Swish, swish, swish...
Several figures streaked across the sky, arriving in quick succession.
"Master, this is Medicine King Valley!" Li Wujie said, practically buzzing with excitement. "I heard the place is overflowing with rare medicinal herbs and heavenly materials. Out in the world, they're priceless—here, they grow like weeds!"
If he could refine just a handful of those herbs, it could push him over his current bottleneck.
"How exciting," Hong Qianye said, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Judging by the descriptions, a place like this would spark a bloodbath between the top Undying sects back in the Central Region.
After all, no sect ever thought they had too many resources.
Ye Junlin, however, simply shrugged. "I'm just here to check off a system quest," he muttered, clearly unimpressed.
No matter how rare the herbs were, they were meaningless to him. He didn't need external help to cultivate or break through; that was for the amateurs.
Just then, a ripple passed through the entrance of Medicine King Valley. A vortex burst open, twisting and expanding into a swirling portal.
"It's opening!"
"Go!"
A frenzy erupted as cultivators surged forward, rushing into the vortex like moths to a flame.
"Miss, let's move!" Fan Dezhen said, shielding An Miaoyi as he unleashed his Great Ascension aura. Several cultivators in their path were flung aside like rag dolls as he charged into the vortex with unwavering momentum.
Meanwhile, Master Randel exhaled slowly.
This place… he hadn't forgotten the nightmare he barely walked away from. And now, he was back.
"If this goes well," he muttered, "I might finally break into Immortality."
He turned to his disciples. "You few, stay behind and provide support. The rest of you—come with me!"
"Yes, Master!"
After giving his orders, Master Randel led his group into the swirling vortex.
On the other side, Ye Junlin appeared as calm as ever, striding casually into the portal with his disciples following close behind.
In an instant, the world spun around them. Strange runes flashed past their eyes as if the very laws of space and time were being rewritten.
Then—tranquility.
They found themselves in a breathtaking clearing filled with birdsong, sweet floral scents, and the golden warmth of an eternal spring. Sunlight poured down over lush forests, and the valley's spiritual energy was so thick it almost felt solid.
From a cliff's edge, they looked out at winding mountain ranges that stretched like a sleeping dragon, the entire landscape draped in a soft mist.
"This is… incredible," Li Wujie breathed.
Suddenly, Hong Qianye froze. His expression twisted.
He took a deep breath—and paled. "Wait... What the hell just happened? My cultivation—it's gone!"
He frantically checked himself, then shouted, "I'm back at the ninth layer of Qi Refining?!"
His Great Ascension cultivation had vanished. Just like that.
"I… me too!" Li Wujie's voice cracked with panic.
He looked like someone had just repossessed his soul.
Going from peak-level power to a bottom-feeder stage in a blink? It was like waking up one morning and finding your entire bank account had turned into pocket change.
Ye Junlin blinked. His mid-Tribulation cultivation had also been stripped away, leaving him at the same humble ninth layer of Qi Refining.
He gave a slow, dramatic sigh.
...Okay, fine, maybe he didn't "work hard" for it—but still.
In the next moment, his face returned to that familiar, relaxed smirk.
"Well," he said, scratching his chin, "I guess someone wanted to make things fair."
No doubt, this was the handiwork of the Medicine Sovereign. They'd clearly suppressed everyone's cultivation, likely to even the playing field and prevent overwhelming destruction inside the valley.
After all, when everyone's reduced to flinging spiritual chicken feathers at each other, the property damage stays low.
Li Wujie nodded seriously. "Old Medicine Sovereign must be one of those righteous types. Everyone's stuck at the same level, no magic treasures to bail you out—no bullying allowed."
He let out a long sigh. "But man, now I can't even use the sword I brought. The energy gap's too wide."
His sword, a ninth-grade Spirit Tool, was now nothing more than a glorified paperweight.
"Luckily, I've still got this." He pulled out what looked like a battered old vegetable knife. It was rusty, worn, and unimpressive—but faint spiritual fluctuations pulsed from it.
Ye Junlin raised an eyebrow. "You've been carrying around that thing?"
Li Wujie scratched his head. "It was the first Magical Artifact I ever got. Back when I first started cultivating, this thing was with me through thick and thin."
He gently ran a hand along the blade. "Old friend... looks like we're going into battle together again."
A swordsman without a sword was like a chef without a knife—or a cultivator without their ego.
Ye Junlin gave him a nod. "Sentimental, huh. Just don't stab yourself with it."
[Ding! System prompt detected. Host has entered Medicine King Valley. Do you wish to sign in?]
"Yeah, yeah, sign in already," Ye Junlin thought.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've received: One large jar of Premium Enlightenment Tea!]
[Effect: Boosts comprehension. Enhances understanding of martial arts and cultivation techniques.]
Ye Junlin narrowed his eyes. "Tea? That's it?"
He sighed.
"Well… guess I can sip on it when I'm bored."
At that moment, Hong Qianye was quietly staring daggers at him. His sleeves twitched slightly, his palms already gathering force.
Back in the real world, he'd never dare to make a move. Ye Junlin's cultivation level was overwhelming. But now? Everyone was nerfed. Ninth layer Qi Refining—no special tools, no fancy tricks.
This was the perfect chance.
Hong Qianye already imagined how to humiliate him—maybe tie him up to a tree, set his clothes on fire, or dump him headfirst into a mud pit.
But then...
Li Wujie casually said, "Oh, by the way, I heard the valley automatically ejects anyone facing life-threatening danger. So yeah, we can fight freely without worry."
He brandished his vegetable knife like a warrior ready to charge into destiny.
Hong Qianye's fingers twitched.
...Right. If he tried something now and failed, he'd be spat out instantly—and the consequences afterward? Not worth it.
He bit the inside of his cheek, his grand revenge fantasy deflating like a punctured balloon.
Ye Junlin glanced at him sideways and smirked. He didn't need mind-reading to know exactly what the guy was thinking.
Go ahead. Keep trying. It's fun watching you fail.
Just then, a soft rustle came from the grass ahead.
Bai Xiaoxi's eyes lit up. She pointed with barely contained excitement. "Hey—look over there!"
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