The black-robed man sneered disdainfully. "Who do you think you are, worthy of sharing with me?" He eyed Lin Yu coldly,杀意 (killing intent) in his eyes. "You stumbled into this library by luck. You could've taken some Myriad Manifestations scrolls and lived comfortably, but you eyed my Demon-Slaying Sword Technique. Greed overcomes sense—you deserve to die here."
The library held precious martial arts classics, especially Myriad Manifestations scrolls, which could cause upheaval if leaked. Thus, the man mocked Lin Yu for seeking death instead of pursuing higher-tier scrolls.
"Why should I search for Myriad Manifestations scrolls when the most powerful one is in your hand?" Lin Yu smiled.
"Stubborn fool—then die!" The man's eyes chilled as he struck out, a black light shooting from his palm like a blade at Lin Yu's heart. He smirked—killing a mere Grade Three was effortless.
Chi! The black light vanished in ripples before touching Lin Yu, as if hitting an invisible wall.
"What?!" The man froze, unable to believe Lin Yu had blocked his strike without moving.
Lin Yu smiled, unleashing a terrifying aura that surged toward the man like towering mountains.
Thud! The man collapsed to his knees, feeling as if burdened by a mountain. Space around him hardened like steel, leaving him unable to move even a finger as Lin Yu approached.
Lin Yu took the scroll and asked, "Cauldron Lord, this is just a Purple Mansion technique. What's the secret?"
"On the surface, yes, but it hides a Void Formation sword technique. The technique is concealed in the pages—only certain methods reveal its true face," the Cauldron Lord saw through the secret easily.
"Spare me! I'll tell you how to understand the Demon-Slaying Sword Technique!" The man looked up desperately, trembling. He'd found the key to understanding the technique and believed no one else could decode it, hoping to bargain for his life.
"No need. I can understand it." Lin Yu smiled as overwhelming pressure shattered the man's heart meridian. The Cauldron Lord could devour all—even if the scroll's secrets were unclear, swallowing it solved everything.
"You...!" The man died in disbelief as Lin Yu summoned the God-Eating Cauldron, tossed in the scroll, and headed for the third floor.
The third floor held Great Zhou's Myriad Manifestations martial arts. The cauldron hovered before Lin Yu, starlight rippling out to cover the floor. All Myriad Manifestations scrolls floated, glowing as golden characters poured into the cauldron like a flood. Moments later, the starlight faded, and the scrolls dropped to the floor.
"Let's go. Enough收获 (gains) today," the Cauldron Lord said contentedly, having profited much from devouring the library.
"It's still early. Let's visit the Demon Prison and greet the demon cultivators," Lin Yu smiled. He hadn't been there in a while—had the prisoners thought he'd forgotten them?
"Good! I haven't refined them in ages," the Cauldron Lord agreed. The prisoners no longer matched Lin Yu's realm, but their slow refinement in the prison was tedious. Lin Yu decided to help the dynasty eliminate this scourge.
After visiting the Demon Prison, slaying all inmates for the cauldron to devour, Lin Yu returned to the manor. But the imperial city was in an uproar.
The library was surrounded by layers of guards, torches lighting it like day. Su Miaozhen, wearing her silver mask, stood imposingly at the entrance.
"Miaozhen, what happened at the library?" The Zhou Emperor arrived with Elder Xu in black robes and the chief minister, calling out.
"Your Majesty, Guard Ding was ambushed and killed at the door. Minister Liu, who joined the royal family three months ago, was found dead on the second floor—likely killed by a powerful aura that shattered his heart meridian. The third floor was ransacked, scrolls scattered, but no Myriad Manifestations scrolls are missing yet," Su Miaozhen reported, bowing.
"What?!" The emperor's face darkened. "What's happening? Who killed Ding and Liu?"
"Your Majesty, Guard Ding was attacked face-on without struggle—my guess is Minister Liu did it," Su Miaozhen said.
"Then who killed Minister Liu?" The chief minister frowned.
"Liu likely stole scrolls, assassinated Ding, then encountered a mysterious expert," Su Miaozhen replied, looking up. "Your Majesty, the aura that shattered Liu's heart meridian resembles that of the National Protector."
"You mean the National Protector killed him for stealing royal scrolls?" The emperor smiled.