"Court death!" The cyan-scaled demon roared, soaring into the air like a meteor hurtling toward Lin Yu. Black flames surged from his cyan scales, raining down as he charged, setting the dense trees around Lanruo Temple ablaze. Any tree touched by the black flames twisted and writhed, the flames clinging like bone-deep maggots.
Lin Yu looked up at the descending demon, channeling all his spiritual energy. Grasping the Wind Controlling Sword circling him, he unleashed the Nine Heavens Sword Controlling Art, slashing forth. Cyan sword intents burst from the blade, converging into a hundred-zhang cyan longsword that hacked toward the demon. The sword then flew from Lin Yu's hand, merging with the massive intent. Before the demon could react, it struck him.
Bang!
The black flames surging on the demon were split apart by the霸道 (domineering) sword intent, raining down like a meteor shower to cling to trees and ruins, continuing to burn. The demon was sent flying, crashing to the ground. His arms were severed, a sword gash ran from his forehead to his chest, blood flowing freely. Lin Yu had nearly split him in two.
The demon staggered up, staring at Lin Yu in disbelief. Lin Yu was only Myriad Manifestations Fifth Grade—how could his strength be so terrifying? Even at Seventh Grade, he couldn't withstand one strike.
Lin Yu raised his hand, and the Wind Controlling Sword returned to his palm in a cyan streamer. He walked slowly toward the demon.
"Spare… spare my life…!" Fear filled the demon's eyes as he knelt, kowtowing wildly. "Mercy! I've been sealed for a millennium. If you spare me, I'll swear by the Heavenly Dao to be your servant, at your command!"
Seeing Lin Yu unmoved, he pleaded: "I'm Myriad Manifestations Seventh Grade! I can help you—truly useful! Master, have mercy!" Demons were proud, viewing humans as food. For this one to call him "master" showed Lin Yu's terror.
Lin Yu stopped, eyeing the begging demon. "Coincidentally, there's something you can do. Will you help?"
"Yes! Anything, master!" The demon kowtowed frantically.
"Good. I need to refine a powerful demon to reach Myriad Manifestations Sixth Grade. Help me with that." Lin Yu smiled. Before the demon could respond, the Wind Controlling Sword slashed his neck.
"What…?" The demon looked up in horror as the cyan light flashed, severing his head.
"Cauldron Lord, this should satisfy you—Myriad Manifestations Seventh Grade!" Lin Yu summoned the God-Eating Cauldron.
"Excellent! Refining him will push you to Sixth Grade, maybe even Seventh!" The Cauldron Lord chuckled. Starry ripples emerged, swallowing the demon's body and head.
Lin Yu frowned at the burning black flames releasing devil qi. Though weak, their combined qi could turn Lanruo Temple into a demon domain, birthing monsters. "Cauldron Lord, how to extinguish these flames?"
"Easy. The Buddha Bone Relic克制 (restrains) them. Channel spiritual energy into it to snuff the flames and dispel the devil qi."
Lin Yu took out the relic. Golden ripples spread, covering Lanruo Temple. The black flames melted like spring snow, leaving only charred branches and ruins. The devil qi vanished, leaving only Buddha light.
Satisfied, Lin Yu收起 (put away) the cauldron and returned to the Place of hostage-taking . The harvest was enough to advance—he'd visit the Demon Prison later.
Shortly after, Great Zhou cavalry封锁 (blockaded) Lanruo Temple. Su Miaozhen and Elder Chu arrived.
"What happened? Why summon us urgently?" Su Miaozhen asked the guard captain.
"General Su, Elder Chu: the Astronomical Observatory detected violent devil qi fluctuations. Someone saw a battle—fearing demons, we sealed the area."
"Let's enter." Elder Chu led the way. They crossed burnt woods to the scorched ruins.
"General Su, this looks burned. Are those formation traces?" the captain pointed.
"Devil flames—only powerful demons can conjure them. They're hard to extinguish, turning burned areas into demon domains," Elder Chu said. "Strange… the flames are out, and this power is familiar."
"It's the Buddha light from the mysterious expert who slew demons here before," Su Miaozhen said. "Elder Chu, you study Buddhism—what's this formation?"