Volume 1, Chapter 124: This Sword, Forged with 100,000 Loyal Souls

The Great Prince ached for the lost rank and his hundreds of demon-blooded warriors and generals—years of work in the Northern Border, sacrificed to kill Lin Yu. 

He walked toward Lin Yu, black flames leaving charred footprints. With each step, more black scales covered his face; by the time he stopped, half his face was scaled, and his scarlet eyes had become vertical-slit pupils—no different from a demon. Killing Lin Yu was his last human执念 (obsession), keeping him from fully transforming. 

"Lin Feng, look at yourself—half-man, half-demon. Do you think demons help you become emperor out of kindness? They want a pawn to invade the Divine Continent!" Lin Yu shook his head. Collaborating with demons was like sleeping with tigers—Lin Yu had just hastened the backlash. 

Feeling the transformation, the Great Prince touched his scales, fear flashing in his cold, vertical eyes. "It's all your fault, wretch! You made me this monster! I'll kill you!" He pointed his sword at Lin Yu, mad. 

"Cauldron Lord, give me the Thunder Devouring Pill!" Lin Yu called in his mind. 

"This guy's power nears Second Rank Void Transformation. Even the Great Sun Demon-Slaying Sword can't kill him. The pill is a good call." Cauldron Lord approved as a thunder-wrapped jade vial appeared in Lin Yu's hand. He crushed it, swallowing the pill that turned his spiritual energy into roaring thunder—he felt one with the thunder, his thunder intent leaping from Ninth Rank Myriad Realms to First Rank Void Transformation. 

"Die!" The Great Prince roared, gripping his sword as black flames and purple thunder swirled like yin and yang. His slash sent a长虹 (rainbow) of flame and thunder—an apex strike, its simplicity masking power that surpassed his previous attack. 

Lin Yu took a deep breath. As he swung the Wind Controlling Sword, memories surged: 100,000 soldiers in the Southern Wasteland, young men in fine armor, falling one by one. They blocked blades with their bodies, shouting: 

"Your Highness, Li Man of Cangzhou dies for you first!" 

"Liu Dazhuang of Tongyun goes first—survive and avenge us!" 

"Chen Tiejun of Jingzhou—even in death, I'll protect you!" 

Their cries drowned the battlefield. They died before him, escorting him through the barbarians. Today, Lin Yu would avenge them with this strike. 

Those memories turned to thunder, merging into his sword. His slash was absolute. Silver thunder burst from the blade, covering the sky. The Great Prince's flame-thunder light dissolved like spring snow in the thunder intent, annihilated. A silver light pierced the Great Prince's heart, plowing a deep groove before fading. 

Clang! His sword fell. The Great Prince looked down at his bleeding, thunder-pierced chest. "Impossible! I used Blood Summon Curse! I was near Second Rank Void Transformation! How can I lose to a Ninth Rank Myriad Realms warrior?" Blood trickled from his mouth as spiritual energy drained, dropping to his knees. 

"Lin Feng, tell me about my mother, and I'll end it quickly." Lin Yu stood over him with his sword. 

"Hehe! Want to know about that bitch Qu Lingxian? I won't tell you! Ask that old fox of a father!" The Great Prince laughed wildly as demon power faded, his scales and pupils returning to human. 

Lin Yu shook his head. Knowing her name and Penglai Continent was enough—he could find clues. Why the Great Prince hated her remained a mystery. He swung his sword, decapitating him. The headless body knelt as if忏悔 (repenting) for its sins. 

The God-Eating Cauldron flew out, devouring the body. "Pity—his cultivation fell back to Ninth Rank, and without a head, the energy is discounted. This head is important to you, so I'll let it be." The cauldron returned to Lin Yu's mind. 

He turned to Su Miaozhen, who stared in shock—how could a Ninth Rank warrior slay a Void Transformation expert? 

Lin Yu nodded, activating the teleportation talisman. "Brothers, I bring the culprit's head to you!" Golden light rose, and he vanished toward the Southern Wasteland, his murmur lingering in Su Miaozhen's ears.