The teleportation array was occupied?
Lin Moyu saw that the array was indeed shut down, with no one allowed to enter. Blocking his way was a Dao-Lord-realm woman in Central Domain God-Alliance livery—a member of an affiliated force. Her attitude was decent: she kept calling him "Senior," and her face showed apology. Lin Moyu didn't press her.
"Why is it occupied?"
She said, "People from the Four Seas Sect are coming. There are a lot of them, so they're taking the array for a few days and won't let others use it."
Lin Moyu found it odd. "If they're coming, why can't others use the array? It can run continuously, and inbound and outbound don't interfere. Squatting on the array makes no sense."
Before she could answer, someone nearby spoke up. "That's just how overbearing the Four Seas Sect is. Their sect master is an elder in the God-Alliance, so they insist on special privileges."
Another added, "Nothing you can do—they've got pull. And they say when the war with the East Extreme starts, they'll be the spearhead. What can you say to that? Heard the sect master loves saving face—hogging the array makes him look big."
"Talking is fine now, but once they arrive, don't mouth off. They're not… reasonable."
As the murmurs went around, Lin Moyu pieced things together. The Four Seas Sect's master was named Pan Sihai, a top Perfection-stage powerhouse and an elder of the Central Domain God-Alliance. He'd rendered great service before—once killing a top Perfection expert of the East Extreme in a major battle—so his standing in the Alliance was very high. He also cared a lot about face, and since the Four Seas Sect was indeed strong, he would sometimes exercise special privileges—like monopolizing the array this time because his sect was coming.
Many were unhappy yet helpless. Lin Moyu, however, felt that power and contributions should match. The Four Seas Sect might be domineering, but in fights with the East Extreme they always charged at the front—never shrinking back and fighting savagely. By the numbers, in past wars with the East Extreme the Four Seas Sect had taken the heaviest losses; even among Perfection ranks they'd suffered multiple deaths. And their "domineering" wasn't entirely unreasonable: taking the array for a few days, at a moment like this, didn't really affect much. For cultivators, a few days is nothing—close your eyes to rest and it passes.
Lin Moyu had no intention of forcing his way through. He wasn't in a rush anymore. He might have been earlier, but now Mu Tianze had given him authority; even if war with the North Extreme broke out, he could still use a cross-domain array to go. A few days sooner or later made no difference.
Suddenly someone exclaimed, "Enough chatter—the Four Seas Sect is here!"
However much resentment people felt, they were just as full of awe. The Four Seas Sect could be reasonable, but it was also domineering; if they overheard slander, they wouldn't be gentle. The array lit up and silence fell. All whispering ceased.
The first to arrive was a Chaosrealm Great-Achievement cultivator in a scarlet robe, like a man of fire—though to Lin Moyu he looked more like a man of blood. The moment he appeared, a heat wave rolled out; everyone felt as if they stood in a sea of fire. Many showed discomfort. It wasn't enough to injure—just unpleasant. Lesser-Achievement cultivators felt it even more keenly, even painfully. In less than a breath, some had already retreated farther back. Strangely, the Dao-Lord woman before Lin Moyu was perfectly fine.
Such were Four Seas cultivators: their released pressure targeted only those of equal realm; those beneath were unaffected. That was their domineering—and their "reason."
Lin Moyu felt nothing and let the heat and pressure wash over him without reaction. His lack of response drew the newcomer's attention, but the man said nothing. After transporting over, he hovered in midair in silence, as if waiting for someone.
A nearby whisper reached Lin Moyu's ear: "He's from the Fire-Sea Division. The Fire-Sea fighters are truly strong. I'm the same realm, but it wouldn't be hard for him to kill me."
"Fire-Sea is strong, but the really terrifying ones are the other three divisions. Some would rather fight Fire-Sea than face the others."
Lin Moyu said to the woman, "Do you know what the 'Four Seas' of the Four Seas Sect are?"
"Senior, I… don't dare to say."
"Go on—be bold. They won't hear."
A gentle wash of soul power spread out from Lin Moyu, wrapping the two of them and isolating them from the outside. With his soul strength, even Perfection experts wouldn't hear a word. The woman still seemed nervous.
"Tell me, and I'll grant you a chance," Lin Moyu said, smiling. "A great one, at that. Up to you if you want to gamble."
If she refused, he could ask someone else; it wasn't really a secret. But then she would miss that chance.
She thought a moment, then decided. "This humble one is Qingyu. Thank you, Senior. It truly isn't much of a secret."
"The Fire-Sea Division is the vanguard—they cultivate fire-attribute Daos and hit hard in battle.
"The Ice-Sea Division is defense—they cultivate water-attribute Daos. Their battle power is lower than Fire-Sea's, but if you fight them, you can be frozen and trapped for a million years—seeing and hearing yet unable to move. Worse than death.
"The Soul-Sea Division is even more terrifying—they cultivate soul-type Daos and torment the soul so you can't live or die.
"But the most terrifying is the Blood-Sea Division. They're the sect's extermination unit—wiping clans and sects. They have horrifying arts and have annihilated many races—countless dead.
"That's all Qingyu knows. I hope it satisfies Senior."
Lin Moyu laughed. "It does. Take this pill. When you go back and take it, you should advance to half-step Chaosrealm."
Qingyu's eyes flashed bright. A single pill to reach half-step Chaosrealm—was that possible? The pellet looked plain and sooty—no fragrance at all—yet claimed such effect.
"Worried I'm lying?" Lin Moyu smiled.
She shook her head quickly. "Of course not. How could Senior deceive me? I've just never seen such a wondrous pill."
"Take it and you'll know. Be prepared—it may take time to break through."
Qingyu put it away and nodded. "Qingyu understands." She glanced around, as if afraid someone had seen, only to find no one noticed her—not even the Great-Achievement from the Four Seas Sect.
"Don't worry," Lin Moyu said. "They know nothing of what we've said or done."
Only then did Qingyu realize it was true. She didn't understand how he'd done it—only that he was extraordinary.
The array flared again; a vast pressure swept out—another arrival. This time it was a Perfection expert. Before the person even appeared, the immense aura washed over the crowd. Lesser-Achievement cultivators felt little, but Great-Achievement faces changed as they backed off to avoid the pressure.
Firelight rippled in the sky—another from the Four Seas Sect's Sea divisions, this one elder-rank. A fiery red figure stepped from the array. The earlier arrival bowed at once. "We greet Elder Tianhuo!"
Elder Tianhuo's form solidified—a scarlet robe, his entire body like a mass of flame. The blaze turned into an illusory sea of fire, forming a fire-cloud above Wang East Boundary. Everyone could see the sea—though it was only a mirage.
Elder Tianhuo stepped out and hovered midair, his aggressive gaze sweeping the crowd. No one dared meet his eyes; all lowered their heads. He seemed satisfied—until he saw Lin Moyu, who did not avert his gaze and was even studying him as if at something amusing.
His brows knit, but he didn't flare up. In his eyes Lin Moyu was just a Lesser-Achievement junior; daring to meet his gaze likely meant a strong Dao-heart.
"Good seedling," Elder Tianhuo thought with a glint of approval. Cultivation is easy; a firm Dao-heart is hard. With a strong heart, cultivation follows. He looked twice and even gave Lin Moyu a faint smile.
Lin Moyu tipped his head in return—a casual greeting.
Elder Tianhuo froze. He realized he'd been mistaken. Lin Moyu wasn't "firm of heart"—he was… ignorant of the heights of heaven. A Lesser-Achievement brat nodding and smiling at him, even with a hint of appraisal—as if Elder Tianhuo were the lower realm. Irritation stirred, but there was nothing to seize on—Lin Moyu had said and done nothing improper.
Lin Moyu was merely curious. This Fire-Sea elder was Perfection, his aura strong, soul vigorous—formidable in battle. Yet Lin Moyu also saw the man's foundation wasn't that steady. His might came more from powerful arts than deep roots. Such a Perfection expert would find it hard to reach the peak; this might already be his strongest state.
Qingyu's voice sounded at his ear, "Senior, this is Elder Tianhuo of the Fire-Sea Division—one of eight elders there, said to rank in the top three of Fire-Sea. Across the whole Four Seas Sect, he should be top twenty."
Lin Moyu blinked. "You know it that clearly—even the rankings?"
"It's public info," Qingyu said. "The God-Alliance archives have it. If Senior has time, you can take a look."
"I haven't, actually," Lin Moyu smiled.
"The Alliance archive is comprehensive," Qingyu said. "Rankings and profiles for powers across the Four Extremes and Three Domains—within my permission level, at least. I'm low-rank, so I only see a portion."
A thought struck Lin Moyu. "What about the Wine Venerable's ranking?"
"Wine Venerable is a top Central Domain powerhouse. Almost everyone knows of him. If there were a ranking, he'd be top ten." She added, "In truth, those apex figures don't have an official list—people just estimate. In many hearts, Wine Venerable is the strongest below the Supremes."
"Well said," Lin Moyu chuckled. "Everyone keeps their own list."
He chatted with Qingyu. Though she was only from an affiliated force, not a full Alliance member, she had archive access and often rotated through simple posts—many times assigned to the records room. She'd used those chances to read everything within her clearance. She might be merely Dao-Lord realm, but she knew a lot about the factions of the Central Domain God-Alliance.
Elder Tianhuo noticed Lin Moyu and the young woman chatting blithely—and he couldn't hear a word. At his level, that was impossible; even if they used soul-voice, he should still overhear. Their lips moved, but no sound reached him. His brows pinched tighter, and an invisible pressure rolled down toward the pair—but the moment it neared Lin Moyu, it dissipated as if it had never existed. The two kept talking, oblivious.
"Not simple…" Elder Tianhuo felt something off, a growing sense of being ignored. His displeasure mounted, and he sent an even stronger wave of pressure. The Fire-Sea cultivators around him sensed the anomaly too; seeing Lin Moyu, they focused their auras into heavy blows pressing down.
Lin Moyu still didn't react.
At last Elder Tianhuo's pressure clenched into a fist and smashed down. Under that weight, even a Great-Achievement would be forced flat—let alone a Lesser-Achievement.
Finally, Lin Moyu moved. He looked up at Elder Tianhuo and his lips formed two words.
Elder Tianhuo jolted; his pressure vanished. His expression shifted—embarrassment, disbelief, and above all shock. For he had heard two words ring like thunder in his soul: "Enough."
With those words came a vast soul-shock that rattled his spirit violently. It came from Lin Moyu.
He finally understood: this "Lesser-Achievement" wasn't Lesser-Achievement at all. How could someone at that stage wield such terrifying soul power—far beyond his own?
Elder Tianhuo drew back his aura and dropped his Perfection pride, cupping his hands. "Fellow Daoist, would you come up to speak?"
His manner was excellent—none of his earlier imperiousness. Everyone saw whom he was inviting: a supposed Lesser-Achievement junior. Why would Elder Tianhuo treat him so?
"I'm not climbing up," Lin Moyu said lazily. "If you want to talk, come down."
Gasps. Was that how a Lesser-Achievement spoke to a Perfection expert?
But Elder Tianhuo only called back, "Very well!" He descended of his own accord, came up to Lin Moyu, and bowed low, posture utterly modest. The earlier Fire-Sea arrival was stunned, as was everyone else. It all felt surreal.
Elder Tianhuo didn't care. "I am Tianhuo of the Fire-Sea Division, Four Seas Sect—also a steward of the Central Domain God-Alliance." An identity token hung at his waist.
Lin Moyu produced his own token. "Lin Moyu, a lone cultivator."
At the sight of Lin Moyu's token, Elder Tianhuo's face changed sharply.