Xu Yaozi was so excited his throat felt like it was burning.
That was a technique said to belong to Moonwheel Ninth Realm experts at minimum—yet it had appeared on him now. It opened a terrifying number of possibilities.
Even now, he still couldn't quite believe it.
That Tier-7 pill… the Sun-Quelling Pill…
It was simply too domineering.
"This Lin Ye… I must build ties with him at any cost."
Light flashed in Xu Yaozi's eyes.
After leaving seclusion, he would first establish formal relations with the Wind-Thunder Profound Sect. He would even invite some of their disciples to come to the Spirit Medicine Sect for exchange cultivation.
Over time—your people in my house, my people in yours.
The Wind-Thunder Profound Sect would become inseparable from the Spirit Medicine Sect.
This plan had to be executed with iron will. Lin Ye wasn't just a "potential stock."
Calling him "potential" was already insulting.
He was a hidden giant.
A powerhouse like this could casually drag a sect into the heart of Middle Riverlands. Who would dare block him?
As for "qualifications" and "slots" and "rules"… those were jokes.
If Lin Ye wanted to, he could move the entire Wind-Thunder Profound Sect into Middle Riverlands tomorrow.
Who would object?
Bring forty Moonwheel Realm experts first. If you can't, then your shouting means nothing.
One sword, and you're gone.
Rules were written by the strong for the weak.
No one had ever heard of the weak writing rules for the strong.
Understand that, and you could survive on the Myriad Rivers Continent.
Xu Yaozi continued refining the pill, sinking deeper into the process. The pill's effects weren't something you absorbed in a breath.
He would need days to digest it properly.
At the same time—on a surging river—
Luo Gui sat at the stern with a fishing rod, but in truth he was watching the surroundings, searching for danger.
Suddenly his gaze sharpened.
In the afterglow of sunset, three fast ships appeared behind the Blood Stele, closing in rapidly.
"Hmm?"
Judging by their line… they were coming straight for them.
From far away, Luo Gui could already see the decks: flirtatious women dressed in revealing clothes leaned on young noblemen, drinking and laughing. Dancers with soft, flowing figures performed in open space, showing off techniques like it was a festival on water.
"Some rich brats," Luo Gui muttered.
These were the kinds of people who came onto great rivers for leisure and pleasure. But they weren't just rich—behind them were strong backers.
Usually troublesome. Usually arrogant. Usually looking for excuses to cause drama.
But Luo Gui didn't care.
No matter how "untouchable" these people thought they were… could they be more untouchable than the monster on their ship?
He only hoped these fools had eyes and brains, and didn't charge in to die.
Xia Wei walked to the stern. "What's going on?"
She saw the three ships rushing closer.
Her eyes narrowed. "Wind-Riding class fast ships."
Their hulls looked like hunting hawks diving with wings folded. That shape was designed for speed, not cargo. Some wealthy maniacs pursued craftsmanship and extremes, wanting a ship's water speed to reach the absolute limit—so they built things like this.
"A few young masters," Luo Gui said.
Xia Wei pulled out her map and measured the area.
"Nearby is Huangshi Riverland. The strongest sect here is called Huangshi Heavenly Sect. They say the sect master is a half-step Sunlit Realm expert."
"Half-step Sunlit?" Luo Gui sounded impressed—then he immediately compared it to Lin Ye anyway. "I wonder how many swords he can take before he drops."
Half-step Sunlit meant you still hadn't truly stepped into the Sunlit Realm.
Still trash.
On the three Wind-Riding ships, the people also noticed the Blood Stele.
"Hahaha! Looks like today's luck is good." On one ship, a young man raised his wine cup with a lazy grin. "Let me show everyone the speed of my custom-built, gold-draining masterpiece—the Wavebreaker!"
Someone immediately chimed in, voice full of flattery. "Young Master Wei's Wavebreaker is said to be the fastest ship in all Middle Riverlands! Last time, Young Master Xu tied a piece of fatty meat to the stern and dragged hundreds of beasts behind him. They chased like mad—but they still couldn't touch the Wavebreaker's tail!"
"Exactly! I've heard so much but never seen it." Another laughed. "Since Young Master Wei is in the mood today, we're blessed to witness it."
The young man—Wei An—held a wine cup in one hand and had two seductive women nestled against him. His smile widened.
"A Du! Go up there. Give them an artificial whirlpool!"
"Yes, Young Master."
At the helm, a burly man activated a hidden formation.
In an instant, energy wrapped around the Wavebreaker, lifting it as if it were riding an invisible current. The ship shot forward. It didn't just accelerate in a straight line—its path curved.
It began circling the Blood Stele at high speed.
"Kids have no sense," Luo Gui frowned. But he still didn't move, letting them show off.
Soon, the water around the Blood Stele started spinning. A whirlpool formed, pulling the Blood Stele into it.
"They're asking for death." Luo Gui's eyes turned cold.
But the Wavebreaker had already darted away, returning to its group. After displaying his "skill," Wei An leaned back with a proud expression.
"Well? Fast enough?"
Everyone praised him at once.
"Worthy of the Wavebreaker!"
"Truly lives up to its name!"
"Even a Tier-7 beast might not catch it!"
Wei An's lips curled. He knew they were licking boots.
But he liked the taste.
He was born noble. He never lacked food, never lacked clothes, never lacked power. He had never faced a setback. No one dared oppose him.
This feeling—being above others, being cheered, being admired—was exactly the joy he wanted.
Why suffer through hardship? Why "cultivate bitterly"? When pleasure was right here?
Then—
Whoosh.
A figure landed on the Wavebreaker's deck.
It was Lin Ye.
A Du's expression changed instantly. He drew the long blade at his waist. "Who are you?!"
Wei An saw Lin Ye too, but he wasn't the least bit nervous.
He casually tossed a small storage money pouch.
"That ship's yours, right? Two million spirit stones. Consider it a reward."
Lin Ye caught the pouch. Not much, but still stones.
"Alright," Lin Ye said calmly. "Now get lost."
Wei An blinked.
For a second, he thought his ears were broken. He sat up, staring at Lin Ye like he'd just heard a dog order him around.
"You… told me to get lost?"
Lin Ye's body blurred.
In the next moment, he was right in front of Wei An.
Wei An's pupils shrank in terror.
Lin Ye grabbed him and threw him straight into the river like tossing a sack.
"Let go of Young—Young Master!" A Du roared and jumped into the water with a splash.
The two seductive women screamed. "Ah—don't hurt us!"
Lin Ye flicked his hand.
A burst of qi swept both of them into the river as well.
With a pulse of his profound qi, the Wavebreaker turned and began moving toward the Blood Stele—forced, controlled, dragged along by Lin Ye's power.
Boom!
The people on the other two ships were stunned.
"Th-this guy… is he robbing them?"
Lin Ye normally didn't do things like this—stealing by force just because he could.
Unless he needed to.