「Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Due to mechanical aging aboard the vessel, we are unable to continue our voyage. The final destination of this cruise has been temporarily canceled, and we will be docking at Linjiang City instead...」
「The next available ship will arrive in three days. As an apology for the inconvenience, our company will cover all accommodation expenses for passengers in Linjiang City for the next three days...」
「Damn it!」
「This is ridiculous! Three whole days? I make millions a minute—by then, every opportunity will be long gone!」
「What the hell? The ship was fine when we set sail! Do you have any idea how much this delay is costing me?!」
「Bastards! I'm filing a complaint!」
The sudden announcement blared over the cruise liner's speakers, instantly sparking a chorus of angry shouts and curses from the passengers.
But no matter how loud their protests grew, the Magic City cruise liner forged ahead, ignoring the commotion as it headed straight for the nearest port—Linjiang City.
A city still over ten thousand kilometers away from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Faced with this sudden, unexpected detour, you remained completely calm in your VIP suite, not the least bit surprised—as if you'd been expecting it all along.
「They've finally stopped holding back. They're ready to make their move. It seems the mastermind behind the scenes really is afraid of that mysterious protector waiting for me in the south!」
「They've been lying low for two whole days, too scared to act. That offhand lie I told Sun Zhong about a contact has ended up working wonders. Truly, fate is full of twists and turns.」
You muttered to yourself, well aware that the mastermind's patience had finally snapped. But little did they know—you'd been waiting for this moment just as eagerly.
You tucked the stack of freshly crafted talismans into your storage pouch, then turned to Su Mei beside you. 「The man who killed your brother is coming. Are you afraid?」
Su Mei turned her milky-white eyes toward you, her gaze steady and unflinching. 「No.」
「Hahaha! Good girl. Climb on my back. I'm taking you to kill him.」
Boom!
The cruise liner docked at Linjiang City's port.
Amid the passengers' furious jeers and complaints, you slung Su Mei over your back and stepped off the ship silently. Instead of heading toward the city center, you turned and marched straight into the wilderness on the outskirts.
A man carrying a blind girl with milky-white eyes, walking deeper and deeper into the desolate woods—an undeniably eerie sight...
「Old fart,」 you suddenly came to a halt, your voice ringing out into the empty air. 「How does this spot suit you for a grave?」
「Hmph! Insolent little whelp!」
Realizing he'd been discovered, the hidden figure in the cloak finally emerged from the shadows.
Whoosh!
The cloaked stranger tore off his hood, revealing a sinister, weathered face. It was none other than the Ghost Physician Venerable—a Third-Rank Heavenly Realm powerhouse.
「You little bastard! I don't know who that mysterious contact of yours was in Magic City, but for two whole days, this old man hasn't detected the slightest trace of their presence. Either they never existed at all… or they've already left.」
「And don't bother trying to fool me with that little girl on your back! I've dug up every last detail about her background over these past few days.」
The Ghost Physician Venerable's words were sharp and venomous, but his eyes darted nervously from side to side, his face etched with fear and wariness.
Seven days ago, after capturing Sun Zhong, he'd subjected the loyal protector to a soul search—and learned some terrifying secrets.
Nine days ago, this little Sun Family brat had suddenly vanished, leaving a double in his place. It turned out he'd gone to meet a mysterious figure—one said to be on the same level as the Sun Family's Ancestor, a monster of unfathomable power...
The Sun Family Ancestor was at the very least a Seventh-Rank Heavenly Realm powerhouse. Anyone on par with him would be a force to be reckoned with beyond imagination.
That was precisely why the Ghost Physician Venerable had hesitated to act for days on end, lurking in the shadows and watching, too afraid to make a move—terrified of drawing that mysterious powerhouse's wrath.
It wasn't until now, after detecting no sign of that terrifying figure, that he'd finally mustered the courage to show himself, convinced the mysterious contact had left.
Hearing the Ghost Physician Venerable's words, your hands curled into tight fists, murderous rage surging in your heart.
That so-called "mysterious contact" had been nothing more than a lie—a throwaway line you'd made up to fool Sun Zhong.
The fact that the Ghost Physician knew about it meant Sun Zhong had undoubtedly been subjected to a soul search. And his fate after that was all too clear.
「Hahaha! All bark and no bite!」 you sneered, using the nonexistent "mysterious contact" to bluff and intimidate him. 「You spineless eunuch!」
「WHAT DID YOU SAY?!」
The Ghost Physician Venerable flew into a violent rage, as if you'd struck a nerve. He raised his hand, ready to strike you down where you stood.
But your unshakable confidence gave him pause, a flicker of doubt flashing across his face.
Could it be… that the mysterious contact was still here, watching from the shadows?
Otherwise, how could you possibly be this bold?
Caught between fury and suspicion, the Ghost Physician Venerable's attention was completely fixated on you. He never noticed the subtle change happening to the girl on your back.
Unbeknownst to him, a single drop of inky blackness had seeped into Su Mei's milky-white eyes, spreading rapidly until her pupils were pitch-black. A wave of eerie, malevolent curse energy emanated from her, silently creeping toward the Ghost Physician Venerable.
By the time he finally sensed something was wrong, it was already too late.
A terrifying aura of decay and decline descended upon him without warning.
「AAAGH! The Heavenly Tribulation of Five Declines—why is it descending on me now?!」
The Ghost Physician Venerable let out a bloodcurdling scream of agony, his body convulsing violently. Black mist coiled around him, ignoring his Heavenly Realm protective barrier and seeping into every pore of his skin...
Guided by Su Mei's curse, the most feared catastrophe of the Heavenly Realm—the Heavenly Tribulation of Five Declines—had been forcefully triggered.
The Heavenly Tribulation of Five Declines was a trial that every Heavenly Realm cultivator faced with each rank advancement. Only by overcoming it could they progress further. Survive nine tribulations, and one would ascend to become an Earth Immortal.
But the tribulation was composed of five auras of decay. Fail to overcome it, and death was the only possible outcome.
This was why Sun Zhong had said Su Mei's Cursed Hex Pupil could threaten even Heavenly Realm powerhouses—it had the power to force the Heavenly Tribulation of Five Declines upon them.
After casting the curse on the Ghost Physician Venerable, Su Mei's face turned deathly pale. A significant portion of her jet-black hair turned white, and she looked utterly exhausted—she'd paid a terrible price for her attack.
「I'LL KILL YOU BOTH! I'LL TEAR YOU APART!」 The Ghost Physician Venerable roared in unbridled fury, his voice cracking with pain.
「We'll see who kills who, you eunuch bastard! I've had enough of your shit!」
You struck suddenly, slapping a protective talisman onto Su Mei's back before tossing her aside to safety. Then you charged at the Ghost Physician Venerable alone, your eyes blazing with killing intent.
In the next instant, to the Ghost Physician Venerable's stunned disbelief, your figure vanished into thin air without a trace.
Your red-tier talent You Can't See Me had activated.
Nine Steps to the Heavens—ACTIVATE!
Boom!Mountains and Rivers Realm!
Boom!Transcendent Realm!
Boom!Saint Realm!
In the blink of an eye, you burned a hundred years of your lifespan to skyrocket three entire major realms in cultivation base, unleashing terrifying, godlike combat power.
Supreme Mode—ACTIVATE!
Your eyes were instantly flooded with an icy, domineering light, as if you were a true god ruling over the mortal world!
Boom!
Radiating overwhelming divine might, you reappeared out of nowhere right in front of the Ghost Physician Venerable. A colossal fire talisman materialized behind you, blazing with golden flames.
Nine fire dragons, each over a hundred feet long, roared into existence, shaking the heavens with their thunderous cries as they charged at the Ghost Physician Venerable, jaws wide open to devour him whole!
「NINE DRAGONS INCINERATE THE HEAVENS!」