Volume Two – The Map of Nine Continents Emerges, Initiation into the Spirit Ruins Chapter 109: Entering the Demon Subjugation Hall

As the hidden pressure subsided, Chen Yu finally collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily, his clothes soaked through with sweat.

“What a terrifying person. Fortunately, he bore me no ill will; otherwise, today would have truly been my end,” Chen Yu reflected. “It seems my actions today caught the attention of some from Lingxu. This was their way of testing me.”

Lost in thought, Chen Yu smiled to himself. If he could truly become an apprentice, it would greatly aid his cultivation. Yet, he only entertained the notion briefly, for he had long understood that one must ultimately rely on oneself.

In the stillness, Chen Yu’s mind returned to the recent battle, gaining profound insights. Indeed, combat was the surest way to progress.

He sighed deeply, his gaze firm as he looked toward the Demon Suppression Hall. Perhaps there lay an opportunity for significant growth.

Yet he did not rush there immediately. Having just endured a fierce battle, he began to circulate the Primordial Scripture to regulate his breath, while the Nine Breath Assimilation technique operated on its own, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The night passed quietly. When Chen Yu awoke, it was nearly noon.

He smiled wryly and shook his head. “Last night’s battle truly shook my spirit. I didn’t expect it to take this long to recover.”

He made his way to a small stream at the mountain’s base, washing away the stench of sweat and donning a fresh set of clothes before heading toward the Demon Suppression Hall.

Upon arrival, Chen Yu attracted many gazes, for he had shone brilliantly here just the day before.

When fellow disciples approached to greet him, Chen Yu welcomed them with a smile rather than turning them away.

“Senior Brother Chen Yu, are you planning to challenge the Demon Suppression Hall?” One disciple noticed Chen Yu’s glances toward the hall and ventured a guess.

Chen Yu did not deny it, smiling. “Could some senior brothers and juniors kindly tell me more about this Demon Suppression Hall?”

The others were more than happy to oblige.

The Demon Suppression Hall, as its name suggests, was a prison for demons. Of course, not every inmate was a demon, but from Lingxu’s perspective, it was filled with them. Thus, calling it a prison was perhaps more fitting—it confined not only true demons but also those who threatened Lingxu.

While the hall appeared to have only three floors above ground, it actually had eleven, with eight hidden underground.

The first floor above ground held demons with cultivation levels within the Nine Breath Realm at the dantian; the second floor imprisoned those at the One Yuan Realm; and the third held those at the Yin-Yang Realm. Below ground, the first basement held demons at the Heavenly Human Realm, the second basement those at the Four Symbols Realm, and so on.

Each disciple was permitted entry into the hall only once per month, which Chen Yu found somewhat regrettable.

…

After hearing their explanations, Chen Yu’s heart grew more excited. To him, this was Lingxu’s crucible—a place to sift out the truly strong. No wonder the palace officials spoke to him that way, and why the mysterious figure from last night had appeared.

He realized that among Lingxu’s elites, innate talent meant little; true power was the true measure of strength.

Smiling, Chen Yu thanked them all and strode resolutely toward the Demon Suppression Hall.

The others exchanged tense yet excited glances and quickly followed, eager to see how long Chen Yu could endure within.

“Oh… someone else is entering the Demon Suppression Hall?”

Many turned to watch.

“That’s him! The one who defeated Lü Jie with a single move yesterday.”

“Tsk tsk… Lü Jie ranks beyond two hundred within the One Yuan Realm, but who knows where this person stands.”

“Interesting. Looks like we have a formidable new rival.”

“Haha… you’re all talk.” They teased one another.

“A person who can defeat Lü Jie in one strike can’t be underestimated. We should be cautious. He might surpass us soon.”

“Senior Brother, you worry too much. Realm breakthroughs aren’t that easy; he still has a long way to go,” some dismissed the notion.

…

The opening of the hall was overseen by an ordinary disciple. After Chen Yu explained his purpose, he received a jade crystal for recording, and was informed that merely carrying his identity token would grant him access.

The disciple also carefully advised Chen Yu to choose his floors wisely to avoid jeopardizing himself.

Chen Yu nodded, indicating his understanding, and stepped firmly into the Demon Suppression Hall.

From the great doors, Chen Yu immediately felt an oppressive weight that caused his body to tense involuntarily, his hairs standing on end.

After the initial shock, his blood burned hotter with excitement. At the same time, his mind flickered to a nearby training chamber where the Demon Suppression Elder had glanced at him briefly before turning away.

Yet even that single glance conveyed an overwhelming, unmatched danger, causing Chen Yu to swallow hard.

As the doors closed behind him, Chen Yu saw three passageways.

Straight ahead led to the first floor, imprisoning demons within the Nine Breath Realm at the dantian.

To the right was the path to the second and third floors above ground.

To the left lay the way underground.

For his first visit, Chen Yu did not head to the floors holding One Yuan Realm demons but boldly entered the prison for those within the Nine Breath Realm.

The Demon Suppression Elder raised an eyebrow in disapproval, thinking with a hint of frustration, “Which peak does this disciple come from? Already at the One Yuan Realm but only going down to that floor? Sigh… truly, the younger generation is not what it used to be.”

But he kept his thoughts to himself, not interfering further.

Chen Yu, of course, was unaware of these thoughts. Upon stepping through the portal, the scene before him shifted dramatically.

He found himself in a vast, desolate desert stretching endlessly, utterly devoid of life, the air shimmering with heat.

“A self-contained space?” Chen Yu marveled inwardly. “This truly seizes the workings of heaven and earth. I wonder what kind of power is required to create such a domain.”

He shook his head to clear his thoughts and focused his consciousness on the jade crystal, instantly spotting countless dots of light—red and green.

Red indicated the locations of demons; green marked Lingxu’s disciples.

The brightness varied, with the stronger beings shining more brilliantly, making them easy to distinguish.

Some dots clustered together, forming small groups, while others stood alone.

Chen Yu smiled. “Unexpectedly, the Demon Suppression Hall has formed its own little teams.”

Without hesitation, he casually selected the nearest red dots and moved toward them, eager to test their strength.