In the cramped alleys of the Sanmiao marketplace, the aura of the Divine Pill erupted like a long-dormant volcano awakening. Greed spread like wildfire. In an instant, the gathered cultivators transformed into a pack of starving wolves, their eyes burning with uncontrollable desire.
"Back! All of you, stand back!" Wang Mei's voice thundered like a war drum.
But her command was drowned in the chaos.
At that very moment, inside the grand arena of Sanmiao City, Elder Wang Shen—lost in deep contemplation—suddenly stiffened. His aged form went rigid, his snowy brows knitting together as his Divine Sense trembled violently, like lightning striking his soul.
"This… what is this?" His voice carried a rare trace of fear—the same fear he had last felt three centuries ago.
City Lord Wang Long's expression changed. "Father, what happened? Has that power returned?"
Elder Wang Shen didn't answer. His fingers moved swiftly, forming a mysterious seal as his eyes burst into a piercing azure glow.
"No… Wang Long, this is different!" His voice deepened.
"Look toward the marketplace… a Medicine Aura has appeared—one that defies the Heavenly Dao itself! Such a pill should not exist anywhere on this continent… its Qi… it's identical to the legendary medicines of the Sacred Realm!"
Before Wang Long could react, Elder Wang Shen vanished—leaving behind only a streak of blue lightning.
The City Lord and Yan Kai Long exchanged a glance, then instantly shot into the sky, rushing toward the marketplace at full speed.
As Yan Kai Long flew, his thoughts churned.
'I only came here to establish a branch for my Sect… yet I encountered a monstrous opponent, then the Blood Coffin Sect launched an attack… and now this? Even I can feel that terrifying aura. Today is filled with nothing but chaos…'
Meanwhile, in the marketplace—
The last thread of restraint snapped.
A burly cultivator roared as he leapt forward, a massive battle-axe cleaving through the air.
"Brat! That pill is mine!"
The axe descended toward Ye Fang's head.
Yet Ye Fang didn't move.
Instead, his smile deepened.
A crimson glow ignited within one of his eyes, turning his expression sinister… predatory.
"Oh? It belongs to you?" His voice was cold, almost mocking.
"Is your name written on it? Or did your parents leave it here just for you?"
His lips curled into a terrifying grin.
The axe was inches away.
Still, Ye Fang did not dodge.
He simply raised one finger… and tapped forward.
BOOM!!!
An invisible wave of overwhelming pressure exploded outward.
The attacking cultivator spat blood as his body was blasted backward like a ragdoll. He crashed through three shops before disappearing beneath rubble.
Silence.
The entire marketplace froze.
No one moved. No one breathed.
Then—
Ye Fang suddenly flinched.
He raised a hand and pressed it against his forehead, his expression twisting in pain.
"...What… is this?" he muttered.
A sharp headache throbbed through his skull.
Fragments of something ancient flickered at the edge of his mind—then vanished.
'What just happened…? That guy… how did he end up over there?'
Confusion replaced the earlier coldness in his eyes.
The spectators stared at him in absolute shock.
"H-he's a monster…"
"Wait… isn't he the one who was fighting in the arena earlier?"
Suddenly—
A thunderous voice descended from the heavens, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.
"STOP! NO ONE MOVES!"
A pillar of azure light crashed down before the shop.
As the dust settled, Elder Wang Shen appeared.
His presence alone forced the crowd to their knees.
The shopkeeper rushed forward, trembling.
"E-Elder! You honor my humble stall! If you had summoned me, I would have come to you myself! You are our former City Lord, after all—"
But Elder Wang Shen ignored him completely.
His gaze was locked onto Ye Fang's hand.
More precisely—
The pill.
His pupils shrank violently.
"Impossible…" he whispered.
"Boy… what is that in your hand? Its energy is boundless… it matches the Divine Herbs spoken of in Sacred Realm legends!"
At that moment, the City Lord and Yan Kai Long descended.
Yan Kai Long sighed inwardly.
'I knew it… wherever there's chaos, Ye Fang is at the center.'
But Elder Wang Shen didn't even spare them a glance.
His entire focus remained on the pill.
Ye Fang lowered his hand from his aching head and looked at the Elder with a casual expression.
"I was just offering this insignificant pill to buy a rock," he said calmly.
"But these people lost their minds."
He shrugged lightly.
"As for where I got it… my Master gave it to me."
Elder Wang Shen's face turned pale.
"INSIGNIFICANT?!" he almost roared.
"With the value of that one pill, you could buy ten cities like this! And you're trading it for a common stone?!"
His voice trembled.
"Just who… is this Master of yours…?"