"What exactly do you mean by that? Where I sit is my own business—do I need your permission now?" Terence Liao narrowed his eyes at Evan Lin, his whole aura turning icy cold.
He tapped a finger slowly on the tabletop, as if ready to form a fist and smash it into Evan Lin at any moment.
"Hey, do you even know who my uncle is? He's a Medicine King Valley Guardian! You think just anyone can become a Guardian?"
Harvey Liao looked absolutely gleeful, just waiting for trouble.
Suddenly, the atmosphere around them grew tense.
Evan Lin frowned slightly, just about to make a move, when Queenie Tong already furrowed her brows and spoke up: "Everyone, stop arguing. There are seats over there—we should just go sit at another table."
Queenie had been deeply troubled lately by her sister’s illness. It had taken a lot of effort to find a way into Medicine King Valley, and she didn’t want any drama to break out halfway there.
She’d also picked up from Lucy Lu’s words just now that this teenage boy seemed to know Lucy somehow. If a fight really broke out, Lucy would be caught in the middle and it’d be super awkward for her.
Lucy Lu let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Harvey Liao was a bit unhappy about Queenie’s suggestion, but after thinking it over, he nodded and turned to Terence Liao: "Uncle, let’s go sit over there. Queenie’s right—since we’re heading into Medicine King Valley tomorrow, it wouldn’t look good if we started trouble here."
Harvey Liao looked pleadingly at Terence Liao, who had been ready to start a fight. Terence paused, nodded, then glared at Warren Wu and said coldly, "Control your junior. If he mouths off again, I won’t be so polite next time!"
To Terence Liao, Evan Lin was obviously just a junior tagging along with Warren Wu—maybe even Warren’s direct disciple. He wasn’t in a hurry to make a move; after all, both of them were headed to Medicine King Valley, and he could always deal with them once they got inside.
After that, Terence and Harvey got up and switched tables. Queenie Tong didn’t even glance at Evan Lin and Warren Wu as she left.
Lucy Lu shot Evan Lin an apologetic look, quietly whispered sorry, and followed after them.
"Master Lin, that Terence Liao—ten years ago he was already at peak Inner Strength. Now, he’s probably broken through to the Vajra realm."
Once Terence and his group left, Warren Wu quietly leaned in to warn Evan Lin.
He’d seen Evan "Nine Mysteries" Lin kill Medicine King Valley’s Shao prodigy before, and heard all kinds of wild rumors about him, but Warren had never actually watched Evan go up against a true Vajra-level master.
Besides, Medicine King Valley is packed with experts. Warren couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy.
"Mm."
Evan Lin heard Warren’s warning, but didn’t care at all. He just nodded calmly: "You don’t need to worry about anything else. Just get me into Medicine King Valley."
"Master Lin, um, can I ask—why exactly are you going to Medicine King Valley? I heard the Valley basically sees you as a mortal enemy right now and is scouring the world to hunt you down." Warren Wu was totally confused.
Last time, Damon Wang went to Medicine King Valley to find someone to cure his poison, but Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin here was perfectly healthy—why would he walk straight into the lion’s den?
Besides, right now in all of Seacrest Prefecture, anyone even a little bit sharp knows Medicine King Valley has sworn to kill Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin. And instead of hiding, he’s charging straight into their base at a time like this.
Isn’t that just asking to die?
Does he seriously think he can take on the entire Medicine King Valley by himself?
Not to mention, inside the Valley there’s still...
Thinking of that, Warren Wu shivered and shook his head, staring at Evan Lin with even more confusion in his eyes.
"They’ve tried to kill me again and again. So I’m just going to their Valley to pick up a few medicinal herbs. Seems fair to me," Evan Lin said coolly.
"Pick up herbs?"
Warren Wu hadn’t expected that answer at all. He stared at Evan Lin for a long time, then just sighed.
Anyone else would either offer up herbs to Medicine King Valley as tribute, hoping to get in their good graces, or beg for pills to cure some illness. But Master Lin just says he’s going to the Valley to grab some herbs, plain and simple.
Terence Liao’s table was packed with people, all eager to suck up to him. Harvey Liao looked smug, and even Queenie Tong glanced over with newfound admiration.
Queenie Tong was from Oceanport City, and hadn’t thought much of Medicine King Valley before. But seeing how even a single Guardian got worshipped by the crowd—everyone calling Terence Liao 'Brother Tie'—she suddenly felt curious and excited about the Valley.
At least right now, Medicine King Valley clearly held legendary status in these people’s eyes. That alone proved the Valley’s strength wasn’t just hype.
In contrast, Warren Wu’s table was practically deserted.
After dinner, Evan Lin went upstairs, just waiting for the next day to head into Medicine King Valley.
"I’ve only just reached Foundation Building. If I can track down the source of the Fire Elder’s Fire Crystal Stone inside Medicine King Valley, and combine it with their herbs, I should be able to refine some powerful pills."
Evan Lin sat cross-legged in his room, eyes closed, letting his inner qi circulate. Traces of spiritual energy drifted through his meridians.
Those threads of spiritual energy floated through Evan Lin’s channels, then slowly sank into the spirit platform at his dantian.
The spiritual energy in his spirit platform was still far from full. It all came from Lily Zhong back in Brightsea—what he drew out of her body before.
"With spiritual energy so depleted, unless I set up a spirit-gathering formation or find a true blessed land, after Foundation Building it’s almost impossible to advance any further."
Evan Lin opened his eyes and frowned slightly.
Foundation Building isn’t like Qi Refining. During Qi Refining, you don’t need much spiritual energy to make progress, but once you reach Foundation Building, without it, there’s no way to improve your cultivation.
"The spirit spring inside Jill Jing will still take a long time to mature. For now, I’ll just have to take things one step at a time."
"Medicine King Valley, I’m honestly curious—after all these centuries, do you really have anything that can impress me?"
"Don’t let me down."
Evan Lin’s eyes were as calm as ever.
Inside his backpack, three female spirits floated out, circling gently around him. To anyone else, they’d look terrifying, but in front of Evan Lin, they were as meek as lambs.
They timidly peeked their heads out at Evan Lin, faces full of submission.