Chapter 69: Chapter 69: A Fake?
Three Months Later
The sun hung high overhead, scorching the sky, while the clouds churned restlessly beneath it.
A lavish treasure ship drifted through the air like a flying resort, brimming with cultivators from every corner of the Eastern Domain.
Some were drinking and chatting about esoteric topics, others gossiping or bragging about their sects. Some simply lounged around, feasting and enjoying the view.
"I can't wait to get to Wuzhou! I heard Medicine King Valley is about to open—this kind of opportunity doesn't come around often!"
"No kidding. Just look around—every single person on this ship is headed there!"
"I heard the elite cabins are packed with Transformation Stage experts. Us Foundation Establishment nobodies can only stand on deck and catch some air."
"That's nothing. I heard the higher-level suites even have Immortal Lords from the Undying Sect!"
"Immortal Lords? That's Unity Stage, man. That's serious power."
...
The legend of Medicine King Valley had long glowed with mystery throughout the Eastern Domain. It was hailed as a holy land brimming with rare opportunities.
According to ancient records, the valley's founder was none other than the Medicine Sovereign, a man whose unparalleled skill in healing earned him the reverence of countless cultivators. The valley grew countless rare herbs and housed massive spirit-gathering formations that siphoned a large portion of Wuzhou's spiritual energy. Even a single herb from that place could incite chaos in the outside world.
Ordinarily, such a place would be fought over relentlessly. Yet, Medicine King Valley remained untouched, not only because the Sovereign saved lives and made allies—but because his cultivation was downright terrifying.
Eventually, he became immortal through the path of medicine, crossing tribulation and using divine means to transform the valley itself. With all preparations complete, he ascended in grandeur, leaving behind layers of formations and countless tales.
Since then, the valley only opened once every hundred thousand years, and access was limited.
Anyone who dared damage the environment within would be struck down by the Sovereign's residual power.
Some said he left it behind to benefit future generations, offering them a chance to change their fate. Others believed it was just to keep the valley from being plundered into ruin.
Now, the time had come again.
In just a few days, Medicine King Valley would open its gates once more.
And so, thousands of cultivators flocked to Wuzhou, eager to rewrite their destinies.
For the common cultivator, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. For the elite, it was the perfect opportunity to push their cultivation further.
Aboard the treasure ship, voices rose in endless waves.
Suddenly, an old, chilling voice rang out—clear and commanding.
"Stop."
The ship, previously cruising steadily through the air, screeched to a sudden halt. Thousands of cultivators aboard stumbled, faces turning grim.
"Who the hell dares block our way like this?!" a burly man in beast pelts roared, his Yuan Ying-level aura flaring up.
"What's going on? Why did we stop?" snapped a young man in a long jade-colored robe, eyes narrowing with murderous intent.
Even ordinary people hated abrupt interruptions—let alone cultivators powerful enough to shatter mountains.
The sudden halt left tempers flaring.
"Listen up. Hand over everything valuable you've got, or I'll come take it myself," the aged voice said again from the front.
"What?! We're being robbed?!" gasps echoed through the ship.
"Who's crazy enough to try this in broad daylight?!"
"Is this a joke? There's an Immortal Lord on board! Who's stupid enough to cause trouble here?"
"Captain, run him down!"
...
Anger burst across the ship like wildfire.
Even those in private suites and elite rooms released killing intent, waves of pressure rippling through the air.
Boom!
The sky darkened as black clouds gathered. Thunder rumbled above. A storm was brewing.
"Captain, shouldn't we activate the defensive formation and blow this guy apart? The guests are already furious!" a crew member rushed up to complain.
"Don't even think about it!" the captain snapped, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. "If we do that, we're all finished!"
"What…?" the subordinate froze in disbelief.
The ship itself was built using spirit materials and fortified with top-grade formation arrays. It could crush even a Unity Stage Immortal Lord. With such power, why fear a lone attacker?
Not to mention, there were high-level cultivators aboard from major sects. Who could possibly be threatening enough to make the captain panic like this?
"May I ask for your esteemed name?" the captain stepped to the bow of the ship, cupping his fists politely. His voice was cautious, testing a hunch.
In the mist ahead, an old man with wild white hair stood tall on the back of an immortal crane. He wore a black and gold robe, his hands clasped behind him, eyes sharp and tranquil.
"Xuantian Sect, Ye Junlin."
Three figures stood behind him.
One was a tall woman in a crimson dress, arms crossed, her posture proud and unapproachable, her snow-white skin glowing under the sunlight.
The second was a muscular man in a straw hat, hand resting on his blade, his glare sharp and posture coiled like a drawn bowstring, ready to strike at any moment.
The third was... odd.
A short figure in a frilly pink skirt. Clearly a man beneath the clothes, but wearing a white veil that concealed his face and radiated an awkward air of contradiction.
These three... matched the rumors exactly.
And the moment the white-haired elder stated his name, the captain's heart dropped.
"It's really him... the White-Haired Killing God, Ye Junlin!"
The name hit like a thunderclap.
Every passenger who had been boiling with rage suddenly felt like they'd been doused in freezing water. Shivers ran through their spines.
Even the elite rooms that had just bristled with killing intent moments ago went dead silent.
Everyone froze in place, their anger turning to cold dread.
After all, this was the Ye Junlin.
The man whose hands were stained with the blood of over a million cultivators, the nightmare who had crushed the reputation of the Yuhua Sect.
The same man who'd publicly executed a Virtual Immortal during the Xue family banquet without blinking.
Only now did some realize that Ye Junlin wasn't just a respected figure of Xuantian Sect—he was a Virtual Immortal. A true one.
And this terrifying figure had just demanded they hand over their valuables?
"Wait, are you sure it's really him? Would he stoop to robbery?" someone murmured, still skeptical.
"Are you blind?! Look at his companions! They match the stories exactly!"
"Right! That red-dressed one is the Red Fairy. The big guy is the Blade Demon, Li Wujie. And that strange short one in pink... that's Ye Junlin's personal disciple!"
"With a team like that, you still think it's fake? What are you, suicidal? If you want to die, don't drag us down with you!"
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