Chapter 587 - 500: Central Sea Region, Linyue Immortal City
’This Secret Technique is perfect!’
With that thought, Su Ye made his decision.
VMM.
He activated the Returning Yuan Fetal Breathing Skill.
Inside his Dantian Qi Sea, his ice-silver Magical Power completely solidified!
Even his Nine-Method Golden Core seemed to be encased in ice, subtly undergoing a process of nourishment and repair!
...
"Haa..."
With his injuries stabilized, the anxiety in Su Ye’s heart finally eased.
He spread his Divine Sense, taking in his surroundings.
’The Thundercloud Sea?’
A glint appeared in Su Ye’s eyes.
’Perfect. I’ll head to the Central Sea Region!’
After the battle at the volcanic Grotto Heaven, the Far South Continent and the region south of Yao Guang were bound to become the center of attention!
The Nascent Soul cultivators from the Sword Sect would probably tear the Yao Guang South Sea apart looking for him. Such a situation wasn’t exactly ideal for hiding...
It would be better to do the unexpected—hide in the one place they wouldn’t look. He would lie low and recuperate in the Central Sea Region!
’My only concern is for my friends, family, and all I’ve built...’
’But their safety shouldn’t be an issue... At worst, they’ll be put under house arrest.’
Su Ye knew very well.
As long as he remained at large, he was the most crucial protective talisman his friends and family could have!
He possessed a Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect, after all!
Until Su Ye was confirmed dead, who would dare to risk mutual destruction by killing his loved ones?
Were they not afraid he would come back to settle the score later?
’Even if one or two lunatics try something, Li Jinhua will be there to stop them... No need to worry!’
His worries for those he left behind were settled!
With his mind at ease, Su Ye looked to the north, a wave of heroic ambition surging within him.
’Central Sea Region, here I come!’
...
「Several months later.」
The sea was calm, the sun was bright, and a gentle breeze was blowing.
A three-masted merchant ship sailed with the wind, its thick, off-white sails billowing high in the air!
The hull was somewhat old, with barnacles clinging to the parts below the waterline.
A dozen or so sailors bustled about on deck. Though none of them were cultivators, they had steady footing and robust physiques, having clearly practiced worldly martial arts.
"Yun, you possess a high-grade Spiritual Root and excellent aptitude. Your acceptance into the Drunken Moon Sect is all but guaranteed."
"But you must understand that a sect is not like our home. The rules are strict, and our Qin Family has no powerful connections. You must be cautious within the Drunken Moon Sect..."
A middle-aged man with distinguished features and a touch of grey at his temples spoke with a solemn expression to the thirteen-year-old boy before him, giving earnest and repeated warnings.
This man, it turned out, was a cultivator.
He was at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, but the aura of his Magical Power was rather diffuse. Clearly, the quality of his Cultivation Technique was average—nothing more than a common, run-of-the-mill method.
"I understand, Father,"
Qin Yun replied in a solemn voice, taking the words to heart.
The Drunken Moon Sect controlled a sea territory spanning over a hundred thousand li. Powerful cultivators were as numerous as the clouds in its ranks, and a Golden Core Patriarch presided over it all! Furthermore, it was backed by the leader of the Nine Inner Sea Sects, the Jade Void Sword Sect!
𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
For a Qi Refining family with a weak foundation like the Qin Family, having a clansman with superior aptitude join the Drunken Moon Sect was the fastest path to rising in power!
’Besides... our family doesn’t even possess a single Foundation Establishment Skill. Only by joining the Drunken Moon Sect will I have a sliver of hope to continue on the path of cultivation!’
Qin Yun clenched his fist, a fire of ambition igniting in his heart!
’At the very least, I can reach Late-stage Qi Refining. Then, if I’m assigned a post as an external deacon, I can support the family... Sigh, the Qin Family has over a thousand members, but only six of us are cultivators...’
’Hmm...’ As Qin Yun was lost in thought, his train of thought abruptly snapped.
It was like a sudden bout of network lag, yet he himself didn’t notice a thing.
And it wasn’t just him. Across the entire merchant ship, from the captain down to the last crewman, everyone had simultaneously frozen in place!
It was as if someone had hit a pause button, a profoundly bizarre moment!
VMM.
A moment later, the merchant ship returned to normal. Everyone was completely oblivious, feeling nothing out of the ordinary.
After his conversation with his father, Qin Yun turned and headed for his cabin to rest and conserve his energy.
Just then, a strikingly handsome youth with a refined air pushed open a cabin door. It was none other than Su Ye!
Upon seeing Su Ye, Qin Yun’s expression remained unchanged. He showed no sign of surprise, simply cupping his hands in a polite greeting.
"Mr. Li."
This Mr. Li was a Loose Cultivator in distress whom the merchant ship had rescued a few days prior.
According to his own account, he was also headed for the Drunken Moon Sect, seeking a Foundation Establishment Opportunity in its immortal city.
Seeing his refined manner of speaking and handsome features, and considering he was a rare Alchemist, the Qin Family’s merchant ship decided to form a good connection by offering him passage.
"Mm."
Su Ye nodded, a smile in his eyes.
Watching Qin Yun walk away, he couldn’t help but feel a bit reflective.
The so-called Mr. Li was, naturally, a fake identity Su Ye had fabricated for himself.
What’s that?
An Alchemist, you ask?
’With my fifth-tier Divine Sense, I can’t say for certain about higher ranks, but posing as a first-tier, high-grade Alchemist is absolutely no problem!’
As for the crew’s impression of Mr. Li, that was the result of the false memories Su Ye had implanted in their minds just a moment before.
’Before me, the minds of low-level cultivators... are they completely defenseless?’
’Is this what a fifth-tier Divine Soul can do?’
Su Ye marveled at his ability to alter memories at will, leaving his subjects without the slightest feeling that something was out of place.
Even Divine Soul Skills couldn’t detect such a modification!
Su Ye even felt that, if he so desired, he could easily use this method to brainwash a large contingent of die-hard followers!
’No, that’s not right...’
’An ordinary fifth-tier Divine Soul definitely doesn’t possess such an ability!’
Su Ye realized, a glint in his eyes as he murmured to himself.
He had possessed a fifth-tier Divine Soul for a while now, but he’d never had such a cheat-like ability before!
’So...’
’Is this a miraculous change brought about by activating my Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect?’
’The Netherworld Skill represents shadow, erosion, and decay, and it can create shadow monsters.’
’And this time, after activating the Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect and taking it a step further, has that power of decay extended into the domain of the mind?’
’And in all of this, the mysterious attribute on my status panel must have played a role as well?’
Su Ye mused to himself, speculating on the possibilities.
’A Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect... it truly overpowers ordinary cultivators in every single way!’
’And my Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect isn’t even at its full potential yet. I’ve only mastered two of the law-based skills... I still haven’t grasped the Erosion Flow Skill!’
At this thought, Su Ye’s heart stirred.
Just how powerful would a Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect formed from a Nine-Method Golden Core and three law-based skills truly be?!
’I really have something to look forward to...’
...
「Two months later.」
「Linyue Immortal City.」
This immortal city was located right next to the Drunken Moon Sect, hence its name, ’Linyue’.
Thanks to the Drunken Moon Sect’s influence, the city had undoubtedly become the trade hub of this sea region, attracting visitors, traveling merchants, and Loose Cultivators from all corners.
Its prosperity was in no way inferior to Cloud Sea Immortal City; in fact, it might even surpass it!
After all, Su Ye had traveled for several months, quietly making his way deep into the Central Sea Region, now a considerable distance from the Yao Guang South Sea.
The Qin Family’s merchant ship lowered its sails and steered into the harbor.
"We’re finally here."
Qin Yun was excited. No matter how precocious, he was still just a boy of thirteen or fourteen. After months at sea, he had inevitably grown weary of the unchanging ocean view.
"Everyone, thank you for the journey."
"I shall take my leave here."
Su Ye stepped forward, cupping his hands to bid them farewell.
The members of the Qin Family didn’t try to detain him.
For them, the priority was to sell the ship’s cargo.
They needed to exchange it for Spirit Stones, grease some palms, and pave the way for Qin Yun to have a smoother time after joining the Drunken Moon Sect.
’Heh.’
’The inner sea region... is as prosperous as they say.’
Walking along the bustling streets, Su Ye observed his surroundings with great interest.
There were Four-legged Mechanical Beasts hauling cargo, monks with solemn and dignified expressions, sword-wielding Body Cultivators, indigenous shamans with cropped hair and tattoos, and even a young mermaid with finned ears...
It seemed this Linyue Immortal City turned no one away, welcoming people from every walk of life, savory or not.
’Interesting.’
Su Ye murmured to himself, a playful glint in his eyes.
A large immortal city like this, a melting pot of all kinds, was the perfect place for him to hide!
’I’ll use the identity of ’Mr. Li’ to lie low in Linyue Immortal City for a while and recover from my injuries.’