The four Yunyan Sect members stood frozen, their legs nearly giving out.
Not just them—almost everyone at the dock was shaken when the massive black ship appeared.
Some recognized the blood-red banner immediately.
Tianming Sect.
Their faces turned pale in an instant.
Others didn't know the symbol…
but even they could tell this ship wasn't ordinary.
The moment its giant sails rose, the dark vessel—flying the Tianming Sect flag—cut through the water like a moving fortress, charging into the distance.
The Yunyan Sect group exchanged silent looks.
Tianming Sect was on an entirely different level.
Yunyan Sect was known mainly for alchemy.
And even then, they were only "somewhat famous" within the Lowerstream Lands.
They were nowhere close to the monsters of Midstream.
Tianming Sect, on the other hand…
was a true overlord.
A top-tier powerhouse.
There were only a handful of sects across Midstream that could even claim to stand above them.
The bearded man finally exhaled shakily.
"S… so close. We almost handed our lives over."
His gaze snapped sharply to the young woman beside him.
"From now on, watch yourself."
"Our Yunyan Sect may have influence in the Lowerstream Lands, but every domain has hidden dragons and crouching tigers."
"And the Herbal Trade Convention we're headed to… will be full of true experts."
"You must restrain yourself."
The young woman swallowed hard, fear lingering in her eyes.
"I… I understand…"
Now she finally grasped the weight of what happened.
Tianming Sect had a reputation for cruelty.
If she had truly made enemies with them…
it wouldn't be just her who died.
It could mean the destruction of the entire Yunyan Sect.
A slap?
A slap was nothing.
It was the price of a borrowed life.
Storm Pavilion
Not long after—
someone rushed to report to the seductive deaconess upstairs.
"Tianming Sect's ship… just docked?"
The woman's eyes widened.
She had just received news that more than twenty Tianming Sect Star River Realm cultivators had died.
And now their ship arrived?
So fast?
"No. It has already left the harbor."
Left?!
Her pupils shrank.
And in one breath, the pieces clicked together.
She straightened.
"Who boarded it?"
A terrifying possibility formed in her mind.
The person who boarded that ship…
might very well be the one who killed Tianming Sect's people.
Not only killed them—
but stole their ship and left openly, as if daring Tianming Sect to retaliate.
Someone like that was either insane…
or had absolute confidence.
"It was the young man and woman from the second-floor tea area."
"And the black panther."
A black panther—
Uugang Panther.
A young man and woman…
Her gaze sharpened instantly.
"…Lin Ye of Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect?"
That made sense.
The Wind-Thunder River Domain had been exploding with major events lately—
and almost every single one traced back to Lin Ye.
Killing Tianming Sect people?
That would fit his pattern.
But being able to do it…
was terrifying.
More than twenty Star River Realm cultivators…
How did he kill them?
With that kind of lineup, even escaping would be difficult.
And Lin Ye didn't just escape…
He wiped them out.
All of them.
She took a slow breath and tapped ash from her pipe.
"I understand."
"Monitor Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect closely."
"And keep eyes on Lin Ye at every port."
"I want to know his every move."
"Based on his route, he's most likely headed to Spiritwater River Domain to attend the Herbal Trade Convention at Hundred Spirit Medicine Sect."
"Tell every Storm Pavilion branch along the way to report immediately."
"Yes!"
The messenger bowed and retreated.
The woman inhaled deeply—three heavy pulls.
Her eyes glittered.
"This must be reported to headquarters."
"The Wind-Thunder River Domain… may be birthing a true monster."
Wind-Thunder River
Long ago, a top sect conducted a massive survey.
They counted the named major rivers and river domains across the continent—
seventy-three thousand.
Each separated by mountains stretching tens of thousands of miles.
Wind-Thunder River Domain was just one of countless territories between two major rivers.
And now—
Lin Ye's destination was Spiritwater River Domain.
The original plan required crossing multiple river ports, changing ships several times.
But now?
With this ship—
they could smash through waves and travel directly.
Xia Wei stood on deck, staring at the banner fluttering above.
"This… this really is Tianming Sect's ship…"
She sucked in a cold breath.
"Lin Ye, you're… too bold."
Not only had he killed Tianming Sect's people—
he was using their ship openly like a trophy.
But Lin Ye didn't care.
Xia Wei had already explained Tianming Sect's power.
He understood perfectly what kind of consequences this would bring.
Yet in his mind…
there was no such thing as "consequences."
If Tianming Sect came for him?
He'd kill them too.
That was all.
The ship surged forward, crushing waves like thunder.
Xia Wei had piloted ships before, but this Tianming Sect vessel—
the Blood Stele—
was terrifyingly high-quality.
Material.
Structure.
Design.
Every detail screamed elite craftsmanship.
More importantly…
it could conceal its aura to avoid underwater beasts.
Underwater beast swarms were a major threat on these rivers.
Low-level beasts weren't scary—
but the problem was their numbers.
Once a swarm locked on…
even a strong ship could be torn apart.
The Uugang Panther crouched near the edge of the deck, staring at the water.
Small fish occasionally leapt onto the surface—
and the panther's throat bobbed as it swallowed.
It wanted to eat.
Badly.
On the upper deck, Lin Ye sat cross-legged and cultivated.
The Nine Revolutions Asura Art, Third Layer…
allowed him to absorb blood-asura energy during slaughter.
And with the support of the Netherlink Profound Vein, his cultivation speed grew faster with every passing day.
His mind drifted back to the last time he entered Netherlink State—
when the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger intercepted the connection.
Originally, the Netherlink Vein had been reaching toward other presences—
but that tiger snatched him away like a predator claiming prey.
And Lin Ye could still feel it.
Among those countless hidden existences…
the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger was overwhelmingly superior.
It could crush the others like ants.
Lin Ye's brows furrowed slightly.
"Netherlink State… what world does it connect to?"
"Why do I feel like… everything is chaotic?"
This wasn't something he experienced in his previous life.
But after obtaining the Saint Realm Secret Scroll, his consciousness became connected to an entire Blood Sea dimension.
Now Netherlink Vein seemed capable of linking to yet another world.
He didn't understand it yet.
But—
he didn't care.
"As long as I grow stronger…"
"As long as I can return to Shenchuan and crush the Heaven-Blessed Imperial Bloodline under my feet…"
"That's enough."
A cold killing intent burst from his body.
At that very moment—
The ship suddenly shook.
Hard.
As if something massive had slammed into it.
Xia Wei ran up in panic.
"Lin Ye—bad news!"
"There's a water bandit fleet!"
Water bandits?
Just like mountains had bandits…
the rivers had pirates.
Lin Ye stood.
Around them, more than ten fast boats were closing in.
Every mast was crowded with men, waving weapons and yelling.
They surrounded the Blood Stele ship and blocked its path.
A loud voice echoed.
"Stop the ship!"
"Let us board peacefully—otherwise, suffer the consequences!"
Lin Ye didn't answer.
He simply rose into the air.
And flew straight toward the largest pirate ship.
BOOM!
His Star River Realm aura erupted.
His Star Bridge soared into the sky.
The pirates' faces turned white.
"Star River Realm!"
"RUN!"
But it was too late.
Lin Ye raised one hand.
And dropped it.
Shatter-Calamity Claw.
A massive blood claw more than ten meters long slammed down from the sky.
BOOM!!
The pirate flagship exploded into splinters.
Xia Wei's eyes widened in shock.
One move.
One move… and an entire ship was destroyed.
Lin Ye landed calmly back on the Blood Stele ship.
"Keep going."
The remaining pirate boats instantly scattered like frightened fish.
No one dared approach again.
Then—
The river surface suddenly swelled.
A massive wave surged upward…
and swallowed the shattered pirate ship in an instant.
In the blink of an eye—
all those pirates vanished under the water.
The Uugang Panther sprang to its feet, claws flashing, eyes sharp and vicious.
It sensed danger.
Lin Ye's eyes turned cold.
"…Looking for death?"
Something in the water…
had dared target him.