Su Yu’s expression turned frigid.

’Since they have some bizarre tracking Secret Skill, there’s no point in running!’

He glanced around. He was already in the slums on the west side of the city. Low, cramped hovels were scattered about, and muddy water flowed freely through the area. Su Yu came to an abrupt halt, stopping in an open space in front of some abandoned shacks.

The shattering of tiles sounded from behind him as the Black Lotus Sect deacon landed heavily from the eaves, hot on his heels.

"Kid, finally ran out of steam?"

The Black Lotus Sect deacon’s face was sinister. The right half of his cheek was branded with an eerie black lotus tattoo.

Rainwater trickled down the lines of the lotus, making it look all the more ferocious. He stared at Su Yu, his tone mocking. "You can’t escape. Not even if you run to the ends of the earth!"

"However, our holy sect values talent above all else. I’ll give you a chance. Join my Black Lotus Sect, and I’ll grant you the position of deacon. With your aptitude, if you were to receive the divine oracle’s baptism, forget the Muscle Forging Realm—even the Profound Bone Realm would be within your grasp!"

Su Yu didn’t reply. He quietly activated his Five Senses Divine skill, probing his surroundings.

After confirming there were no other ambushes within a several-hundred-meter radius, he slowly raised his eyes, his gaze cold. "You talk too much."

’The situation at the Dinglong Association is still unclear. I have to end this quickly!’

’White Ape Transformation!’ Su Yu roared internally.

In the next instant, an ancient and violent aura erupted from within him like a dormant volcano!

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK—

A dense, grating chorus of cracking bones echoed as Su Yu’s frame shot upward. His once streamlined muscles instantly coiled tight, radiating a sense of savage, berserk power.

The skin on his body quickly turned a deep, dark gold, like a golden-bodied Arhat with wide, angry eyes from an ancient temple.

His black hair grew uncontrollably, cascading to his waist like a black waterfall. The roiling Qi and Blood from his Flesh Refining Realm cultivation gave off a terrifying heat. The pouring rain vaporized before it even touched his skin, turning into a vast cloud of white, scalding steam that completely enveloped him.

Through the billowing steam, the Black Lotus deacon stared fixedly at the transformed Su Yu.

The mockery in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an extreme horror, as if he had seen a ghost.

"This aura... A Divine Scion? No, Lord Divine Emissary?" As if witnessing something utterly impossible, his voice began to tremble uncontrollably.

However, Su Yu gave him no opportunity to spout more nonsense.

He stomped his foot heavily.

BOOM!

The muddy ground instantly caved in, thick cracks spreading wildly in all directions like a spiderweb. Propelled by the terrifying recoil, Su Yu’s dark-gold body tore through the curtain of rain, flashing before the deacon in an instant.

There were no fancy moves—just a brutal, straightforward punch aimed directly at the man’s head.

In the White Ape Transformation state, his strength, speed, and All Attributes were doubled! Coupled with the stacking effect of his ape-like swiftness and an overlay of demonic ape aura, the might of this punch had completely surpassed the limits of the Flesh Refining Realm!

Wherever the crimson fist passed, the curtain of rain was blasted aside by the ferocious pressure, forming a visible tunnel of absolute stillness.

The Black Lotus Sect deacon was already terrified. Faced with this berserk punch, he could only hastily raise his arms to block.

CRACK!

With the clean snap of two dry twigs, the incomparably ferocious Ming Jin shattered the bones in his arms. The remaining force slammed heavily into his chest.

He was sent flying backward like a ragdoll, blood spraying from his mouth.

While in mid-air, his eyes held a look of resignation and release. "A Divine Scion... It really is a Divine Scion..."

CRASH!

His body slammed into and collapsed a wooden shack, sending mud and wood splinters flying everywhere.

Having crashed into the ruins, the deacon—a master who had reached Flesh Refining Realm Perfection—seemed to have accepted his fate, abandoning all resistance.

Su Yu’s gaze was ice-cold, showing no hesitation. He followed like a shadow, bringing his fist crashing down.

SPLAT!

Red and white matter mixed with muddy water and splattered everywhere. A head was brutally smashed open like a watermelon.

Confirming the man was completely dead, Su Yu immediately dispersed his Qi and Blood and deactivated the White Ape Transformation.

That ancient, ferocious aura quickly faded. His wildly grown black hair retracted, and his dark-gold skin returned to its normal color.

A slight feeling of weakness washed over him. Fortunately, the transformation had only lasted for a few moments, and the drain was still within his body’s limits.

Su Yu quickly produced a Vajra Flesh-Casting Pill, tossed it into his mouth, and swallowed. As the medicinal power spread through him, some color immediately returned to his face.

He stood in the rain, looking at the headless corpse on the ground, quickly replaying the recent details in his mind.

’Before he died, that fiend seemed to have mistaken my White Ape Transformation for some so-called "Divine Scion" state?’

’He even absurdly called me a "Divine Emissary"?’

Su Yu came to a realization.

His White Ape Transformation came from the Breaking Limit Trait on his panel; it couldn’t possibly be the "Divine Scion" the cult spoke of. But there was likely some astonishing similarity between the two, whether in the eruption of Qi and Blood or in their external appearance, which led to the man’s mistake.

’The Black Lotus Sect is deeper and murkier than I imagined. It seems I’ll have to find a way to consult some case files after I get back.’

He knelt and skillfully searched the corpse. The deacon didn’t have many valuables on him. The only reward was a cool-to-the-touch black-gold Token. The Token was exquisitely crafted, with a lifelike black lotus carved on its face.

Just as Su Yu put away the Token and was about to plan his next move...

Suddenly, the dark, rainy night was torn apart by an extremely piercing, bright light.

’What is that...?’ Su Yu jerked his head up, his pupils constricting.

From the direction of Black Stone City’s Inner City, a swathe of brilliant, fiery clouds ignited without warning. Immediately after, something like a red meteor trailing a long, blazing tail defied gravity and soared into the sky. Wreathed in terrifying flames, it shot straight toward the thick mass of black clouds overhead!

Using the excellent vision from Five Senses Divine, Su Yu was horrified to discover that it wasn’t a meteor at all, but a giant crimson arrow several times larger than a city-defender ballista!

RUMBLE—

The moment the giant arrow shot into the depths of the black clouds, it was as if the heavens were collapsing and the earth was splitting apart!

An unimaginable explosion thundered high in the heavens. Countless violent crimson flames, like fiery dragons, instantly tore the oppressive black clouds that filled the sky to shreds.

A giant hole was forcibly burned through the black canopy that had blotted out the sun, and sunlight poured down like sharp swords.

The apocalyptic gale and downpour from the moment before, having lost the support of the black clouds, quickly ceased at a speed visible to the naked eye. Rays of warm daylight once again fell upon the muddy Outer City of Black Stone City.

Su Yu stood under the clearing sky, his heart reeling in shock.

’One arrow to incinerate the clouds, to change the very heavens and earth!’

’What kind of unbelievable Martial Arts power is this? Such a technique... a true powerhouse from the Inner City must have acted.’

’I just don’t know what Martial Arts Realm that is.’

’The Profound Bone Realm most likely isn’t enough. Could it be the Shenzang Realm?’

’Or is there an even higher realm above that?’

’The Black Lotus Sect’s foundation may be unfathomably deep, but the Great Xia Dynasty has suppressed the world for countless years; its trump cards must be just as terrifying. When the sky falls, there are always taller people to hold it up.’

Watching the sky gradually clear, the tension in Su Yu’s heart finally eased. At the same time, an even stronger yearning for a higher Martial Arts Realm was born within him.

「One hour later, at the Dinglong Association plaza.」

Pang Xuan, Mansion Master of the Public Security Bureau, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His face was as dark as a thundercloud as he stared fixedly at the wreckage and corpses littering the ground.

According to preliminary reports, the Black Lotus Sect had deployed a Profound Bone Realm Hall Master, leading over ten Muscle Forging Realm Incense Masters, dozens of Flesh Refining Realm deacons, and several hundred elite Black Lotus Guards!

Such a massive force had appeared so abruptly inside the city.

"Investigate! I want a thorough investigation!" Pang Xuan’s furious roar was deafening. "How did these several hundred fiends avoid the city’s defenses and sneak into the Outer City? Where did they hole up after retreating? Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, you will find these rats for me!"

The Black Lotus Sect’s arrival was like a sudden squall, and their retreat was just as clean and decisive.

This time, the Public Security Bureau and the various martial arts dojos suffered over a hundred casualties. The Black Lotus Sect, relying on a well-planned ambush, escaped with their main force intact, leaving behind a mere few dozen corpses.

Pang Xuan understood that if he allowed the enemy to continue this wanton attrition within the city, the Outer City’s Martial Arts strength would be depleted long before the main Black Lotus Sect army even arrived to lay siege.

...

「The next day, at the Golden Scale Guard headquarters in the Public Security Bureau.」

In the spacious conference hall, Commander Li Jingxuan sat in the main seat, his expression stern and majestic. Below, Vice Commander Lin Wanzhu and over a dozen Captains were lined up on either side. The atmosphere was grim.

Since Li Jingxuan’s promotion to Commander, the Golden Scale Guard’s ranks had been greatly expanded, and its strength had grown daily.

"Everyone, I’m sure you’re all aware of what happened at the Dinglong Association yesterday." Li Jingxuan scanned the room. "Those Black Lotus fiends have brazenly slaughtered hundreds of Black Stone City’s Martial Artists. If we don’t avenge this, what face will the Public Security Bureau have left!"

"Mansion Master Pang has issued a direct order: Starting today, the entire city will be locked down for investigation! We will put all our efforts into surrounding and annihilating the hidden Black Lotus Sect strongholds. For any who resist, use lethal force!"

After the grim call to arms, the Captains accepted their orders and filed out of the hall with solemn expressions.

After the outsiders had all left, Li Jingxuan’s tense expression finally relaxed slightly. He waved his hand, keeping Lin Wanzhu, Su Yu, Cai Yun, Peng Ye, and Sun Dahuhu—his trusted inner circle—behind.

"Sit, everyone. No need for formalities among us."

Li Jingxuan personally poured them hot tea, then sighed, a worried look appearing on his face.

"You heard what I said just now. The higher-ups are truly furious this time. They’ve given a strict order to eradicate the Black Lotus Sect strongholds, leaving no room for negotiation. All of you must do your utmost."

As he spoke, Li Jingxuan’s gaze fell on Su Yu. Over the past six months, Su Yu had repeatedly performed astonishing feats, and now Li Jingxuan had the highest hopes for him.

"Captain Su." Li Jingxuan’s tone was filled with unconcealed admiration. "The Black Lotus Black-Gold Token you submitted yesterday has been verified by the Bureau. It indeed belongs to a high-ranking deacon. You single-handedly turned the tables and killed a powerful enemy on a rainy night, greatly boosting the prestige of our Public Security Bureau. This Commander has personally requested a commendation for you from Mansion Master Pang, and a full five thousand merit points have been allocated!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Peng Ye and the others all gasped, their gazes toward Su Yu filled with unconcealable envy.

Five thousand merit points!

’Does this Captain Su earn his merit points by the thousand?’

’They toiled and slaved away, and even now they only had a thousand-some merit points. But him? He gets five thousand in one go.’

But when they thought about his current terrifying strength, it all made sense.