one of his Nascent Soul retainers."

"What of it?" Old Man Black-Eyed retorted nonchalantly, leaning forward slightly and raising the green jade flute to his lips, gazing at Wang Yu provocatively. He intended to provoke Wang Yu into making a move.

Such a situation made the enforcement captain break out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly came up to Wang Yu and whispered, "Senior Jifa, please calm down, you must be calm. Once a fight breaks out and causes damage to Jinchang City, it will be very difficult for Miss Miaoshan to handle the aftermath..." Wang Yu waved his hand, pushing the man away.

The Silver Blood Divine Marrow in his dragon spine gradually boiled. An invisible force field swiftly expanded with Wang Yu at its center. He said, "Black-Eyed, self-awareness is a virtue. You think you can contend with me, but that is actually an advantage granted by your age, blinding you to the truth and making you forget that there are always stronger individuals and higher realms."

Before his words had even finished, Wang Yu's figure suddenly vanished. Black-Eyed immediately blew his green jade flute. The tier-four divine ability, Demonic Sound of Chaotic Minds, had just sounded when it was enveloped by boundless killing intent. This demonic sound, capable of unsettling one's mind, utterly failed to exert its proper effect and was directly suppressed by the perfected Asura Dharma Will.

*Splish!* Wang Yu appeared behind Black-Eyed, his right hand directly plunging through his heart, crushing it into a bloody pulp. With unparalleled divine might combined with his field of power, he gave a sharp flick of his wrist, and Black-Eyed's physical body instantly ripped into four parts. Before the fragments of flesh and blood could even splatter, they were contained by the invisible field, compressed into a spherical mass of flesh. His feeble Nascent Soul was struggling within. After Wang Yu subjected it to an ice seal, he directly sent it into the Glazed Pagoda, to be refined into a Blood Infant Pill later to increase his cultivation.

His body cultivation had already reached a strength comparable to the ninth stage of the Nascent Soul realm, while Black-Eyed had just entered the late Nascent Soul realm, and the distance between them was so close. He was entirely within Wang Yu's "absolute domain." Given all these factors, and being specifically countered by the perfected Dharma Intent, Black-Eyed could be said to have died without grievance.

The law enforcement team, who had observed the entire event, and the casual spectators all gaped, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg, reflecting their utter astonishment. At this moment, Wang Yu tapped the polished, pristine bluestone floor. "Well?" Wang Yu asked. "Not a single drop of blood was splattered. Can this be treated as a private grievance? I have recorded the scene of how this person provoked me in this image-recording pearl, which should be sufficient for your report." If Wang Yu was initially unsure, what the enforcement captain said later was enough to confirm he was one of Jin Miaoshan's adherents. Thus, he also left the man an escape route.

Upon seeing the image-recording pearl, Jin Yuanli visibly relaxed, and his attitude towards Wang Yu became even more respectful as he said, "As expected of Senior Demonic Lord Jifa, who slaughters Nascent Souls like dogs—your actions are truly flawless! I will report this matter as usual. As for how Jin Chixuan will respond, I am not privy to that." His words were clearly tinged with flattery. Wang Yu, however, quite enjoyed it and waved his hand, saying, "No matter. Your young lady will be here soon."

No sooner said than done. The moment Wang Yu finished speaking, a golden streak of light rapidly touched down. Her beautiful eyes visibly brightened when she saw him, then her lovely eyebrows furrowed, and she wrinkled her nose, asking, "Why do I smell blood? Did someone die? Or is someone injured?"

Wang Yu chuckled at once. Via divine sense transmission, he recounted the full story and his own theories. After understanding the circumstances, Jin Miaoshan said, "Leave this matter to me. I will surely provide you with a satisfactory resolution. Yuanli, go to the tavern and invite that dissolute son of Old Demonic Lord Tiangui to Miaoshan Hall. Have Senior Jin Xi guard him and don't release him to anyone, and await my further instructions." "Understood!"

After swiftly arranging the matters, Jin Miaoshan's face lit up with a beautiful smile. "Wang Yu, it's rare for you to visit Jinchang City. Come! I'll show you around properly." "Very well." Since he was free anyway, strolling around with Miaoshan wouldn't be bad.

Her friendship with Wang Yu could be traced back to his time as Lord of Guiling City; they had essentially advanced from the Foundation Establishment realm together. Ever since their spiritual exchange in the Mind Lake Space and their last joint ambush of Jin Lin, their relationship transcended mere friendship or shared aspirations, having, to some extent, become a Dao companion relationship, though it had never been explicitly stated.

Upon meeting again this time, Jin Miaoshan's cultivation advancement speed was comparable to Yan Ling's, but the Jinman Tower could offer a wider array of resources, and there was no longer the obstacle of Jin Lin. The entire Chiyuan branch of Jinman Tower was under her control. In terms of assets, she was even wealthier than Wang Yu, and thus her cultivation had already reached the third layer of the Nascent Soul stage. However, breaking through to the middle stage was not that easy, as this realm, besides the accumulation of spiritual power, also required the Nascent Soul's strength to progress. There were almost no shortcuts for this; it could only be slowly and arduously refined, requiring at least several decades of diligent effort.

The two walked shoulder-to-shoulder along the prosperous main street of Jinchang City. Jin Miaoshan suddenly said, "Before my cultivation reached this level, many things in the family were kept from me. Only after breaking through to Nascent Soul did I learn the truth about the Ice Prison Realm. In this regard, both the demonic path and the righteous path have their own plans. Jinman Tower, however, does not. Wang Yu... do you wish to escape this worldly cage?"

Even before she spoke, Wang Yu had already guessed what she wanted to say. So, he had already employed the Six Senses Concealment Secret Technique to conceal this discussion, preventing it from being eavesdropped upon by the overseers from outside the realm. He said, "I have some ideas, but they're not yet firm. If we want to completely solve the problem and turn the legend of ascension into reality, then we must address the fundamental rules of the Ice Prison Realm."

However, this rule was established by immortals. Even Void Refinement cultivators couldn't solve it, considering that terrifying entities like ancient demons are imprisoned there. Perhaps those higher up, at the Dao Integration or Mahayana stages, would have the ability, but it's certainly beyond the capabilities of mere ants like them.

Thus, the Yellow Springs Monastery's world-destroying plan is indeed the most straightforward way to shatter this cage. The Ice Prison Realm is like a precisely constructed toy. Since it can't be repaired, just smash it. "—Nobody plays!" Even the wrath of a simple man has its uses, but as for how to survive, that depends solely on whether one's tactics are strong enough.

Breaking the rule's shackles is the proper, grand method, while a method like the Grand Yin Phantom Eye is a minor path; even if successful, it can only allow one person to leave the Ice Prison Realm. Using the Taiyin Star as a spatial conduit, the destination of cross-world teleportation is too uncertain; it might not necessarily lead to the Upper Realm, which is the so-called—True Spirit Realm!

Although Wang Yu had always been a lone wolf cultivator, one who only cared for his own well-being, throughout his many years of cultivation, whenever he interacted with others, ties would form. Tantai Chan, Yu Tangtang, Dou Zhao, Yin Gui, and Jin Miaoshan. If he were to just walk away, these people would be left to languish in the Ice Prison Realm. Unless it was absolutely impossible, he would do his utmost to try to take all those close to him away. If not, he could only try his luck with the Grand Yin Phantom Eye. If he had three thousand years, it was possible he might gain the ability to directly release this prison from outside the realm. For now, he'd take things as they came.

Furthermore, he was very curious about how the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect intended to solve this problem. Given the ambition of demonic cultivators, the Heaven Refining Demonic Venerable would certainly not be content to die of old age in the lower realm. The various schemes and acts of concession during this Righteous-Demonic War offered a glimpse of certain indications that they would definitely take action during this conflict. When exactly that would be was unknown. If it proved viable, Wang Yu would certainly cooperate. In this regard, the interests of all top cultivators in the Ice Prison Realm were consistent.

Jin Miaoshan chatted extensively with Wang Yu as they walked. Aside from some sentimental remarks, she also shared many ingenious thoughts and provided Wang Yu with many absolute secrets he was not yet aware of. All of it was information gradually accumulated by Jinman Tower over time. It was quite a fruitful gain.

"Oh, by the way," Jin Miaoshan suddenly said, "I haven't asked you the purpose of your visit to Jinchang City this time. Surely it's not just to see me, is it?"

Wang Yu nonchalantly caressed his Sea Heart Ring. Yan Ling was still waiting for him back at the tavern, but he certainly couldn't answer truthfully at a time like this. "Meeting an old friend is one thing, but coming to Jinchang City with a fellow sect member, there is indeed another matter. Recently, Jinchang City has attracted many foreign powerhouses..."

"The Myriad Treasure Secret Realm?!" Before Wang Yu had even finished, she immediately blurted out the truth. Then she slapped her smooth forehead in vexation and said with a plaintive look in her eyes, "Ever since cultivating the Asura Slaughter Saint Scripture, I've found myself getting more and more foolish. I couldn't even see something so simple."

Wang Yu listened. He was about to speak, then hesitated; he hesitated, then wanted to speak again. He had a long-standing complaint stuck in his throat, aching to be voiced, yet he still managed to hold it in. After all, the thought wasn't very polite.

Since he had met Jin Miaoshan, her various absurd actions certainly made people question her intelligence, but some were also misunderstandings caused by a lack of information. If, during the Guiling City period, she had seemed like a sharp businesswoman, as they grew closer, she gradually exhibited symptoms of becoming 'pregnancy-addled'. She spoke increasingly without much thought.

"Sigh... Let's head back. Help make arrangements for the secret realm. I also have a fellow sect member who came along." "Leave it to me." Miaoshan took sole charge of everything.

The two only visited a few relatively famous spots during their shared tour of Jinchang City, spending about an hour before returning to prepare for serious matters. Particularly Jin Chixuan's affair. Since he had deliberately stirred up trouble, Jin Miaoshan could not remain indifferent. She held a significant advantage in this succession competition