At dawn the next day, a troop of Mausoleum Guards suddenly sealed off the forest where Lin Yu had slain Lu Da and others the previous night.
Zhao Dayu, the commander of the Mausoleum Guards, had just woken up when he received the news and rushed to the scene in a hurry.
"Commander, more than a dozen brothers went missing last night. We tracked them here and found blood on the ground, but they're neither alive nor dead—most likely fallen victim to a small beast tide!"
A Mausoleum Guard lieutenant spoke gravely, his voice solemn: "Apart from a beast tide, I can't fathom what else could make more than a dozen Fourth and Fifth Rank warriors vanish without a trace, not even able to cry for help!"
"Beast tide...!"
Zhao Dayu's face turned 铁青 (ashen), and he snorted coldly: "The autumn hunt is still some time away, yet a beast tide has emerged. It seems this tide will arrive early. Dispatch elite scouts into the Qilian Mountains to reconnoiter the tide's scale. I must report to the Emperor immediately!"
Before his words fell, he turned and left.
The Qilian Mountains lay less than a hundred li from the imperial city. If the beast tide breached the Mausoleum Guards' 防线 (defense line), it would immediately threaten the capital.
The once-every-three-years beast tide was the top priority for the Great Han imperial city, allowing no negligence.
News that the beast tide might arrive early spread back to the capital, shaking the court and the public.
The Mausoleum Guards tightened their defenses, cautiously preparing for the tide's onslaught.
Lin Yu, however, felt no difference. When crossing the Mausoleum Guards' 防线,he was merely surprised that it had suddenly become several times more rigorous.
But with his current cultivation, crossing this line was still as easy as returning to his own vegetable garden.
Entering the Qilian Mountains, Lin Yu raced like the wind, finally stopping on a cliff and gazing coldly into the canyon below.
A faint cyan light flickered on and off in the canyon, accompanied by the rumble of thunder.
"This Azure Scaled Python is only a Second Rank Innate demon beast, but it has absorbed the essence of the sun and moon. Its demon core is rich in spiritual energy. Once I refine it, it will surely help you advance to Fourth Rank Innate!"
The voice of Ding Ye (Tripod Lord) resounded in Lin Yu's mind, still full of confidence.
Lin Yu nodded slightly, then stepped forward, falling into the canyon like a shooting star.
Deep in the canyon coiled a python over ten zhang long and as thick as a water bucket, its body covered in cyan scales. At that moment, the python was inhaling and exhaling a demon core that glowed with cyan light.
The demon core spun around the python, drawing heaven and earth spiritual energy into it. Finally, the python opened its huge blood-red mouth, swallowed the core, closed its lantern-sized scarlet eyes, and contentedly refined the spiritual energy absorbed from the core.
Suddenly, a howl echoed from above the canyon.
The Azure Scaled Python abruptly opened its eyes and raised its head to look upward.
Before the python could react, Lin Yu crashed down, his feet heavily stomping on the python's head. In an instant, rocks cracked, and the python's massive head was stomped into the rocks.
Trapped by Lin Yu's foot, the python couldn't break free. It could only twist its body desperately, lashing its tail to strike the surroundings, leaving deep grooves in the canyon walls.
For a time, the canyon resounded with roars, 碎石 (broken stones) flying, as if the sky and earth were collapsing.
Lin Yu 冷哼 (coldly snorted), lifting his foot to gently step on the python's seven-inch point. Spiritual energy instantly surged into the python's body, shattering its bones joint by joint.
The Azure Scaled Python immediately went limp, collapsing at Lin Yu's feet, unable to move any further, at his mercy.
The gap in strength between warriors was this terrifying—even a small realm difference meant a huge chasm.
Thus, Lin Yu easily slew the Azure Scaled Python.
"Hurry, hurry! Ding Ye can't wait anymore...!"
After killing the python, Ding Ye's voice immediately urged in Lin Yu's mind, pressing him to refine the python at once.
Lin Yu 祭出 (summoned) the Divine Devouring Tripod, and ripples of starlight emanated from it, drawing the python's 庞大 (huge) body into the golden tripod.
Then, a vast torrent of spiritual energy poured into Lin Yu's body.
Lin Yu didn't dare delay, quickly sitting cross-legged to cultivate and refine the spiritual energy returned by the tripod.
As time passed, the aura emanating from Lin Yu grew stronger and stronger. Finally, he slowly opened his eyes, and surging spiritual energy burst from his body like a storm, leaving countless blade-like marks on the canyon walls.
"Ding Ye, I've finally advanced to Fourth Rank Innate...!"
Lin Yu rose slowly, a smile spreading across his face.
In just two years, he had advanced from Sixth Rank Warrior to Fourth Rank Innate.
Such a terrifying cultivation speed would be unbelievable to anyone.
"Hehe! With Ding Ye helping you, what's an Innate Realm to fear!"
Ding Ye laughed proudly, then transformed into a golden light and merged into Lin Yu's mind.
Seeing the sky turn pale with the first light of dawn, Lin Yu didn't dare linger and rushed toward the imperial mausoleum.
He had just advanced to Fourth Rank Innate and needed to cultivate deeply in the mausoleum to solidify his foundation before seeking trouble with other powerful demon beasts.
Days later, in the imperial city, the Great Han Emperor and all civil and military officials looked gravely at Zhao Dayu, commander of the Mausoleum Guards.
"Your Majesty, during this period, I ordered elite scouts to penetrate the Qilian Mountains to investigate the beast tide's scale. They found that demon beasts in the Qilian Mountains have nearly vanished—there's no possibility of a beast tide forming!"
Here, Zhao Dayu paused for a moment, then continued: "Moreover, my scouts discovered that an Azure Scaled Python of Second Rank Innate 盘踞 (coiled) deep in the Qilian Mountains seems to have been slain. There was a fierce battle in the canyon where the python hid, leaving it in chaos, and the python is nowhere to be found...!"
"Could it be that someone cleared the demon beasts in the Qilian Mountains before the autumn hunt?"
"Who would do such a thankless task? To eliminate a beast tide in the Qilian Mountains overnight, it should be a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. But none of our Great Han's Purple Mansion experts have gone to the Qilian Mountains!"
"This beast tide was menacing. Fortunately, a mysterious expert intervened. Otherwise, even if we could repel the tide, the Mausoleum Guards would be severely weakened!"
The civil and military officials 议论纷纷 (discussed noisily) in the imperial court.
"I already know who the mysterious expert is!"
The Emperor coughed lightly, and everyone fell silent, looking up at him.
"Dear ministers, have you forgotten my Ninth Uncle, known as the Martial 痴 (fool)? Back then, he first grasped the essence of Wind Sword Intent and entered the depths of the Qilian Mountains to seek an opportunity to advance to the Myriad Manifestations Realm, only to disappear. Ninth Uncle was a Ninth Rank Purple Mansion warrior. Now, he must be at least a Half-Step Myriad Manifestations expert. He must have seen the demon beasts gathering and the tide's ferocity on his way back to the capital, so he kindly helped us resolve this crisis!"
"Right! How could I forget Prince Su!"
"It must be Prince Su!"
"Prince Su has broken through the Purple Mansion Realm and returned—this is a blessing for the Great Han!"
Joy appeared on everyone's faces.
The Emperor looked at the civil and military officials with delight, smiling: "Heaven blesses the Great Han! First, my Seventh Princess advanced to the Innate Realm at a young age, and now my Martial Fool Ninth Uncle has advanced to the Myriad Manifestations Realm and returned from the Qilian Mountains. Issue an edict: I will offer sacrifices to the heavens and grant a general amnesty!"
"Heaven bless the Great Han!"
All civil and military officials knelt and chanted in unison.
The Emperor couldn't hide his joy. He wanted the whole world to know that the Great Han Dynasty had a Myriad Manifestations expert guarding it!
This news would surely 震慑 (deter) those ambitious noble families and major sects that had long been disobedient!