《The Eight Empresses Betrayed Me, Only to Deeply Regret It After Being Reborn》 Chapter 1: The show must go on! The Mind¡¯s Repository. The Supreme Heavens. A vast sun hung high above, illuminating a sky filled with endless stars. Across the infinite expanse, the gaze of countless supreme beings converged upon the highest realm of the Nine Heavens. At the pinnacle stood a lone figure, surrounded by eight terrifying auras of primordial chaos. His sword-like brows and starlit eyes exuded an ethereal handsomeness, and his presence was unparalleled across all ages¡ªsupreme above both heaven and earth. "Today, the Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign shall ascend to sainthood, standing above the Nine Heavens! This is truly a blessing for the human race!" "Eight Empresses standing guard over a single man¡ªwhat unparalleled fortune! Anyone would envy him!" "Hahaha! And rightfully so! These eight Empresses all achieved their ascension with the help of the Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign. Now, it is only natural for them to repay their debt of gratitude!" "Indeed! Indeed!" All of creation eagerly awaited the Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign¡¯s tribulation. No one doubted his success. His life had been too legendary. He waged war against the demon race, slaying an endless number of great fiends. He battled the forces of darkness, eradicating the demon domain. He crushed the Forbidden Zones, putting an end to the chaos of the Abyss. He defied the heavens and conquered the earth. His path to invincibility was paved with the corpses of countless prodigies. At his level, defeating opponents of the same rank was trivial¡ªhe had long since surpassed such limits. Even more terrifying, he had cultivated the Nine-Life Undying Sutra to an unprecedented level, far beyond its original creator, granting him nine lives. "Invincible"¡ªthis was a title forever engraved upon Lu Ye, etched into the hearts of all who witnessed his journey. This tribulation of sainthood¡ªeven if he lost a life with each calamity, he would still succeed. ¡°It¡¯s beginning!¡± Lu Ye gazed upward. Above the Nine Heavens, infinite stars began to swirl like grains of sand in a cosmic tide, forming an enormous vortex¡ªlike the opening of a colossal eye. The tribulation aura surged, crashing down in waves like an apocalyptic tsunami. The Heavenly Dao refused to allow Lu Ye¡¯s ascension. It would not permit any being to stand above it. Even though Lu Ye had done much for the Heavenly Dao¡ªeven though he had granted it great merit¡ªit would still do everything in its power to strike him down. "You cannot stop me!" Lu Ye smiled as he spoke. Above, there was no one. Who was he speaking to? The heavens themselves. "RUMBLE¡ª" Thunder answered¡ªa response from the very fabric of the world. "Hahaha! If you wish to try, then come! You and I both know that even if I transcend beyond you, we will still remain the closest of companions." "In this world, there is only you and me!" The tribulation clouds condensed, gathering the cumulative divine wrath of the Nine Heavens into a single cataclysm. "It has begun!" "What kind of tribulation will it be? Let¡¯s hope it isn¡¯t the Eternal Tribulation!" Endless powerhouses trembled with excitement. A Sainthood Tribulation¡ªsuch an event was rare even in ten thousand, a hundred thousand, even a million years. This was history in the making. But there was no lightning. Instead, within the depths of the tribulation clouds, a figure emerged. A man astride a divine dragon, wielding the Heavenly Mirror! ¡°It¡¯s the Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign!¡± A cry of recognition swept through the heavens. This was the strongest cultivator of the previous era¡ªAncient-Today Heavenly Sovereign, the wielder of the Ancient-Today Mirror, a divine artifact capable of reflecting both past and future, severing the threads of time and causality. "This is bad. It really is the highest-tier Eternal Tribulation... Has the Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign truly reached such an unfathomable level?" "To face the imprints of every tribulation-taker throughout history¡ªwhat unparalleled valor!" "The Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign is invincible!" Lu Ye¡¯s eyes flickered as he watched Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign take shape. Then, he smiled. ¡°It has been a long time.¡± Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign gave a slight nod. ¡°It has indeed been a long time, my friend.¡± They had never met in reality. But their paths had crossed within the river of time. "Shall we battle?" "Let¡¯s." There was no need for further words. The two Heavenly Sovereigns erupted into combat. A single casual strike from them was the pinnacle of all divine arts. The void collapsed, reverting to primordial chaos. The eight celestial figures watching from afar instinctively stepped back, exchanging glances. In each other¡¯s eyes, they saw a shared, indescribable emotion. The battle escalated instantly. Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign unleashed the full might of his time techniques, splitting into multiple avatars, traveling to different points in history to hunt down versions of Lu Ye across time. If even one of these past selves was slain, it would wound Lu Ye in the present. But no one was worried. From the moment he had ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? first stepped into the path of cultivation, Lu Ye had always been the most terrifying prodigy of his generation. Even in the past, there was no moment where he had ever been weak. Suddenly¡ªdeep wounds appeared across Lu Ye¡¯s body. One cut. Two. Three. Eight wounds in total. "How is this possible?!" An uproar erupted among the spectators. What did this mean? It meant that Lu Ye had been slain eight times in the past. But how? In every era, at every stage of his life, he had been invincible against all peers! ¡°You are a man of great heart and devotion. I respect you.¡± Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign smiled. Lu Ye chuckled. ¡°Your mastery of the Dao is truly admirable.¡± Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign¡ª Suddenly, Lu Ye¡¯s brow furrowed. How fast was combat at the level of a Heavenly Sovereign? In an instant, Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign seized the moment¡ªhis palm imprint struck Lu Ye squarely in the chest. Lu Ye barely swayed. He was not injured. Yet, his frown deepened. Poison? An absurd thought surfaced in his mind. He was a Heavenly Sovereign. Even the Grand Dao itself could not erase him. What kind of poison could possibly affect him? And when had it been inflicted? ¡°It¡¯s a Gu poison¡ªYin-Yang Devouring Dao Gu.¡± Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign instantly recognized the nature of the Yin-Yang Devouring Dao Gu. Yin-Yang Devouring Dao Gu... Lu Ye¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He turned his gaze toward the eight figures surrounding him. This was an insidious parasite¡ªone that could consume all Dao in existence. It had no form, no substance, and was incredibly rare. It could only be implanted through the union of Yin and Yang. The parasite existed in two halves¡ªone Yin, one Yang. The Yang Gu would devour Dao and nourish the Yin Gu in return. It was clear now. Lu Ye had been afflicted with the Yang Gu. And the only ones who had the opportunity to do so... Were the eight women he had once considered his closest confidantes. Rage ignited within Lu Ye¡¯s heart. A surge of fury exploded from him, his battle power skyrocketing instantly. Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign, caught off guard, was completely suppressed in a single exchange. Yet, instead of panic, Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign merely looked amused, as if watching a grand spectacle unfold. "My friend, a man of such deep devotion and righteousness... yet betrayed so utterly. How does it feel?" He smiled. "Righteousness? Devotion?" A voice¡ªonce ethereal, now trembling with fury¡ªcut through the air. It was the Phantom Spirit Empress, Shangguan Huanling. "He dares to call himself righteous? He is nothing but a tyrant, abusing his power to claim what he desires!" "Indeed! He only ever saw things from his own perspective, never considering the thoughts of others! Such a man has no right to speak of righteousness!" "Righteousness? What a joke! This man betrayed his own master, slaughtered the innocent! Our actions today are justice! We are purging a demon!" "Young Master, do not blame me. I have already ascended to Empresshood. I will not be a mere servant for the rest of my life! I refuse to live as a handmaiden! So why don¡¯t you just die?" "Senior Brother... do you even remember Feng Wuxie? If not for you, I would have been with him instead!" One after another, the Empresses spoke, each condemning Lu Ye for his sins. Their once-stunning faces twisted with hatred, resentment, and scorn. Lu Ye¡¯s expression grew icy. His heart clenched with a pain deeper than any wound. It was as if a thousand Fallen Heaven Nails were being driven into his soul. No¡ªthis pain was even greater than that. "So just die!" "Die!" "Once you''re dead, we will finally be free!" "I never wanted you to control me! If you¡¯re dead, no one will be able to tell me what to do! I¡¯m an Empress now, yet I¡¯m still shackled by you! I¡¯ve had enough!" "Die, die, die!" The eight Yang Gu erupted simultaneously. At the same time, a second Eternal Tribulation manifested¡ªbringing forth yet another peerless adversary. Internal betrayal, external threats, and a shattered Dao Heart. Lu Ye¡¯s mind teetered on the edge of madness. And in his madness, his power surged to new heights. He wanted to kill. He wanted to slaughter all eight of these treacherous beasts in human skin. He was willing to take injuries¡ªas long as he could strike them down. But when the eight women summoned the very Heavenly Sovereign artifacts he had forged for them, Lu Ye nearly exploded in rage. "Friend, now is not the time to be distracted." Another staggeringly powerful Heavenly Sovereign appeared, unleashing a devastating attack. Lu Ye was struck. His body shattered, his Dao began to unravel. His Dao Heart was as unyielding as divine iron, but this tribulation was too brutal. He was battling against every Heavenly Sovereign who had ever attempted to reach sainthood. Each opponent had once stood at the pinnacle of their era. And all the while, the Yin-Yang Devouring Dao Gu continued to eat away at him. The Empresses¡¯ Justification The surrounding Emperors and Empresses were stunned. "Wait¡ªhow could you eight do this to a Heavenly Sovereign?!" Some openly rebuked them. But the eight Empresses did not waver. One by one, they justified their betrayal, presenting their accusations with ironclad certainty. "Have you forgotten all that the Heavenly Sovereign did for you?" "With or without his help, we would have ascended to Empresshood regardless! He only aided us to satisfy his own selfish desires!" Even with Lu Ye¡¯s indomitable will¡ªeven if his heart were made of Eternal Divine Gold¡ªhe felt a twinge of pain. So that was how they had seen him all along. His kindness, his guidance, his protection¡ªto them, it had been nothing but shackles. He could endure no longer. He was drowning in enemies. One Heavenly Sovereign after another descended upon him. His bones shattered. His blood rained from the heavens. His very Dao was being erased. The Final Gamble If survival was impossible¡ª Then Lu Ye turned his gaze to the heavens. "Old friend, let me help you one last time." His body burst into radiant light, pushing the limits of self-sacrifice. The very fabric of the cosmos resonated with his dying act. "Then let us all perish together!" Boundless radiance tore through the eternal darkness, launching toward a cancerous mass of corruption growing at the edge of the Nine Heavens¡¯ barrier. "You lunatic! Nine-Life! Those women betrayed you, and you choose to take me down with you?! What the hell is wrong with you?!" "BOOM!" A Heavenly Sovereign¡¯s self-destruction¡ª The force collapsed all Daos, sending tremors through the Nine Heavens. The shattered remains of Ancient-Today Heavenly Sovereign reformed. But those who knew him well immediately realized¡ª This was not him. Someone else now wore his face. His eyes were cold beyond description, as if nothing in existence could stir his emotions. And yet¡ªwhen he saw Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign dragging the Dark Origin into death with him¡ªhis gaze flickered, ever so slightly. "Old friend..." His voice was dry. In those three simple words¡ªthere was sorrow. "I shall send them... to accompany you." With a mere gesture¡ª The shattered Daos twisted, and the River of Time emerged, swirling into a vortex. The eight Empresses¡ª Were dragged inside, powerless to resist. The Curtain Rises. The show must go on! Chapter 2: Rebirth Thousands of streaks of light converged into two lines. They entered a person¡¯s eyes. Lu Ye¡¯s body trembled slightly, and the world before him transformed into its true form. "Young Master, Young Master, your clothes are¡ª" A young girl in a mint-green dress, her features mischievous yet undoubtedly those of a stunning beauty, walked in carrying a basin of laundry. Her cheerful voice came to an abrupt stop. The same countless streaks of light condensed into two beams, merging into her eyes. Memories returned in full. They had been reborn! Reborn into many years ago, back to when they were still in the First Heaven. And judging from the scene before them, this was the moment right after they had first entered the Grand Dao Sect. Thud! The laundry basin crashed onto the ground. "Why? Why? How could this happen?" Chu Ling stared at Lu Ye in disbelief. They had actually been reborn! Lu Ye couldn''t help but laugh. Hahaha, so that old fellow still has some conscience left. Thanks! Before transmigrating, he had been an orphan, never having received love. After coming to this world, he had desperately yearned for it, and he thought he had obtained it. And in truth, he had. But without a doubt, he had lost it again. From nothing to something, from having to losing¡ªwhat eternity was there in love? Looking at it now, that betrayal had been nothing more than a passing frost. "You had nine lives. Why did you choose to self-detonate without even losing a single one?" Chu Ling''s gaze was sharp, with faint sword intent radiating from her¡ªfitting for the Nine-Heavens Sword Maiden. Lu Ye didn¡¯t bother explaining. "What the hell does it have to do with you? Do I owe you an explanation?" he said casually. He pulled a piece of paper from his storage pouch. A contract of servitude! Chu Ling''s expression shifted. In truth, this was merely a common document among mortals, without any Dao laws enforcing it. Even if it were broken, there would be no consequences. And yet, to Chu Ling, it was the greatest humiliation. She hated it to the core, yet was bound to comply with it against her will. Flames ignited. Chu Ling¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Ye burned the contract. The black ashes drifted to the ground. "Alright, you''re free." Chu Ling clenched her teeth, her stunning face icy cold. "Why?" Her voice trembled. "You still haven¡¯t answered my question. You had nine lives¡ªwhy did you choose to self-detonate during your first?" "I already told you¡ªnone of your damn business. Now get lost!" Chu Ling''s body shuddered slightly, her eyes reddening. As the contract burned away, she suddenly felt as though a piece of her heart had gone missing. And yet, this was exactly what she had wished for. "You¡¯ll die a miserable death in this life!" Leaving behind a curse, Chu Ling turned and left. Lu Ye chuckled. In truth, he could have cut her down right then and there. But sometimes, death wasn¡¯t the cruelest punishment. Right now, Chu Ling was filled with anger and resentment. Even if he killed her, she wouldn''t feel true suffering. So instead, he would let her live. Let her live well. After leaving Lu Ye, Chu Ling took in the familiar yet ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) foreign courtyard. She had spent a long time here with Lu Ye. He had often teased her, making her blush before bursting into laughter. He had also looked at her with indulgence. Sometimes, as she massaged his shoulders, the golden hues of sunset would bathe them both, and for a fleeting moment, she had thought¡ªthis is peace. But now, none of that could ever happen again. She let out a bitter laugh. I really am pathetic. I actually once enjoyed serving someone. Lu Ye had forcefully taken her from Chu Sword Manor, keeping her under his control, refusing to let her return home. And when he had finally allowed it, Chu Sword Manor had already been wiped out. Now, there was no place for her in the Grand Dao Sect. She had never been a disciple of the sect to begin with¡ªonly a servant girl, allowed to stay because she belonged to one of the disciples. Go home! Thinking of her parents, Chu Ling felt an urgent longing to return. She immediately descended the mountain, rushing toward Chu Sword Manor. Yet, despite her overwhelming desire to return, the doubts in her heart remained. Her original intent had never been to kill Lu Ye. Everyone knew he had nine lives, and back then, all eight of them had agreed¡ªto spare his final life. They wanted him crippled, kept at their side, forced to atone for his countless sins over the years. Yet, before even losing his first life, Lu Ye had chosen to self-detonate. It didn¡¯t matter. None of it mattered. She was going home! ¡ª Silence. Lu Ye knew Chu Ling would return home. Chu Sword Manor was a den of devils. Chu Ling possessed a Innate Sword Body¡ªif the manor had chosen to nurture her properly, she could have grown into a formidable force, protecting the sect for generations. But they wouldn¡¯t think that way. They already had a young master with a Primordial Sword Embryo¡ªthey had no need for another rising sword prodigy. Moreover, the sect¡¯s Grand Elder had forged a Demonic Sword, and it required a sacrificial offering¡ªsomeone born with a sword physique. Naturally, Chu Ling had been chosen. Lu Ye had dragged her out of that place, forced her to stay by his side. He had never told her the truth. He hadn¡¯t wanted her to know that her so-called familial love was nothing but an illusion. Lu Ye knew better than anyone¡ªeven false love was still love. Some people never even had the chance to experience an illusion of love¡ªand that was truly the most tragic fate of all. The Demonic Sword was nearly complete. Without Chu Ling, it had remained waiting all this time. And in the end, when the sect failed to find a suitable replacement, they had no choice but to use their own young master as the sacrifice. The day the Demonic Sword was completed was also the day Chu Sword Manor was destroyed. Now that Chu Ling was returning... the entire sect would be overjoyed. They wouldn¡¯t have imagined in their wildest dreams that someone who had already escaped from hell would walk straight back in to die. Truly... some people were just born to die. ¡ª BANG! Before Lu Ye even had time to begin cultivating, his door was kicked to pieces¡ªsplinters of wood flying everywhere. A woman in tight-fitting red martial robes, legs longer than her lifespan, stormed in with a face full of fury. My door... Lu Ye¡¯s rage instantly exploded. You damn well could¡¯ve just walked in! Why the hell did you have to kick my door down?! Without a door, how the hell am I supposed to sleep or cultivate in peace?! Lu Ye¡¯s figure vanished, and in an instant, his hand was clamped around Yue Hongling¡¯s throat. Yue Hongling snorted coldly, raising a palm to retaliate. But in just one move, Lu Ye had already caught her by the neck. With one hand, he lifted her off the ground. "Today, you¡¯re fixing my damn door," Lu Ye said icily. "If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll choke you to death." He had cultivated for so many years, and barely anyone had dared to break his door down. Without a door, he had no sense of security. Yue Hongling¡¯s face was full of defiance, her gaze locked onto Lu Ye, her delicate features flushed red from lack of air. She showed no sign of yielding. And Lu Ye showed no sign of letting go. Kill her. Kill this goddamn woman. The suffocating pressure intensified. Yue Hongling¡¯s throat was about to be crushed. The ice-cold killing intent in Lu Ye¡¯s eyes wrapped around her like a nightmare. He actually wants to kill me?! He actually... wants to kill me! !!! Yue Hongling¡¯s mind reeled in disbelief. Was this really the same senior brother who had always spoiled her, who had always indulged her temper tantrums? No! She couldn¡¯t die yet! She hadn¡¯t seen Feng Wuxie yet! She had been reborn. She was supposed to reunite with Feng Wuxie. They were supposed to be lovers admired by all, envied even by the heavens themselves! "I... heh... I... fix..." A strangled, broken voice rasped from her throat. Only then did Lu Ye toss her aside. "If my door isn¡¯t fixed by the time I get back, you¡¯re dead." "I mean it." Chapter 3: The Heavenly Corpse Poison "Cough, cough, cough..." Yue Hongling clutched her slender, graceful neck. It was the perfect swan¡¯s neck, elegant and well-proportioned. Her legs were long and straight, her arms delicate and fair, her neck smooth and symmetrical. But now, a dark purple handprint was clearly visible on her throat¡ªa jarring, brutal mark. She gasped for breath like a dying fish, desperately inhaling. It took a full minute or two before she finally recovered. Tears, like glistening pearls, slid down her face. She had come in full of righteous fury, yet this was the treatment she received? How could she accept this? In the past, if she had kicked his door down, Lu Ye would have at most punished her by making her help build a new one. Not like this... How dare he treat her this way? It was just a damn door! And she was his junior martial sister, his Dao companion in their past life, his beloved! Even if she had hurt him a little, did that mean all their feelings had completely vanished?! Fine. She wouldn¡¯t rebuild the door. She didn¡¯t believe he would¡ª A cold, murderous glare flashed through her mind. "...Hmph! Fine, I¡¯ll do it!" Still seething with rage, Yue Hongling began repairing the door. ¡ª Lu Ye made his way to a secluded spot, his favorite place of cultivation. He had discovered this location by accident¡ªthe scenery was beautiful. Although the spiritual energy wasn¡¯t particularly dense, it put him in a good mood, which was enough to enhance his training speed. But when he arrived¡ª A woman in a flowing white robe, her cloud-like hair elegantly styled, was already waiting for him. The wind stirred her dress, tracing out her breathtaking curves. Lu Ye¡¯s heart sank. Damn it. This is way too familiar. I can¡¯t stay in the Grand Dao Sect any longer. I need to find a chance to leave. Still, since they had already met¡ª "Greetings, Master," Lu Ye composed himself and bowed. This was his master¡ªBai Qiulan. And yes... Alright. He admitted it. She was one of them too. Bai Qiulan turned to look at Lu Ye, her voice calm yet commanding. "Why do you have only one life?" She, too, had asked this question. Lu Ye smiled. "Master, it was due to my own lack of skill," he said lightly. "During my cultivation, in order to achieve a breakthrough, I merged all nine lives into one¡ªthus, I now only have a single life." A look of realization finally flickered in Bai Qiulan¡¯s eyes. So that¡¯s how it was. Now, everything made sense. "If I have now discovered a method to suppress the Chaotic Lunar Force, then let what happened in our past lives remain a dream," Bai Qiulan said coldly. "It must never happen again. If you ever act out of line, I will personally eradicate you from this sect." "Understood, Master!" Lu Ye responded with perfect composure. Bai Qiulan turned and left. Her elegant posture, her snow-white skin, her autumn-water eyes¡ªall flawless. The Chaotic Lunar Force was an extreme yin power, unbearably cold, capable of inflicting unimaginable suffering. But when used to nourish a woman, it enhanced her beauty, making her even more delicate and alluring. Master... Are you sure you actually found a way to suppress the Chaotic Lunar Force? If he hadn¡¯t used Yin-Yang Transference to absorb the Chaotic Lunar Poison into himself, would she have been able to endure it? In this sect, there were three women tangled with his fate. Now, two were dealt with. As for Yue Hongling... Let her be. It doesn¡¯t matter. Finally. He could cultivate in peace. Lu Ye walked to his usual meditation spot, settled in, and [N O V E L I G H T] prepared to begin. ¡ª "Old friend, you still there?" "Ding! I am here!" A system panel appeared in Lu Ye¡¯s mind. It only had three options: Cultivate.Simulate.Comprehend the Dao. "...Huh? You don¡¯t require energy anymore?" Lu Ye asked, puzzled. "Ding! I have already become the Heavenly Dao. What need do I have for energy?" the system replied. "...Fair point." "But damn, you really did me dirty," Lu Ye chuckled. "You straight-up threw me into an Eternal Tribulation. Was that really necessary?" "Ding! Of course! You are my host. I must arrange the strongest challenges for you!" "...Wow. Thanks a lot." "Ding! You¡¯re welcome!" Lu Ye couldn''t help but laugh. After everything¡ªhis transmigration, his betrayals, his endless struggles¡ª At the very end, there was still one thing that had always stayed with him. "Begin cultivation." "Ding! Initiating cultivation!" The cultivation method naturally remained unchanged¡ªit was still the Nine-Life Undying Sutra. This scripture was originally created by the Nine-Life Heavenly Emperor, a genius beyond compare who forged the sutra himself. However, Lu Ye was even more formidable. He directly extended this scripture beyond its original limits, breaking through the Emperor Realm to reach the heights of a Dao Sovereign. The First Heaven was the weakest world, with cultivation divided into postnatal, innate, qi gathering, core formation, nascent soul, void refinement, and dao integration. The first two realms were considered mortal stages. Most cultivators who entered sects started from qi gathering, especially in a top-tier sect like the Grand Dao Sect. In the Grand Dao Sect, reaching qi gathering completion in three months was considered a genius-level achievement, while taking six months was merely acceptable. The sect''s spiritual energy was so dense that even a pig placed here for long enough might evolve into a spirit beast. Based on the current timeline, Lu Ye had just entered the Grand Dao Sect a month ago and was at the fifth level of qi gathering. And now? Time shifted like the turning of the stars, day and night passing in relentless cycles. In two days, Lu Ye broke through to the sixth level of qi gathering. In five days, he reached the seventh level. In eleven days, the eighth level. In fifteen days, the ninth level. His true qi was not only abundant but also refined and stable. His foundation was even stronger than in his past life. In his previous life, it took him two months and four days to complete the qi gathering stage, which had shocked the Grand Dao Sect and made him a key disciple for cultivation. They even wanted him to take a Supreme Elder as his master, but Lu Ye refused. Very soon, he had reached qi gathering completion. In truth, he could have pushed further, breaking into the tenth, eleventh, or even twelfth level of qi gathering. In his past life, Lu Ye had been so relentless in his cultivation that he broke through all the way to the eighteenth level before finally using the Origin Returning Pill to assist him in forming a heaven-tier core. Core formation was divided into one-star to nine-star levels. Above nine stars was earth-tier, above earth-tier was heaven-tier, and above heaven-tier was saint-tier. Competition. Every refinement, every stage, was the result of countless generations pushing themselves further. Lu Ye could have formed a saint-tier core. But back then, he had chosen to form his core alongside Yue Hongling, and there had only been one Perfect Origin Returning Pill. Lu Ye gave it to her. He hadn¡¯t stopped cultivating. With his talent and the wisdom of having lived another life, he didn¡¯t need any pills to form his core. ¡°Condense.¡± A nascent core began to take shape inside his body. Suddenly, more than half of his true qi froze, leaving only the remaining half available for core formation. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he stopped the process. ¡°Pfft.¡± He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his aura weakening. ¡°What the hell?¡± Lu Ye frowned. ¡°Ding. Heavenly Stagnation Poison.¡± He stiffened. Heavenly Stagnation Poison... so that¡¯s how far they were willing to go. He could only imagine what would have happened if this had triggered during his Great Tribulation of Eternal Ages¡ªright in the middle of battle against the strongest warriors of the past, only for half his power to suddenly freeze. What a beautiful sight that would have been. It was them. Those women. Now he finally understood why they had been so curious about how he had nine lives but only used one. They had planned to kill him nine times. Damn it. How deep did their hatred run? People always said that a day as husband and wife meant a hundred days of kindness, and a hundred days of marriage meant an ocean of love. ¡°Simulate.¡± ¡°Ding. Beginning simulation.¡± Lu Ye knew about Heavenly Stagnation. It had been a terrifying existence¡ªonce, a Dao Sovereign had failed to extend his life and transformed into a stagnant corpse instead of dying. ¡°Is it a one-time effect? A rule-based poison? Will it permanently freeze half my energy?¡± There was a way to break it, but it was beyond his current capabilities. Fortunately, he was still at qi gathering. Half his true qi? Fine, let it be. But it was clogging his meridians, making it unbearably uncomfortable. The simulation produced a feasible solution. Lu Ye read it over, frowning. Break into core formation, alter his qi structure, transform true qi into true essence, and naturally dissolve the rule-based stagnation poison. But if he formed his core while only being able to use half his qi, he¡¯d barely reach earth-tier. Wait. He had it. He could use the Perfect Origin Returning Pill. Chapter 4: The One Courting Death Perfect Origin Returning Pill. Rare. Extremely rare. Back then, he had only one Perfect Origin Returning Pill, and he gave it to Yue Hongling. Now, it seemed... there was no need to give it to her. Lu Ye stood up just as auspicious light burst forth within the Grand Dao Sect, accompanied by the ringing of a dao bell and the cries of spirit beasts. ¡°The ninety-second generation disciple of the Grand Dao Sect, Bai Qiulan¡¯s student Yue Hongling, has reached qi gathering completion in one month and seventeen days, breaking the sect¡¯s qi gathering record. As a reward, she is granted a bottle of supreme-grade Origin Returning Pills, three treasured artifacts, a direct disciple position, and the right to choose two divine abilities.¡± Lu Ye listened and chuckled. Not bad. She had cultivated quickly. He had taken one month and fifteen days himself¡ªjust two days faster. After all, she had once been an emperor. Even with his system and the cultivation knowledge of a past-life dao sovereign, qi gathering still required that much time. But... supreme-grade Origin Returning Pills? Yue Hongling probably wouldn¡¯t even care about them. He had to hurry and get his hands on that Perfect Origin Returning Pill. Besides, judging by the time, Chu Ling should be returning to the Chu Sword Manor by now. Lu Ye didn¡¯t even want to imagine the reaction of those people at Chu Sword Manor when they saw their long-lost Chu Ling return. How overjoyed they would be. ¡ª Outside Chu Sword Manor. Dressed in tattered clothing, Chu Ling stared at the familiar estate in the distance, and tears streamed down her face. She was home. She was finally home. For countless days and nights, she had longed for her parents, for her brother. They had treated her so well. Ever since it was discovered that she possessed the Innate Sword Body, the manor lord and his wife had taken her in as their own daughter¡ªcherishing her even more than a biological child, giving her only the best. And now, she had finally returned. The manor was just as beautiful as it had been years ago when she had left¡ªnot the ruined wasteland she had found upon her last return. In this life, she would cultivate properly. She had the strength now to protect the manor, to protect her family. With excitement in her heart, Chu Ling walked toward the Chu Sword Manor. At that moment, within the manor, everyone wore solemn and tense expressions. The guards stood on high alert, hands clenched around their sword hilts, wary that their fellow guards might suddenly draw their blades against them. The conflict within Chu Sword Manor was escalating by the day. All because of that damned servant girl¡¯s disappearance. After she vanished, the old ancestor set his sights on forging the demonic sword¡ªusing the young lord as the sacrifice. The manor lord and his wife had only one son. How could they possibly allow the old ancestor to refine a sword from him? The dispute between them erupted into open conflict. As the sword forging reached its critical stage, the tension had only intensified. Some of the guards were loyal to the old ancestor, while others sided with the manor lord. Everyone could sense it¡ªa great battle was inevitable. A storm was brewing. And then, just as the pressure reached its peak, a ragged figure appeared at the manor gates. ¡°Where did this beggar come from? Do you think Chu Sword Manor is a place you can just walk into? Get lost!¡± One of the guards, named Chu Si, barked, his heart heavy with the knowledge of the coming bloodshed. He had no desire to see anyone else get caught up in it. ¡°I¡¯m not a beggar! I¡¯m the young miss! I am Chu Ling!¡± Chu Ling exclaimed excitedly. The four guards at the gate all froze. ¡°You¡¯re... who?¡± ¡°Chu Ling! I¡¯m Chu Ling!¡± ¡°You... you...¡± Their eyes were filled with disbelief. No, no, no. She had already escaped the nightmare. So why had she come back now, wearing such a bright, stupid smile? Was she an idiot? ¡°Outrageous! Who is this wild girl daring to impersonate the young miss? Get lost at once, or don¡¯t blame me for showing no mercy!¡± Chu Si drew his sword and shouted angrily. The other three guards all turned their gazes toward Chu Si, their eyes growing dangerous. ¡°Chu Si, don¡¯t you remember me? I¡¯m Chu Ling! When I was little, you used to carry me around and sneak me delicious food. Have you forgotten?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been gone that long! Look at my face...¡± ¡°Chu Ling has returned!¡± A guard suddenly bolted toward the manor, shouting with all his might. ¡°Chu Ling has returned!¡± ¡°The Innate Sword Body, Chu Ling, has returned!¡± ¡°Ancestor! Ancestor! Chu Ling has returned!¡± At that moment, a surge of powerful auras burst forth from within the manor. The expressions of everyone who heard the news changed drastically. And in an instant, they rushed forward in ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) a frenzy. Chu Si watched Chu Ling¡¯s joyful, naive expression and couldn¡¯t help but close his eyes in pain. This person... this person... Boom! A figure clad in embroidered robes strode forward, each step sinking deep into the stone pavement. As he reached the gate, his body swayed, nearly collapsing to the ground. Chu Ling gasped in alarm. But the figure steadied himself and, in the next instant, pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Ling¡¯er! Ling¡¯er! You¡¯re back¡ªyou¡¯re finally back! Your father missed you so much!¡± His entire body trembled with joy, and his tiger-like eyes reddened with emotion. It was Chu Xiongtian, the lord of Chu Sword Manor. ¡°Ling¡¯er!¡± Another gasp rang out as the manor lady, Zeng Shuiyue, rushed forward, embracing Chu Ling as well. ¡°You wretched girl! Where have you been all this time? Not a single message¡ªdo you know how worried we were? We were about to go mad!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry! I was taken to the Grand Dao Sect against my will. He wouldn¡¯t let me contact you. I finally managed to escape and come back! I¡¯ll never leave you again, Father, Mother!¡± Chu Ling was overwhelmed with emotion. Wrapped in her parents¡¯ embrace, she felt warmth unlike anything she had ever known before. Chu Shifei, the young lord of Chu Sword Manor, stared at the returning Chu Ling in disbelief. He instinctively slapped himself. Pain. His legs nearly gave out beneath him. She was back. She was back. The scapegoat had returned. He had almost died. ¡ª Outside the Grand Dao Sect. After witnessing Yue Hongling¡¯s grand commendation, Lu Ye chose to leave. His destination was an ancient tomb located more than a thousand kilometers west of the Grand Dao Sect. The tomb had yet to reveal itself¡ªaccording to his past life¡¯s knowledge, it would be uncovered in a month when a battle coincidentally shattered the protective formation. It was the burial site of a long-gone Void Refinement realm powerhouse. The most valuable relics within the tomb were a fragmented portion of the Nine-Life Undying Sutra and the Perfect Origin Returning Pill. Everything else had long since decayed with time, leaving only these two treasures preserved. Without rest, he traveled day and night. After two days, he arrived. A formation still sealed the tomb, but it was already damaged. Even if it had been intact, it wouldn¡¯t have been an obstacle for Lu Ye. He stepped forward without hesitation, his figure vanishing as he entered. Barely ten minutes later, another figure appeared¡ªYue Hongling. She had come alone. The existence of the Perfect Origin Returning Pill wasn¡¯t something she dared to let others know. To many, it was an insignificant item, even useless. But to those with juniors on the verge of core formation, its value was immeasurable. She entered the formation with ease. The moment she stepped inside, her expression shifted. Someone had arrived first. Who? She hurried forward, moving swiftly through the tomb. As someone who had once reached the emperor realm, she had no trouble navigating the remains of a Void Refinement cultivator¡¯s burial site. The passage of time had worn down most of the defenses, leaving nothing that could stop her. Then, she suddenly halted. Huh? She was trapped. Yue Hongling struck out with her palm, and the space before her trembled slightly. This was no ordinary formation left behind by a Void Refinement cultivator. This was a formation newly placed by the one who had arrived before her. This tomb had yet to be unearthed. Under normal circumstances, no one should have been able to enter before her. And yet, someone was already here. Which meant... ¡°Senior Brother, I know it¡¯s you! Get out here!¡± Chapter 5: What the Hell Is This? Silence. No one paid attention to Yue Hongling. Three days later, Yue Hongling stormed back to the Grand Dao Sect, heading straight for Lu Ye¡¯s residence. At this moment, Lu Ye was preparing to condense his core. Yue Hongling raised her foot, ready to kick the door open. But when she remembered that she had just made this door herself, she hesitated and held back. Still, it was obvious¡ªshe had no manners. She didn¡¯t knock. Instead, she just pushed the door open and walked in. "Bang!" The moment she pushed open the door, a fist came flying straight at her. She reacted quickly and hastily tried to block it. But even so, her body was sent flying backward. Her internal energy churned violently, and her face flushed red. The door slammed shut. "Lu Ye!" Yue Hongling was so furious that she didn¡¯t even bother calling him Senior Brother. Instead, she shouted his name outright. Lu Ye ignored her. This habit of hers¡ªbarging in without permission¡ªhad annoyed him in his past life. But back then, he had tolerated it. There were even times when he was deeply engaged in a conversation with someone, and she would push the door open and walk right in¡ªforcing herself into the discussion. She had never changed. But now? Now, she was nothing. Yue Hongling took deep breaths. Deep breaths... People don¡¯t learn from being told, only from being taught the hard way. For the first time in her life, she knocked on Lu Ye¡¯s door. Knock, knock, knock! "Get lost!" Yue Hongling... No anger. No anger. Getting mad would only hurt herself. "Did you take the Perfect Origin Returning Pill from the ancient tomb?" "No. Get lost." The words Yue Hongling was about to say got stuck in her throat. He said no? He refused to admit it? "You¡¯re actually denying it? Lu Ye, how did you become like this?" Lu Ye didn¡¯t answer. "Answer me!" Lu Ye didn¡¯t answer. "If you have the guts to steal the pill, then have the guts to open the door!" "Stop hiding in there and pretending you¡¯re not home. I know you¡¯re inside!" "Lu Ye, open the door!" The door opened. Yue Hongling¡¯s face lit up with a triumphant smirk. However, what greeted that smirk was¡ª A fist. A swift and ruthless punch. "Bang!" A fist landed directly on Yue Hongling¡¯s bright, spirited eye, sending her stumbling backward. Tears streamed down uncontrollably. "I¡¯m going to kill you!" Yue Hongling let out a piercing scream. She had completely lost it and charged at Lu Ye with reckless abandon. And Lu Ye¡ª He respected every opponent. Come. Attack me. And be beaten to death. A white figure suddenly descended gracefully, blocking Yue Hongling¡¯s suicidal charge. "Hongling, calm down!" Yue Hongling stopped. One of her eyes was already swollen black and purple¡ªevidence of how much force Lu Ye had used. "Master... wuwuwu... he hit me..." Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t take such humiliation. She didn¡¯t even know if she was crying because her eye hurt or because her heart did. Bai Qiulan frowned slightly and looked at Lu Ye. "Why did you hit your junior sister?" Lu Ye gave a straightforward answer, full of respect. "Because I wanted to." Bai Qiulan: ... "Master, look at him!" Bai Qiulan let out a quiet sigh. "I understand that you hold resentment in your heart. But she is still your junior sister." Lu Ye¡¯s lips curled into a faint smirk. "And that means she can barge into someone else¡¯s room without knocking?" "That I have to respond to her even when I don¡¯t want to?" Bai Qiulan¡¯s brows furrowed even tighter. "Forget it, let¡¯s not dwell on this. Hongling, why are you looking for your senior brother?" Bai Qiulan asked. She knew that Lu Ye carried resentment in his heart. A little resentment was understandable¡ªafter all, considering what had happened, who could remain completely free of bitterness? "He took the Perfect Origin Returning Pill. I need it, and he doesn¡¯t, so I wanted to ask him for an exchange." Yue Hongling spoke with grievance. Bai Qiulan immediately understood. Among the eight of them, Yue Hongling had the weakest talent. Back then, just to keep her by his side, Lu Ye had invested an immense amount of effort. "Since your junior sister needs it, and you have no use for it, why not give her the Perfect Origin Returning Pill? If you lack anything, just tell me, and I will retrieve it for you," Bai Qiulan suggested. Lu Ye shook his head lightly. "Sorry, but I need the Perfect Origin Returning Pill as well." "Impossible! Your talent is so high, you don¡¯t need the Perfect Origin Returning Pill to condense your core at all!" Yue Hongling protested indignantly. "Exactly, Lu Ye! Your talent is extraordinary. With your cultivation, you can form a Saint-Tier Core without the need for the Perfect Origin Returning Pill!" "I said I need it, so I need it. If there''s nothing else, stop bothering me!" Lu Ye replied impatiently, ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) turning to leave. "Lu Ye! Do you really think that without the Perfect Origin Returning Pill, I won¡¯t be able to form a Saint-Tier Core?" Yue Hongling was on the verge of exploding. Lu Ye paused in his steps and turned around. A Perfect Origin Returning Pill appeared in his hand. Yue Hongling and Bai Qiulan were both stunned. Especially Bai Qiulan¡ªshe suddenly had the feeling that this child might finally be learning his lesson. Then, right in front of them, Lu Ye opened his mouth and swallowed the Perfect Origin Returning Pill. Without a word, he turned and left. Just like that. Both Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling stood frozen in place. "Bang!" The door slammed shut. The two remained silent. "So... he wasn¡¯t like this before..." Bai Qiulan tried to understand Lu Ye¡¯s actions. After all, they had indeed wronged him in the past, but he was at fault first, wasn¡¯t he? Now that they had a second chance, wouldn¡¯t it be better to set things right? Did he really have to be so heartless? Yue Hongling clenched her teeth so hard she nearly shattered them. "I refuse to believe that without the Perfect Origin Returning Pill, I can¡¯t form a Saint-Tier Core!" "I will succeed, and when I do, I will make you eat your words!" She shouted toward Lu Ye¡¯s room. Lu Ye ignored her. He had already begun forming his core. Bai Qiulan watched as Yue Hongling stormed off in fury, but suddenly, she felt an icy chill creeping over her body. Had the temperature dropped? She looked up at the sky. The sun was shining brightly. ¡ª Breakthrough successful! As expected¡ªa Saint-Tier Core. This meant that the flaw from his first step in cultivation, which had not reached the absolute limit, had now been remedied. Cultivation was like constructing a skyscraper. Every step was crucial. If any step was flawed, as the tower grew taller, that flaw would be magnified infinitely. Back then, in his previous life, he had suffered countless hardships trying to compensate for this very flaw in his foundation. He had thought of many methods, but none had worked. This was why he had such absolute confidence in forming his core this time. Because he had simulated it countless times. After breaking through, he continued his training without hesitation. His strength soared at an astonishing pace. Four days¡ªhe advanced to Second Layer Core Formation. Sixteen days¡ªhe reached Third Layer Core Formation. Thirty days¡ªhe broke through to Fourth Layer Core Formation. As his cultivation continued to rise, the divine abilities that originally belonged to him began awakening one after another. ¡ª While Lu Ye was in the midst of his relentless cultivation, Chu Sword Manor was also experiencing some interesting events. Chu Ling had returned to Chu Sword Manor and once again became the pampered young lady adored by all. To ensure her safety, the manor even assigned eight elite guards to protect her at all times. However, Chu Ling soon noticed something unusual. Her biological parents... were gone. She inquired about it and was given an answer by Zeng Shuiyue: Because of your disappearance, your parents lost all attachment to Chu Sword Manor and decided to return to their hometown. Chu Ling accepted the explanation. After all, her parents had already received a great deal of wealth. Returning to their hometown would allow them to live a good life. Another piece of news¡ªChu Si had vanished. She asked Zeng Shuiyue, who told her that Chu Si had left the manor to wander the world in search of fortune and opportunities. Surrounded by familial love once again, she indulged in the warmth of her home. Unbeknownst to her, the final step in the forging of the Demonic Sword was about to arrive. Chapter 6: The Sword Sacrificer "Ling''er, this is the Biteng porridge your mother made for you. Try it and see if you like it?" With a kind and gentle smile, Zeng Shuiyue brought over a bowl of light green rice porridge. The Biteng porridge was made with green spiritual rice, and each grain exuded a rich, fragrant aroma. "Thank you, Mother!" Chu Ling smiled with innocence, happily saying. "Mother, you are the best person in the world to me. I will never leave you and Father in this lifetime." Zeng Shuiyue smiled and patted her head. "Silly child, does that mean you¡¯re not planning to marry in the future?" These words caused Chu Ling to fall into a brief silence. Marry? Marry who? Lu Ye? If she didn¡¯t marry Lu Ye, after seeing his unparalleled charm, is there anyone else in the world who could catch her eye? Who could replace Lu Ye in her heart? "Ling''er won¡¯t marry. Ling''er just wants to stay with Father and Mother forever, to be with the family." Chu Ling''s smile was a bit forced. "Alright, alright, no marriage. Hurry and drink your porridge, or it¡¯ll get cold." Chu Ling nodded and began sipping the Biteng porridge slowly. Zeng Shuiyue looked at her swallowing and smiled even more kindly. Now, her son was completely safe. She had initially thought of having this girl become her son''s sword servant, but she had not expected that the demon sword forged by the ancestor /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ required a sword sacrificer. The sword sacrificer had very stringent requirements. The only ones who met the criteria were her son, Chu Shifei, and the adopted daughter, Chu Ling. She certainly couldn¡¯t have her son be the sword sacrificer. Finishing the Biteng porridge in one go, "Mother, it¡¯s really delicious!" "If it¡¯s delicious, drink more!" After three bowls of Biteng porridge, Chu Ling rubbed her stomach and said with a childish tone, "Mother, I can¡¯t drink anymore. I¡¯m too full." "Silly girl, then rest for a while. If you¡¯re tired, just lie on the bed and sleep." "I understand!" After Zeng Shuiyue left, Chu Ling continued to ponder the issue of marriage. Soon, a heavy drowsiness struck her. Wait! No! Chu Ling wasn¡¯t truly useless. She had fought alongside Lu Ye more than anyone else, and the Nine Heavens Sword Maiden title was something she earned with her sword. This sleepiness came on too suddenly, it wasn¡¯t normal. She hurriedly began circulating her cultivation technique. The cultivation technique she practiced was called the "Great Slaughter Sword Sutra," a scripture with immense offensive power, and she had been practicing it since her rebirth. Poisoned! How could she be poisoned? Chu Ling reviewed all possible situations where she could have been poisoned, ultimately focusing on the Biteng porridge. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Biteng porridge, poisoned? How could this be?! Wasn¡¯t this porridge made by Mother? The poison began to spread through her body. As a powerful sword cultivator, Chu Ling naturally had methods to suppress the poison. She suppressed the poison with her true energy, planning to investigate the truth by feigning unconsciousness. "Knock, knock, knock... Ling¡¯er, are you asleep?" Pretending to be unconscious, Chu Ling heard Zeng Shuiyue¡¯s voice. She didn¡¯t answer. After a moment, the voice outside became colder. "Alright, she¡¯s poisoned. We can begin now." Zeng Shuiyue''s voice lost its warmth, turning cold and ruthless. "Crack!" The door opened. A group of people filed in. Zeng Shuiyue and Chu Xiong Tian looked at the unconscious Chu Ling, their faces filled with joy. "Take her away, send her to the Old Ancestor!" Two people stepped forward, lifting Chu Ling and heading toward the deepest part of the Chu Sword Manor. "The demon sword can finally be forged successfully, the Old Ancestor can break through his cultivation, and my crisis will finally be resolved," Chu Shifei said with lingering fear. "Hmph, if she hadn¡¯t unexpectedly come back to die, the sword sacrificer would have been you. If you don¡¯t properly cultivate and continue living a life of indulgence, the next time danger comes, are you going to rely on luck again?" Chu Xiong Tian scolded. "Father, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll definitely cultivate properly!" "After the demon sword is forged, you will enter seclusion and cultivate for a year. If you don''t cultivate the Chu Sword Heart Method to the fifth level, you will not be allowed to leave seclusion!" "Ah? Fifth level!" "Mother, how can I reach the fifth level in a year? Isn¡¯t that going to suffocate me? No, no, I can''t stand it." "Didn''t your father say so? This time, this dead girl has returned. Next time, if something happens and you¡¯re not strong enough, you''ll just be slaughtered like a fish on a chopping board." Chu Ling listened to the conversation she had always considered to be from her family, and her heart sank as though it had fallen into an ice cave. She couldn''t believe it. She couldn¡¯t believe what she had just heard. A sword sacrificer? Coming back to die? She was the sword sacrificer? She came back to die? She... "If you want me to cultivate to the fifth level, fine, but I have one condition." It seemed like Chu Shifei understood that he couldn¡¯t stay in seclusion for a long time, so he took this opportunity to make a request. "What condition?" Zeng Shuiyue asked. "I... I want to be alone with Chu Ling for half an hour. After all, she''s going to die. The Old Ancestor only wants the innate sword body. Why not let me use it in advance? It won''t affect anything." "Ah... Father, don''t hit, don''t hit!" "Stinky boy, what nonsense are you talking? Chu Ling is your sister!" "She¡¯s not really my sister. She¡¯s the daughter of those two dead slave masters. She¡¯s just a servant. If not for her good physique and becoming the sword sacrificer, I would have taken her long ago." "Anyway, I don¡¯t care. If you want me to enter seclusion, fine, but I want half an hour with her!!!" Chu Shifei had completely given up. Chu Xiong Tian almost struck his son dead on the spot but was stopped by Zeng Shuiyue. "How about this¡ªlet your son be alone with her for half an hour..." To everyone''s surprise, Zeng Shuiyue agreed! In her eyes, it made sense. After all, Chu Ling was going to die. As a mother, she knew how much her son coveted Chu Ling. Once she fulfilled his wish, he could cultivate properly. Chu Xiong Tian became enraged, "No way! At such a critical moment, how can you let him fool around? If anything goes wrong, he¡¯ll be the one to die!" "If you dare mess with me again, I¡¯ll break your legs!" Chu Xiong Tian, understanding the importance of the situation, sternly reprimanded him. Many of the guards silently observed, not daring to interfere. But Chu Ling was really foolish. After coming back, her biological parents had gone missing, and she didn¡¯t care. Chu Si had died just because he kindly told her to leave, and she didn¡¯t notice a thing. Some would say, if a person is meant to die, it¡¯s destined by the heavens! At that moment, Chu Ling finally saw through the true faces of the Chu family. Countless memories instantly flooded her mind. "Young master, Ling''er misses home. When can I return to visit?" "Don¡¯t worry, just wait a bit longer." "How much longer must I wait?" "Wait until... the sword is forged!" She thought the young master was referring to her sword, but now, she realized he was clearly talking about the demon sword! Once the demon sword was forged, she wouldn¡¯t need to be the sword sacrificer anymore, and she could naturally return. ... "Young master, please, let me go home and visit. I really miss my parents." "Your real parents, or your foster parents?" "My foster parents are my parents!" "Ling''er, your real parents are your biological ones. Foster parents may sometimes have ulterior motives." "Impossible! My parents are the best to me. Young master, how can you say such things about them!" Back then, she had had a terrible argument with the young master. ... "Ling''er, time¡¯s up, I¡¯ll take you home!" But when they arrived, the Chu Sword Manor had become a ruin, with almost all the people inside dead or wounded. "Those who harm others will ultimately be harmed themselves!" "Deserved! Deserved!" "Lu Ye!!! It''s all your fault!!!" Chapter 7: Madness "Old friend, what do you think? Chu Ling has returned to the Chu Sword Manor. If we calculate the days, she should have entered the Forging Sword Pool by now, right?" Lu Ye muttered to himself. "Ding, I want to know too. Let''s check!" "How do we check?" A light screen suddenly erupted in front of Lu Ye. Inside, the scene was that of Chu Sword Manor. "Can you still use the power of the Heavenly Dao?" Lu Ye asked, surprised. "Ding, just a little bit, just a little bit." Lu Ye looked at the scene in the light screen. It was exactly when Chu Ling was being escorted to the back mountain. The light screen not only displayed the image but also the sounds. Hearing the conversation between the three members of the Chu family, Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but burst into hearty laughter. He knew that Chu Ling hadn¡¯t fallen unconscious. For someone who had been reborn at the Emperor Realm, if she were to faint from some sleeping powder, such a person wouldn¡¯t deserve to be called an Emperor. "Ding ding ding..." The system also made cheerful sounds. "I suddenly feel that you didn¡¯t steal the Way of Heaven, and that¡¯s actually pretty good. After stealing the Way of Heaven, you became cold and emotionless. The current system is much more fun," Lu Ye said with a smile. The system ignored him. In the past, Lu Ye had made great efforts to get the system to steal the Way of Heaven. But after the system became the Way of Heaven, it no longer smiled. It was utterly boring. A group of people had already reached the back mountain. The ancestor of the Chu Sword Manor, Chu Cangsheng, was wearing a red robe today, with his long white beard and hair meticulously groomed. "Greetings, Old Ancestor!" Everyone bowed in unison. Chu Cangsheng nodded lightly, carefully scrutinizing Chu Ling, and then revealed a satisfied smile. "Leave it to me!" "Yes!" "Old Ancestor, can we personally witness the sword sacrificing scene for the demon sword?" Chu Xiong Tian asked eagerly. The method for forging the demon sword was one of the highest secrets of the Chu Sword Manor. Even though he had become the master of the manor, he had never been granted access to it. He was hoping to take this opportunity to fully seize control over all the secret methods of Chu Sword Manor. Chu Cangsheng thought for a moment. If the demon sword was successfully forged, he would be able to break into the Nascent Soul Realm. With the power of the demon sword, even in the Nascent Soul Realm, he would be considered an outstanding figure. By that time, Chu Sword Manor would no longer have any value. "Fine!" Chu Xiong Tian was overjoyed. "Thank you, Old Ancestor, thank you, Old Ancestor!" "Shifei, come in too. As the future master of the manor, you can also observe the ceremony for the forging of the demon sword!" "Thank you, Old Ancestor!" Chu Shifei still looked somewhat sulky. He really wanted to experience it for himself. Young men, with their minds filled with such matters, especially a young master like him. Three members of the Chu family: one former master, one current master, and one future master. They brought Chu Ling into the sword-forging chamber. The sword-forging chamber. A black long sword, with black mist swirling around it, exuding a chilling and overwhelming presence, floated in the center of a square fire pool. The black sword had a unique shape, exuding a fierce and deadly aura. One glance was enough to tell it was a true weapon of murder. This was the demon sword that Chu Cangsheng, the ancestor of Chu Sword Manor, had spent thirty-one years forging. The day the demon sword was completed, the ancestor would use a secret method to merge himself with the sword. With the power of the demon sword, he would force his way into the Nascent Soul Realm. Chu Xiong Tian was filled with awe as he circled around the demon sword, his admiration slowly turning into fanaticism. This sword was the ultimate desire of all sword cultivators! Of course, this was because their cultivation realms were not enough, their vision limited, and their status restricted. "With this demon sword forging a pill, it''s not too bad," Lu Ye commented. He wasn¡¯t referring to Chu Cangsheng, but to Chu Ling. He knew Chu Ling so well and understood that given the current predicament, this wouldn¡¯t be fatal for her. Once she was thrown into the fire pool, she would immediately activate the Great Slaughter Sword Sutra and use the demon sword to form the pill. Sure enough. "Start!" Chu Cangsheng¡¯s voice boomed as he shouted. He made hand seals, and countless humming sounds rang out. A thousand blood-stained long swords, which had been prepared in advance, simultaneously rose into the air, becoming a torrent that surged into the fire pool, one after another. The swords transformed into the essence of gold, and the blood into a powerful aura of malice, quickly flowing toward the demon sword. The demon sword emitted a sword ¡ï Novelight ¡ï cry, and in an instant, bloodlight flickered, and sword intent rampaged. The bloodthirsty sword cry urged, calling out. "Sword sacrifice!" Chu Cangsheng shouted loudly. Chu Xiong Tian hesitated not at all and directly threw Chu Ling into the fire pool. At that very moment, Chu Ling opened her eyes, formed a hand seal, and her sword heart shone brightly. She spat out a mouthful of essence blood. The blood poured onto the demon sword. The sword¡¯s cry suddenly stopped, and Chu Ling¡¯s body became charred, her body covered in large burns, making her look neither human nor ghost. However, she moved through the fire pool, grasping the demon sword. Core formation! Killing! The sword intent soared into the sky, and Chu Ling let out an angry and hoarse roar. ¡°One sword, slay!¡± The sword light erupted, turning into a stunning strike, wrapped in flames and hatred, and stabbed toward Chu Cangsheng. Chu Cangsheng was horrified. "How is this possible!" He shouted loudly, and a golden jade sword appeared in his hand, immediately clashing with the swords. ¡°Ding!¡± The golden jade sword shattered. Chu Cangsheng¡¯s body was immediately pierced through by the sword light. Another sword light swept through, and his intact head rolled off. Chu Ling, her body covered in blackened burns, was almost unrecognizable, her skin having turned into terrifying layers of black scabs. She turned around, her eyes filled with intense hatred as she stared at the Chu family father and son. "Why? Why?" "I treated you as my closest family, one is my father, the other is my brother. Why did you do this to me?" Chu Ling asked sharply. At this moment, both of them were stunned. It was too fast, too fast! A Chu Ling they had considered a useless expendable, had actually killed the ancestor with one sword? That was the ancestor at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm! "Chu Ling, how... how could you be so strong?" Chu Xiong Tian asked in disbelief. Chu Ling smiled grimly. How could she be so strong? Hahaha, hahaha... Chu Ling laughed and cried at the same time, her behavior appearing mad and possessed. How did she become so strong? Of course, it was because the person she had once considered her enemy had taught her step by step! How did she become so strong? What foolishness had she done!!! Why didn¡¯t the young master let her come back? It was clearly to prevent her from witnessing the ugliness of the Chu Sword Manor. It was clearly to preserve the beautiful memories in her heart, clearly for her own good!!! "I¡¯ll kill you!" Chu Ling screamed, charging at Chu Xiong Tian with her sword. How could Chu Xiong Tian possibly be Chu Ling''s opponent? After just two strikes, his right hand was severed. One sword after another. Left hand, left leg, right leg. "No!" Another head rolled onto the ground. Chu Shifei was already terrified, lying on the ground, yellow liquid soaking through his pants. Looking like a demon, Chu Ling approached him. "Don¡¯t kill me, don¡¯t kill me! Chu Ling, I¡¯m your brother!" Chu Shifei begged desperately. Chu Ling felt disgusted, an overwhelming disgust. She swung her sword at Chu Shifei, and he screamed in agony. She wanted to torture him! One strike after another, she cut Chu Shifei, leaving him battered and bruised. "I loved you both so much! Why did you do this to me?" "Why did you do this to me?" "I treated you as so important!" "Why!!!" Chu Shifei seemed to understand that he was doomed to die, and he too went mad. "Love us?" "Hahaha, Chu Ling, do you even believe the words you¡¯re saying?" "You don¡¯t love your own biological parents, but you keep saying you love your foster parents? You only love wealth and power, you only love others'' kindness toward you!" "Do you know? After you fled, your biological parents, whom you sold to us, have already been tortured to death by us!" "Chu Ling, you are a hypocrite!" "You don¡¯t love anyone, and you don¡¯t deserve anyone¡¯s love!" "I will become a ghost and watch you day and night, watching you, a fool, living in pain every day, hahahaha..." Chapter 8: The Heavenly Pill Pfft! Chu Shifei was dead. Even though his head had rolled to the ground, his face still carried a manic and mocking smile. In the end, he finally cursed loudly like a man, releasing all the fear he had in his heart. Chu Ling wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and with her sword in hand, she walked out. Outside, Zeng Shuiyue and the group of guards froze when they saw Chu Ling, whose body was charred black, walking out. They were stunned at first, then their expressions changed drastically. "Chu Ling, why are you the one coming out?" Zeng Shuiyue''s voice suddenly became sharp. "Pfft!" Her mouth was pierced by the demon sword on the spot. "Did you all know I was the sword sacrificer?" Chu Ling¡¯s murderous gaze locked onto all the guards. The group of guards remained silent. "Where is Chu Si?" It was at this moment that Chu Ling finally realized why Chu Si, who had watched her grow up, immediately tried to drive her away when she returned. How could he not recognize her? He knew that Chu Sword Manor was a pit for Chu Ling, and he didn¡¯t want her to return. Regret gnawed at his heart like a poison. Chu Ling moved! In an instant, the sound of screams filled the air. The entire Chu Sword Manor turned into a hell. She had also gotten her answer: Chu Si was dead, her biological parents were dead, and everyone who had been kind to her was dead. Kill, kill, kill! Kill him completely, leave not a single trace. In the end, the entire Chu Sword Manor was devoid of life. Even the dogs and chickens were slaughtered. Chu Ling arrived at a rooftop, the same rooftop where Lu Ye had once brought her and stood with her. At that time, Lu Ye had said, "Deserved!" Chu Ling broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. It was deserved! She deserved it! ... "Alright, no more looking." Lu Ye waved his hand, and the light screen dissipated. Chu Ling had already obtained everything she wanted. Next, the Nascent Soul experts would come to kill her. With her current state, she would die. He now felt a perverse pleasure, which left Lu Ye in silence. This is bad. I think I¡¯ve changed from before. If it were in the past, even if Chu Ling had done something to hurt him, seeing her suffer would either have made him feel heartache or seem boring. Now, why does it feel so satisfying? Lu Ye slapped his head. Satisfying? Well, that''s just how it is! Having died once on Earth, and nine times in the previous life, accumulating to a total of ten deaths, becoming a pervert doesn¡¯t seem like such a big deal. "Well, she got what she wanted. What about Yue Hongling? What kind of core did she form?" Lu Ye asked, purely curious. His core, which he called the Saint Core, was actually more exaggerated than a normal Saint Core. This was because he used half of his true energy to form his core, and after forming it, the Heavenly Stagnation Poison''s rule force disappeared. The other half of his true energy also flowed into the Saint Core. Hmm, he had raised the quality of his core by half a step. Cultivate, cultivate, Yue Hongling can form whatever core she wants, it¡¯s none of my business. At this moment, Yue Hongling was already in seclusion. Because she hadn¡¯t gotten the Perfect Origin Returning Pill, she was taking this formation seriously and had made ample preparations. Whether or not she could form a Saint Core was all up to this moment! "Gather!" Yue Hongling let out a soft cry. The true energy around her gathered toward her dantian like a tidal wave. The various pills she had prepared beforehand all worked in unison, while treasures around her released their powers. Hmm... How should I put it? These methods of assisting breakthroughs actually came from Lu Ye. Because Yue Hongling¡¯s aptitude wasn¡¯t enough, in order to help her keep up with the others, Lu Ye would spend his effort collecting many treasures to assist her, ensuring that each time she broke through, she could reach a perfect, or near-perfect, level. But, Lu Ye sought treasures and pills for assistance because he had the system! Every time he used these treasures and pills, he would run countless simulations, adjusting the amount of the treasures and pills, ultimately ensuring that everything would succeed without a flaw. So Yue Hongling thought that as long as she prepared everything thoroughly, her breakthroughs would always be perfect??? The breakthrough began. True energy gathered, and the surging, thick true energy clearly indicated that she would be able to form a very good core. But at that moment, a surge of medicinal power came rushing in. The flow of true energy suddenly accelerated. Another surge of medicinal power came, and the total amount of true energy rapidly increased. Yet another surge of medicinal power came, speeding up the core formation. Yet another surge... Yue Hongling furrowed her brows, her fair cheeks turning an abnormal shade of red. Her complexion changed slightly, and she quickly formed another hand seal! It was a mess! Everything was messed up! Yue Hongling panicked. No, something was wrong. Why was it wrong? In her past life, with the assistance of various treasures and pills, her breakthroughs had been as if aided by divine forces. Each level was quickly broken through with help after help. Until the breakthrough was complete, all the assistance disappeared without leaving her any burden. But in the end, Yue Hongling still reached the Emperor Realm. Though mistakes had been made, she had forcibly pushed through all the help. ¡°Pfft!¡± A mouthful of fresh blood was spat out. Yue Hongling''s face turned pale, but she didn¡¯t dare hesitate. She quickly went back to forming the core. Without the chaotic forces randomly helping her, this time, forming the core was much smoother. In the end, the core formed was... a Heaven Core! "How could it be a Heaven Core!" Yue Hongling nearly exploded with anger. In fact, a Heaven Core was also a top-tier core. Ninety-nine point nine-nine percent of people in this world formed Star Cores. Only one in a million could form an Earth Core, and only one in a billion could form a Heaven Core. The key was that in her past life, Yue Hongling had formed a Saint Core without knowing anything, without understanding anything. Now, with the memories of her past life, she, a former Emperor, ended up with a Heaven Core! How could this not make Yue Hongling furious? "It¡¯s all Lu Ye¡¯s fault! If it weren¡¯t for him constantly using treasures and pills to help me break through, this time, I could¡¯ve just used the perfect Origin Returning Pill to form a Saint Core!" Yue Hongling said furiously. What she said was true. With her experience as an Emperor, even without the Perfect Origin Returning Pill, she could have formed a Saint Core. The problem was that she had ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) used a bunch of random treasures and pills, which backfired and caused her to form a Heaven Core instead of a Saint Core. One could only say, everything happens according to fate. She immediately got up to find Lu Ye. Lu Ye was cultivating, continuously cultivating. Every day, his strength was growing, steadily moving forward toward the Nascent Soul realm. For him now, the misfortune of the eight women would certainly bring him some enjoyment, but ultimately, his goal was to return to his peak, a peak stronger than ever before, to see the landscapes he hadn¡¯t seen in his previous life. "Bang, bang, bang!" "Lu Ye, get out here!" Lu Ye didn¡¯t even frown, still in his cultivation state. If Yue Hongling dared break in again, he would take action without hesitation. To hell with it, whoever wants to do what, let them! "Lu Ye, why does using treasures and pills to assist my breakthrough result in forming a Heaven Core? Before, with assistance, I could break through perfectly!" "Lu Ye, are you doing this on purpose?" "I clearly don¡¯t need treasures and pills to break through; I could have formed a Saint Core! You did this on purpose!" "You¡¯re really a petty person! A complete, utter petty person!" "I used to really be..." Chapter 9: Do You Know Me? Lu Ye understood Yue Hongling very well. The thing that pained her the most was never being beaten or scolded. Beating her or scolding her¡ªeither would not make her submit. Of course, it might also be because they didn''t beat her hard enough. However, Lu Ye now knew that ignoring Yue Hongling was actually what made her suffer the most. The feeling of having nowhere to vent her anger, no place to release her frustration, was enough to drive her to the brink of collapse. Sure enough, Yue Hongling got angrier and angrier, her face turning red and her neck bulging with fury. She came over to vent her anger, but instead of releasing it, she only became more enraged. Lu Ye ignored her, choosing instead to seal off his ears and continue cultivating leisurely. As long as I can¡¯t hear you scolding me, then you¡¯re just scolding yourself. Isn¡¯t it frustrating? Isn¡¯t it uncomfortable? This is exactly the effect I wanted! Bai Qiulan rushed over and saw Yue Hongling, who was about to be driven mad with anger. She furrowed her brows in concern. "Hongling, stop scolding," Bai Qiulan advised. Seeing her master, Yue Hongling¡¯s feelings of grievance exploded all at once, and she immediately burst into tears. In front of Bai Qiulan, she always appeared weak. Even sometimes, when cultivating the Yin-Yang Path, she would cry in front of Bai Qiulan. "Master, Master, woo woo woo, I only formed a Heaven Core," Yue Hongling sobbed. "It shouldn¡¯t be this way. You have the memories of an Emperor and the Eternal Reversal Dao Sutra. Even with just the best Origin Returning Pill, you should be able to form a Saint Core. Why did you form a Heaven Core instead?" Bai Qiulan asked, confused. "It¡¯s all Lu Ye¡¯s fault. Every time I broke through before, he would give me a whole bunch of treasures and pills, saying they would assist my breakthrough and help me reach perfection," Yue Hongling cried. "This time, I just used some pills and treasures to assist my breakthrough, but instead of helping, those powers disrupted my true energy, and that¡¯s why I ended up with this result," Yue Hongling said with extreme grievance. Upon hearing this, Bai Qiulan¡¯s face changed instantly. "Are you out of your mind?! Lu Ye has an extraordinary understanding of various energies¡ªhis skills are unparalleled, and every time he used treasures and pills to assist you, he would refine and adjust them countless times, putting in a great deal of effort. How could you just casually mix things together like that?" Bai Qiulan scolded. Yue Hongling??? "Ah?" "He didn¡¯t just casually pick out some items to help you, how can you say it¡¯s effortless?" Bai Qiulan was beyond shocked. "I once personally watched Lu Ye prepare pills for your breakthrough. His brows were furrowed, his face full of pain and concern. Some pills had to be shattered to reduce their potency, while others needed to be strengthened. There were many times he had to redo things until it was just right." "How could he have helped you breakthrough like a divine aid if it were all done casually? You¡¯ve become an Emperor¡ªdon¡¯t you understand this by now?" The more powerful one becomes, the more they realize just how mind-boggling it is for Lu Ye to assist Yue Hongling in her breakthroughs. The delicate energy combinations, where adding too little or too much would ruin the effect, the unique energy reactions¡ªit must have taken countless private experiments to find the optimal combination. Among the seven of them, who didn¡¯t know how much Lu Ye cared for this younger sister? And now Yue Hongling didn¡¯t know? Bai Qiulan was stunned. Yue Hongling was also stunned. "Master, are you saying that every time I broke through, the assistance was the result of Brother Lu Ye¡¯s thousands of experiments?" "Well, what do you think? You became an Emperor yourself¡ªtry assisting someone else with their breakthrough and see if they don¡¯t think you¡¯re crazy!" "So, you can scold everyone, but when it comes to breakthroughs, your brother has never done anything wrong by you. Now, apologize to your brother!" Bai Qiulan said sternly. "No, I won¡¯t apologize! If he hadn¡¯t stolen my Perfect Origin Returning Pill, I wouldn¡¯t have even thought of using these auxiliary pills. This time, I ended up with a Heaven Core, so it¡¯s still his fault for taking my Perfect Origin Returning Pill!" Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression became slightly confused at this moment. "What nonsense are you saying?" "What kind of nonsense is this?" "What do you mean, he ¡®stole¡¯ your Perfect Origin Returning Pill? In the last life, that Perfect Origin Returning Pill was originally obtained by your brother. He was the one who gave it to you¡ªhow did it turn into him ¡®stealing¡¯ it?" Yue Hongling... It¡¯s bad, she actually forgot that the Perfect Origin Returning Pill was originally given to her by her senior brother. This pill, whether in her past life or this life, never truly belonged to her. "I see you really have big problems now. Immediately, right now, go to the back mountain and face the wall for reflection. If you don''t understand and apologize to your senior brother, you''re not allowed to leave the back mountain!" Yue Hongling wanted to say something, but then realized that no matter what she said, she couldn¡¯t stand firm on this matter. "Hmph, anyway, he broke me and Feng Wuxie apart and indirectly caused Feng Wuxie¡¯s death. I still won¡¯t forgive him for that!" After saying this, she turned and left. So what if I¡¯m going to the back mountain? I¡¯ll go! Bai Qiulan looked at the closed door of Lu Ye¡¯s room, somewhat worried. "Lu Ye, are you alright?" Lu Ye¡¯s lips curved slightly, a smile appearing. What a joke. You still have the nerve to scold Yue Hongling? I don''t even bother with Yue Hongling, do you really think I¡¯ll bother with you? Not receiving any response from Lu Ye, Bai Qiulan felt helpless. She could only choose to leave. Inside the room, Lu Ye¡¯s aura trembled slightly, and his Saint-grade core shone brightly within his dantian, with intricate patterns spreading across the Saint Core. His aura was even stronger now. Five-star core! Such a cultivation speed was truly astonishing. Indeed, without any encumbrances, without any burdens. His strength was growing at an unimaginable rate. No bottleneck, no confusion. Powerful cultivation method, terrifying aptitude. Lu Ye had no idea what could possibly hinder his path to attaining sainthood. And so, another ten days passed. One day, suddenly, a woman with a hideously burnt appearance, as if scorched by fire, ran to the Grand Dao Sect. As soon as she reached the gates of the Grand Dao Sect, she collapsed to the ground in a sorry state. "Who is it?" The disciple guarding the gate shouted loudly. When they saw who it was, they sucked in a sharp breath. Good heavens, not only were her burns severe, but there were also sword wounds crisscrossing her body. The most severe sword wound was directly stabbed several inches above her dantian, piercing straight through. The two disciples guarding the mountain gate exchanged glances. According to the sect¡¯s rules, they weren¡¯t allowed to save anyone on their own initiative, as they didn¡¯t know whether the person was good or evil. Furthermore, the woman was holding a long sword, clearly a ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) demon sword. Unless you knew someone in the sect, and that person knew you, the Grand Dao Sect would not offer assistance. "White Orchid Peak... Lu... Lu Ye, I... I¡¯m Chu... Ling..." Chu Ling barely managed to summon the last of her strength to speak those final words before fainting on the stairs. At this moment, a figure flew in from the sky, his long robes billowing, and his aura was extraordinary. However, he too had blood on him, and his gaze was cold. When he saw the gates of the Grand Dao Sect, a flicker of wariness appeared in his eyes, but there was no great fear. "Fellow Daoist, I have pursued this villain here. I mean no offense to the Grand Dao Sect¡¯s heavenly might. Please allow me to take this villain away immediately!" the person, known as the Grand Sword Master, shouted loudly. After speaking, he reached for Chu Ling. "Ding!" A long sword struck the ground three meters in front of the Grand Sword Master. "Don¡¯t rush. She has mentioned the name of someone from our sect. Let me ask someone from the sect first. If they don''t know her, then you can take her away!" one of the Grand Dao Sect disciples spoke up. Chapter 10: I Don’t Know The mountain wind blew away the floating clouds. Li Jian, the Grand Sword Master, was feeling anxious. He thought this woman was acting like a madwoman. He had known in the shadows that the Chu Sword Manor was forging a demon sword. The demon sword was very important to him. However, on the day the demon sword was completed, he was delayed for a moment due to some business. But with his cultivation level, he thought a little delay wouldn''t matter. In his eyes, everyone in the Chu Sword Manor was no different from ants. Who would have thought, by the time he finished his business and arrived at Chu Sword Manor, the place was littered with corpses. A woman stood on the roof, holding the demon sword, crying and laughing, acting like a madwoman. She was still muttering, "I was wrong... I was wrong..." This wasn¡¯t just a madwoman. So, he gave her a sword strike. The woman didn''t dodge. He gave her another sword strike, and she still didn¡¯t move. It seemed this ugly woman really wanted to die! Li Jian found it somewhat boring and decided to kill her and take the demon sword with him. The demon sword seemed to be in a special state. It had been forged but was different from what was recorded in the Chu Sword Manor. However, it didn¡¯t matter as long as it was the demon sword. What he didn¡¯t expect was that the woman, who seemed to be seeking death, suddenly decided she didn¡¯t want to die and exploded with power. Her explosion of power shocked Li Jian greatly. What terrifying sword intent! What terrifying swordsmanship! A mere person who had just entered the Core Formation stage actually dared to fight him using such terrifying sword intent and sword techniques? Li Jian was overjoyed. Wuliang Tianzun, an unexpected gain this time? This woman was only in the Yuan Dan realm, yet she possessed such swordsmanship. There must be some enormous secret hidden within her. Then, the woman ran away, muttering that she was going to atone for her sins. She ran fast! Li Jian chased after her, and they ended up at the gates of the Grand Dao Sect. "Two Daoist friends, this villain killed all 193 people in a place called Chu Sword Manor, including chickens and dogs, in order to forge a demon sword. He¡¯s extremely vicious." "The Grand Dao Sect is a prestigious orthodox sect, the leader of the world''s cultivation sects. The disciples inside are all virtuous and proper. How could they possibly know such a demon? Should I take him away first?" Li Jian said with a smile. The disciples guarding the mountain laughed and said, "You don¡¯t need to put on airs for the Grand Dao Sect. Whether we are orthodox or evil is not something a mere Po? Yi?ng realm cultivator like you can judge." "Wait here. If the people inside don¡¯t recognize him, you may take him. If they do, you can leave yourself!" This was the confidence of the Grand Dao Sect. Although the two mountain guards were only in the Yuan Dan realm, in front of the sect gate, even a Po? Yi?ng realm cultivator had to stand obediently! Even when reprimanded, Li Jian didn¡¯t dare to show a dissatisfied face. He could only smile and pray that the people inside wouldn¡¯t recognize this madwoman. Soon, the news reached Bai Lan Peak. "Knock, knock, knock..." "Is it Junior Brother Lu Ye? A woman has been heavily wounded and chased here, collapsing outside the mountain gate. She says her name is Chu Ling. Do you recognize her?" "If you do, save her. If not, just let others take her." Upon hearing this, Lu Ye was taken aback. Chu Ling? She wasn¡¯t dead? "I don¡¯t recognize her!" "Understood, goodbye!" The disciple left in a hurry. Bai Qiulan suddenly appeared, her eyes wide in disbelief as she stared at Lu Ye''s room. Would he really just stand by and watch her die? It was Chu Ling! It was really Chu Ling! No, if he wouldn''t save her, she had to. Although Chu Ling was her rival, considering their past shared nights, she couldn¡¯t just watch her die. In an instant, Bai Qiulan vanished. The disciple moved extremely quickly, leaving while already using a sound-transmitting stone to send a message. "Senior Brother, it¡¯s confirmed that Junior Brother Lu Ye does not recognize her." The gatekeeping disciple nodded in response. "Understood." Since they didn¡¯t recognize her, there was no value in protecting her. He looked at Li Jian. "Take the person away, don''t stain the grounds of the Grand Dao /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Sect." Li Jian was overjoyed, his face breaking into a smile, and he nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, I will take her away immediately. Apologies for the disturbance." He reached out to grab Chu Ling, and just as his hand was mere inches from her, a wave of blue cold air suddenly shot toward him. Li Jian reacted quickly, hurriedly defending himself. Then, he froze in his defensive posture. This was no joke¡ªBai Qiulan was a cultivator of the Refining Void stage. Moreover, she possessed the power of the Taiyin, and after being reborn, even if she were to face a Refining Void cultivator of the same realm, she could probably kill them in an instant. "Greetings, Elder Bai!" The gatekeeping disciples hurriedly saluted upon seeing Bai Qiulan. Bai Qiulan nodded lightly. "The corpse is yours to deal with. Can I take this person back to the sect?" The gatekeeping disciples didn¡¯t dare intervene with Bai Qiulan, quickly agreeing. Bai Qiulan looked at Chu Ling¡¯s condition and couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath. How did she end up like this? The injuries were severe. What had she gone through to become like this? Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t understand, but she immediately took out a pill and fed it to Chu Ling. Her Taiyin power was too cold, and it wasn¡¯t suitable for helping others recover, so she decided to take Chu Ling to seek help from her senior sister. Bai Qiulan¡¯s senior sister was named Sun Ruowei. "Such severe injuries!" Sun Ruowei was also startled and quickly began examining her. While checking, she clicked her tongue in amazement. "She should have died already. What kind of obsession and willpower must she have for her to still be alive?" "However, as long as she''s alive, I can save her!" Sun Ruowei released a green divine light that enveloped Chu Ling, then took out a pill and fed it to her. Several talismans flew out and stuck to Chu Ling¡¯s body. Chu Ling¡¯s internal injuries stabilized rapidly. Large patches of scabs fell off her skin, and the burned appearance from the flames gradually disappeared, though she still looked hideous. After various treatments were applied, half a day later, Chu Ling moaned softly and finally opened her eyes. Her eyes were filled with confusion, but she quickly seemed to recall something and broke into a frenzy of joy. "Young Master!" She suddenly sat up, wincing in pain as she furrowed her brows. "Ling¡¯er, you¡¯re awake," Bai Qiulan sighed in relief. Chu Ling¡¯s gaze scanned around for Lu Ye¡¯s figure, but she couldn¡¯t find him anywhere. "Sister Bai, where is the Young Master?" Chu Ling asked anxiously. Sun Ruowei¡¯s eyes widened slowly upon hearing this. What? Is this some kind of hallucination? A little girl like her, calling Bai Qiulan "Sister Bai"? And Bai Qiulan looked perfectly normal, as if they were very familiar with each other. "Lu Ye is still in seclusion. He hasn''t left," Bai Qiulan said. "Oh... then did the Young Master ask you to rescue me, Sister Bai? Thank you so much. I need to find him." Chu Ling said as she tried to get off the bed. Bai Qiulan stopped her. "I already told you, he¡¯s in seclusion. The most important thing right now is for you to rest and recover. Once your injuries heal, you can go find him. Maybe by then, he¡¯ll be out of seclusion." Chu Ling lightly bit her lip. "Then, Sister Bai, could you please apologize to the Young Master on my behalf? I... I¡¯ve only just realized that I¡¯ve misunderstood the Young Master all this time. He never wanted to dominate me, but rather, he¡¯s been protecting me all along. Perhaps it¡¯s not just me¡ªmaybe all of us misunderstood him. He truly isn¡¯t that kind of person." When Sun Ruowei heard this, it was as if she had been struck by a huge shock. She staggered back step by step, her eyes as wide as saucers. Good heavens, Wuliang Tianzun, what did I just hear? What do you mean by "we"? Who exactly is "we"...? Chapter 11: The Secret of the Melon Field Bai Qiulan noticed Sun Ruowei''s shock and felt a bit awkward inside. Logically speaking, someone like Chu Ling, a mere servant girl, should never address Bai Qiulan as "Sister Bai." But the key here was that, sometimes under forced circumstances, such titles could become very peculiar. Words like "good husband," "good brother," "concubine," "maid," "sister," and "little sister" were all quite normal in such situations. Chu Ling addressing Bai Qiulan as "sister" was simply because they had once happened to end up together. After that, since they had started calling each other in such a manner, and their cultivations weren¡¯t too far apart, and they were all on Lu Ye¡¯s "pirate ship," Bai Qiulan hadn¡¯t corrected the way Chu Ling addressed her. However, at this very moment... Chu Ling definitely should not have called her "sister." Their positions were far apart¡ªone was the youngest elder of the Grand Dao Sect, with the best talent, and had the potential to even fight for the position of sect leader if she had the will. The other was an outside cultivator, just at the Yuan Dan stage. To hear her call someone else "sister" when her role was a servant? Sun Ruowei felt as if she had just caught the scent of an enormous melon. An incredibly sweet and crisp melon! After all, Bai Qiulan was known as the Ice Mountain Beauty of the Grand Dao Sect. When she first entered the sect, the number of people who pursued her was as numerous as fish in the river. This included, but was not limited to, people within the sect. Even the sect leader had publicly stated that if he were to choose a Dao companion, it would be someone like Bai Qiulan¡ªan exceptional and independent woman. "Ruowei, you go out first. I need to speak with her," Bai Qiulan said, glancing at Sun Ruowei. "Huh? This is my Dao courtyard..." Sun Ruowei certainly didn¡¯t want to leave. Her ears were already perked up like antennae. For her to leave now would be worse than killing her! "Hm?" Bai Qiulan glanced at her. Sun Ruowei sighed. The lingering authority of her senior sister still stood, and she reluctantly stepped out, glancing back three times as she left the room. The door was wide open, and she didn¡¯t close it. Bai Qiulan gently shook her head and waved her hand to close the door. Sun Ruowei quickly pressed her body against the door, straining to listen for any explosive content from inside. A soundproofing barrier immediately activated. Sun Ruowei became frantic. Good heavens! This is so tight? There¡¯s definitely a huge scoop! A shocking scoop! Sun Ruowei trembled all over, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts of breaking the soundproof barrier. At this moment, the "wild monkeys" in Lu Xun¡¯s writings perfectly showcased themselves on Sun Ruowei. Bai Qiulan waited for a moment, confirming that Sun Ruowei hadn¡¯t attempted to break the soundproof barrier, before letting out a soft sigh. She understood this junior sister well, and she knew that from now on, there would probably be some time without peace. She turned her gaze to Chu Ling. "You said you misunderstood Lu Ye, what happened?" Bai Qiulan asked. Chu Ling¡¯s expression was full of melancholy. "Earlier, I said the Young Master always kept me imprisoned, not allowing me to return home. When I finally got back home, the entire Chu Sword Manor had been destroyed." "At that time, the Young Master even said Chu Sword Manor deserved it." Thinking back on what had happened, Chu Ling couldn¡¯t stop the tears from flowing. "I always thought the Young Master was imprisoning me, just to possess me, to have a pretty servant girl." "The destruction of Chu Sword Manor left me without a home, and I could only follow him forever, as he fulfilled his own purpose." "But now, we¡¯ve come back, and I immediately returned to Chu Sword Manor." "This time, the Young Master didn¡¯t stop me." "Who would have thought, who would have thought that after I went back..." Chu Ling was already crying uncontrollably. Bai Qiulan gently patted Chu Ling¡¯s back. She and Chu Ling had shared the same bed many times and fought side by side on more than one occasion, so their bond was naturally strong. Moreover, she, Hongling, and Chu Ling were the earliest to get to know each other, and she had always considered Chu Ling as a little sister. Seeing her cry like this, Bai Qiulan couldn¡¯t help but feel her heartache as well. "Who would have thought, after I returned, I realized... it was all a lie! Everything was fake!" "The kindness they showed me was all fake. Their goal from the very beginning was to use me as material for forging the demon sword. I was the chosen sacrificial offering, the person who would be sacrificed in place of my adopted brother." "After I left, they killed my real parents out of anger." "There was a guard who had treated me well when I was young. When he saw me return, he was the first to warn me to leave, and the next day, he was dead." "It was the Young Master, it was the Young Master who didn¡¯t want me to see their ugly faces, didn¡¯t want my beautiful memories of them destroyed. That¡¯s why he kept stopping me from ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) going back." "The Young Master has never wronged me. He has always been protecting me in every way!" Chu Ling burst into tears. And what did she do? She actually poisoned the Young Master with the Celestial Frozen Poison. How could she be so cruel and heartless! After learning the truth, Chu Ling had already lost the will to live. She felt like a joke. She had resented him for so long and had desperately returned to a place that turned out to be a demon¡¯s den. When Li Jian attacked her in Chu Sword Manor, she didn¡¯t dodge. She acted like a walking corpse. It wasn¡¯t until Li Jian said, "Tsk, how pitiful. Looks like you¡¯re the only one left who¡¯s holding on. Well, let me send you on your way!" that Chu Ling came to her senses. No! There was still someone in this world she cared about. The Young Master! She had definitely hurt the Young Master, and had hurt him deeply. She had to atone for her sins. She needed to ask for his forgiveness and heal the wounds she had caused him. She fought with all her strength to make it to the Grand Dao Sect. She had finally survived. Bai Qiulan was deeply shaken when she heard Chu Ling¡¯s words. So this was the truth! Bai Qiulan had known about Chu Ling¡¯s suffering, and had even scolded Lu Ye about it before. Lu Ye had responded with a cheeky grin and never countered her words. Now that she thought about it, he hadn¡¯t wanted anyone to know this matter, likely out of fear of hurting Chu Ling. In the past life, he had always protected Chu Ling carefully. Just now, when he heard that Chu Ling was severely injured outside the sect, all he had to do was say "I recognize her," and she would have been saved. But instead, he said "I don¡¯t recognize her." Bai Qiulan sighed inwardly, and her gaze toward Chu Ling became filled with pity. It seemed that getting Lu Ye¡¯s forgiveness would be very difficult for her. "Don¡¯t think about so much right now. What you need to focus on is healing. Once your injuries are better, work hard on your cultivation, and become the sharpest sword in Lu Ye¡¯s hand." "Those wounds can be healed with time." "Lu Ye¡¯s heart is soft. As long as you persist, he will eventually be moved and forgive you," Bai Qiulan advised Chu Ling. Chu Ling nodded vigorously, her fists clenched tightly! In fact, she knew deep down that the Young Master had never treated her as the strongest sword by his side. What he had always loved most was her personal care. She would definitely earn his forgiveness. "And one more thing." Chu Ling looked at Bai Qiulan. "From now on, don¡¯t call me Sister Bai. Just call me Senior Bai. When I was in the chaos of the Taiyin poison, Lu Ye did that desperate thing to save me. Afterward, it was one mistake after another, but now, things are being set right. I can now control the power of the Chaos Taiyin. That kind of thing will never happen again." "Therefore, there is no future between me and Lu Ye!" Chapter 12: Waste of Natural Resources Cultivate! Cultivate! I¡¯m going to cultivate! Lu Ye didn¡¯t care at all whether Chu Ling lived or died. If she died, then so be it. His current thoughts were entirely focused on cultivation¡ªhe would ignore everyone else and surpass them all in one breath, reaching a height that those women would never be able to reach. That way, no one would bother him anymore. Time would erase all past karma. Height would bury all regrets. His Saint Core grew more radiant every moment, spinning and expanding relentlessly. True essence was compressed, compressed, and compressed again. He wanted to make his foundation as solid as possible¡ªone step weak, every step weak; one step strong, every step strong. At this moment, he felt someone¡¯s presence outside the room. But he didn¡¯t care. Without needing to look, he knew it was Chu Ling. She didn¡¯t die? It seemed like she was lucky! Chu Ling had already recovered from her injuries and was sitting cross-legged, cultivating outside Lu Ye¡¯s door. Chixia Peak. Bai Lan Peak and Chixia Peak were both among the Grand Dao Sect''s peaks. The sect had nine main peaks and seventy-two subsidiary peaks. Anyone occupying a subsidiary peak had to at least be a Refining Void cultivator, which demonstrated how powerful the Grand Dao Sect was in the First Heaven. Since Chixia Peak was located behind Bai Lan Peak, and since Yue Hongling was confined to the back mountain, some people on Chixia Peak could see Yue Hongling in the back mountain. Yue Hongling felt a knot in her heart. She would never apologize to that stinky senior brother! But, thinking about it, was that stinky senior brother really so good to her? She wasn¡¯t that naive. After being reminded by her master, she started recalling her breakthrough process. She remembered how various layers of energy assisted her breakthrough step by step, and the more she analyzed it, the more she was shocked. It was difficult! It was extremely difficult! Because Yue Hongling wasn¡¯t like Lu Ye. To perfectly help him break /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ through would require precise calculations for everything. Not just the pills and treasures, but also changes in her own condition¡ªhow exaggerated was the amount of calculation needed? She had never paid attention to that before. Hmph! Even if he treated her well... Hmm... A sense of melancholy suddenly appeared on Yue Hongling¡¯s face. If Feng Wuxie hadn¡¯t died, maybe she and Feng Wuxie would have ended up together. Her senior brother wasn¡¯t bad, except for being a little flirtatious. The main reason was that Feng Wuxie died. It was still because her senior brother stopped her from going to save him, which led to Feng Wuxie¡¯s death. Feng Wuxie¡¯s death became an eternal thorn in her heart. As time passed, the thorn grew deeper and deeper, eventually becoming a mental illness. General MacArthur once said, "The true white moonlight is the one who is gone." In the Water Margin written by Lu Xun, it was also said, "The things you can¡¯t get in your youth will become the shackles of your life." This was the situation. The more Yue Hongling thought about it, the more upset she became. She decided to start cultivating. The cultivation technique she was using was called the Wan Gu Reverse Dao Sutra, created by the Fearless Great Emperor. At this moment, she adopted a stance and began using the Fearless Fist, flowing smoothly and forcefully. In her red robe, her fists followed the path of the Dao. Amidst the green trees of Cang Mountain, it was like a dance in the wind. On Chixia Peak, a young man, full of vitality, stood tall, his gaze sharp. When he saw this scene, his heart fluttered. So beautiful! So handsome! This Grand Dao Sect actually had such a stunning woman. His figure suddenly soared into the air, and a long sword appeared beneath his feet. He flew towards Yue Hongling. Yue Hongling? She stopped her cultivation and glanced at the young man. "Greetings, Junior Sister. I am Linghu Wushuang, the newly appointed top disciple of Chixia Peak. I saw the marvelous fist techniques you were practicing. Could you teach me some?" Linghu Wushuang asked. Yue Hongling pondered for a moment. Linghu Wushuang... such a distant name. It seemed that after her senior brother had declined the position of Saint Son, he became the Saint Son of the Grand Dao Sect. Later, he cultivated to a very strong level but stopped at the eighth layer of heaven, eventually dying in the Dark Chaos. He could be considered a remarkable person. However, Yue Hongling had seen so many remarkable people. She even knew a bunch of emperors. "Little brat, you still can¡¯t beat me, so just forget it." Yue Hongling made a face as she spoke. "Uh..." "You seem to be younger than me." "Then you''re just a little brat in front of me!" Seeing that Yue Hongling wasn¡¯t going to engage in a fight with him, Linghu Wushuang didn¡¯t insist further. After all, fighting with someone you just met wasn¡¯t exactly appropriate. "What are you doing here in the back mountain? The back mountain is the area with the weakest spiritual energy. It¡¯s not suitable for cultivation," Linghu Wushuang asked. "I was punished by my master," Yue Hongling replied lazily. "Ah? What did you do wrong?" In Linghu Wushuang''s eyes, they had only recently joined the sect, so if they were being punished by their master, it was a very serious matter. If the master truly became angry and refused to pass on the teachings, their path of cultivation would become ten thousand times more difficult than others. "Hmph, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. My master just can¡¯t distinguish right from wrong and favors that stinky senior brother of mine. Once I get out of confinement, I¡¯ll definitely tickle her until she admits her mistake!" Yue Hongling said angrily. Linghu Wushuang?? What? You¡¯ve just entered the sect, and you¡¯re already this bold? You can tickle your master? No wonder you were punished! But this time, Linghu Wushuang had come specifically to meet Yue Hongling. He originally thought she was incredibly beautiful, but after talking to her, he realized she was not only beautiful but also lively and adorable. "Favoring your senior brother? What¡¯s that about? Since it¡¯s boring here in the back mountain, why don¡¯t you tell me?" Linghu Wushuang asked with a smile. "Well, I¡¯ll tell you, kid!" "Not long ago, I broke that stinky senior brother''s door. He actually grabbed my neck and told me to fix it. When I refused, he tried to choke me to death. Really, choke me to death!" Yue Hongling complained. Linghu Wushuang????? "How could someone like that exist? Over a broken door, he¡¯s going to kill someone, and even kill his own junior sister?" Linghu Wushuang felt a flame flare up inside him. This is ridiculous! This is the Grand Dao Sect, not some evil cult! Even evil cults don¡¯t allow such self-inflicted violence! "Exactly!" "And after I fixed the door for him, I had something to ask him. When I knocked on his door, he didn¡¯t say a word, just punched me right in the eye. My eye turned into a panda eye, and there¡¯s still a faint mark today." Linghu Wushuang quickly took the opportunity to glance at her... What beautiful eyes! Her eyes seemed to contain the starry sky and a bright moon, though one eye still bore traces of the purple bruise. Linghu Wushuang was furious. Such beautiful eyes, and he dared to treat her like this? What a waste! It¡¯s a crime against nature! "And then!" Then??? Damn, what kind of bullying is this? They¡¯ve just entered the sect, and such a beautiful girl has been treated like this. "He said he was going to give me something, and even though he already gave it to me, he asked for it back. When I protested, he was going to lay his hands on me again!" "Unbelievable! I¡¯m furious! What¡¯s his name?" Linghu Wushuang asked loudly, his anger reaching its peak. "Lu Ye!" "Good for you, Lu Ye. Junior Sister, wait here. I will definitely avenge you, defeat Lu Ye, and make him apologize to you!" Linghu Wushuang shouted. But to his surprise, Yue Hongling, who had been excited moments ago, suddenly went silent. "Junior Sister, what¡¯s wrong?" Yue Hongling... You... want to fight Lu Ye? Don¡¯t be ridiculous! You can¡¯t even beat me, and you want to fight Lu Ye? In the previous life, some people doubted Lu Ye¡¯s character, some doubted his personality, and some even wondered if he had been possessed... But one thing no one ever doubted was his strength. He was strong. Truly strong! "Forget it, you can¡¯t even defeat one of his fingers." Chapter 13: Changes in Perspectives Knock, knock, knock! The sound of knocking echoed. Lu Ye opened his eyes and couldn''t help but let out a soft "hmm?" Linghu Wushuang! Why is this kid here? According to the timeline, he and Linghu Wushuang hadn''t crossed paths yet. Their first interaction would be during the sect''s disciple competition, where Lu Ye was the champion and Linghu Wushuang was the runner-up. Thinking back, ever since the Dark Chaos and Linghu Wushuang¡¯s death, it had been about four thousand years since they last met. But this is how cultivation works¡ªpowerful cultivators might go into seclusion for hundreds or even thousands of years. In his previous life, Lu Ye had thought about how, on Earth, people in their fifties and sixties were already considered wise elders. But in the cultivation world, cultivators could live for hundreds or thousands of years, and their wisdom must be extraordinary! In reality, it wasn¡¯t quite like that. In fact, many powerful cultivators¡¯ wisdom didn¡¯t even surpass that of ordinary people who struggled in the mortal world. A cultivator¡¯s life: cultivate, cultivate, cultivate, then go off to wild mountains and remote places, digging up ancient tombs, searching for ruins, hunting for spiritual treasures. Then, cultivate, cultivate, cultivate some more. There simply wasn¡¯t enough time to deal with power struggles or schemes! The true path of cultivation is simply strength¡ªif your fists are strong, then you¡¯re strong. Lu Ye opened the door and looked at Linghu Wushuang. "Senior Brother, what brings you here?" Lu Ye asked with a smile. "You¡¯re Lu Ye?" Linghu Wushuang scrutinized him. Lu Ye was dressed in a blue robe, with a youthful face and a warm smile. Though his eyes had a certain depth, he didn¡¯t look ¡ï Novelight ¡ï as frightening as Yue Hongling had described. "Yes, I¡¯m Lu Ye." "Do you know me?" "Of course I know Senior Brother Linghu¡¯s name. To condense the Heaven Pill in two months and twelve days, it¡¯s truly impressive," Lu Ye said, his smile still warm. Linghu Wushuang¡¯s mouth twitched. He was still a young man after all. "Wrong, to be precise, it was two months and eleven days. I didn¡¯t cultivate on the first day after entering," Linghu Wushuang corrected. "That¡¯s even more impressive." "No, wait!" Linghu Wushuang suddenly realized, his expression turning serious. "I came here to challenge you. Stop with the cheeky grin!" Lu Ye was stunned. Challenge? It had been such a long time since anyone had challenged him. "Sure!" Lu Ye didn¡¯t mind giving Linghu Wushuang a lesson; after all, he was a brave man. Linghu Wushuang... He had this strange feeling. What was off? Yes, Lu Ye was too friendly. Forget it, never mind, let¡¯s start! Linghu Wushuang summoned a long sword, and the two moved to the yard, stepping a good distance apart. "What¡¯s your cultivation level?" Linghu Wushuang asked. He couldn¡¯t tell what level Lu Ye was at. "Yuan Dan, don¡¯t hold back!" Lu Ye replied. "Alright, then I won¡¯t hold back." In an instant, the long sword glowed white and attacked swiftly. Lu Ye raised his hand and gently deflected the sword, quickly closing the distance. He threw a punch, and Linghu Wushuang raised his hands to block, the long sword spinning in the air. Before the sword could even reach him, Lu Ye kicked Linghu Wushuang¡¯s lower leg, and in one fluid motion, transformed his punch into a palm, grabbing Linghu Wushuang¡¯s wrist. With a swift motion, he sent Linghu Wushuang flying. Linghu Wushuang quickly stabilized himself, turning around to strike, but he missed. Lu Ye didn¡¯t press the attack. Linghu Wushuang squinted. This was just a sparring match, and Lu Ye seemed like an honest and straightforward person. His leg was hurting. The speed of Lu Ye¡¯s kick was so fast. "Again!" "Chixia Sword Art!" The white light turned into red, surging toward him in an instant. Lu Ye dodged, and as Linghu Wushuang was about to change his stance for a horizontal strike, Lu Ye¡¯s hand pressed against the sword, making it shake violently. At the same time, Lu Ye kicked again. Linghu Wushuang¡¯s body tilted once more, and he watched helplessly as a fist grew larger in his vision. But just before it landed, Lu Ye changed the fist into a claw, shifting his position, and grabbed Linghu Wushuang by the collar, throwing him flying once again. Linghu Wushuang struggled to control himself and barely avoided falling to the ground. Still, it¡¯s about the foundation! Linghu Wushuang was left somewhat silent after being beaten. Lu Ye also didn¡¯t speak, his actions were enough to convey everything. He knew Linghu Wushuang would understand. "My skills aren¡¯t as good as yours!" Linghu Wushuang said, feeling a bit frustrated. Of course, if you were as strong as me, wouldn¡¯t I have wasted all these years? "But my comprehension ability is strong. This sword, the second move of the Chixia Sword Art, can you stop it?" Lu Ye nodded, "Please!" "Chixia Sword Art¡ªXia Wu Gu Fei!" The sword energy transformed into a red glow, lighting up the entire courtyard, and then, the glow quickly contracted. The sword struck as fast as a shooting star, arriving in an instant. Lu Ye threw a punch. Bang! The sword energy shattered with the punch. At this point, the outcome was already clear. Linghu Wushuang... "Why have I never heard of your name before? You¡¯re so strong, you shouldn¡¯t be unknown!" Linghu Wushuang marveled. Lu Ye smiled and replied, "To cultivate and act, that is cultivation. To cultivate and be still, that is also cultivation. There are countless methods of cultivation, countless paths to the Dao, all leading to the same destination." "Who did you hear that from?" Linghu Wushuang asked, shocked. "I read it in a book, it said that, and I thought it was impressive, so I memorized it to use later for some show-off." Linghu Wushuang gave a thumbs-up. "I¡¯ll remember that too. Next time I need to show off, I¡¯ll use it. Lu Ye, right? I¡¯ll remember your name. You¡¯re strong, and you¡¯re cool!" "Mm, take care, no need to see me off." "Farewell!" After Linghu Wushuang left, Lu Ye returned to his cultivation. His current cultivation was pushing toward the seventh level of Yuan Dan. If all went as expected, he would be the strongest in this generation of Grand Dao Sect disciples. Of course, Lu Ye wasn¡¯t concerned about that kind of superficial fame. As Linghu Wushuang walked along the path, he couldn¡¯t help muttering to himself. "This Lu Ye doesn¡¯t seem as unpleasant as Hongling said. I think he¡¯s pretty fun, and quite gentle." "Did Hongling lie?" "That can¡¯t be right. She was gritting her teeth when she spoke. It didn¡¯t seem like she was pretending." "But then, why?" At that moment, a woman walked toward him, wearing a beautiful green long dress. Her appearance was exquisite, with fair skin and large, beautiful eyes. Though she wasn¡¯t as tall as Yue Hongling, her beauty was on par with hers. So many beautiful women on Bai Lan Peak? But this one, despite her cute appearance, had an indifferent attitude. When she walked past him, she didn¡¯t even glance at him, as if he was just a tree by the roadside. Such a beautiful girl, and yet, she¡¯s blind? What a shame. Linghu Wushuang kept his eyes on the beautiful girl and watched as she approached Lu Ye¡¯s door. She adjusted her dress, kneeled down, and lowered her head in front of the door. Kneeling! Kneeling down! She¡¯s kneeling on the ground! ¦²(????§Õ????lll) What the hell! Am I dreaming? This beautiful girl¡ªnot only beautiful but also a Yuan Dan cultivator¡ªwas kneeling outside Lu Ye¡¯s door. They say men¡¯s knees are like gold, but women¡¯s knees can turn the world upside down. And here she is, kneeling for Lu Ye. Linghu Wushuang stared, his mouth agape, for several minutes. What the hell, just when I had a good impression of Lu Ye, I¡¯m hit with this shocking scene. If I had a Dao companion this beautiful, I¡¯d kneel for her every day... but wait! Linghu Wushuang suddenly realized something. This girl was kneeling outside the door. With Lu Ye¡¯s cultivation, he definitely knew. Yet, he didn¡¯t open the door!!! He just let this stunning girl kneel there. My Wuliang Tianzun, my Grand Dao Emperor, my Taoist ancestors, my saints! At this moment, Linghu Wushuang¡¯s worldview was completely shattered. Women¡ªbeautiful women¡ªwere no longer unattainable in his eyes! Chapter 14: Broken, this is also Chu Ling knelt in front of Lu Ye¡¯s door, waiting for his forgiveness. She knew that the young master despised being disturbed by others, so she wouldn¡¯t bother him. She knew that the young master was soft-hearted, and sooner or later, he would forgive her. She only needed to wait for him. When the young master entered seclusion, she would guard outside the door. When the young master left seclusion, she would follow him closely behind. Wherever the young master went, she would go. On the back mountain of Bai Lan Sect, Linghu Wushuang wandered in a daze, coming to Yue Hongling¡¯s side. Yue Hongling glanced at him, unbothered. This little brat was fighting with her senior brother? Wasn¡¯t that just like a mantis trying to stop a chariot? He didn¡¯t know the senior brother¡¯s identity, which was fine. At most, he was a frog at the bottom of a well, looking up at the moon. If he knew the senior brother¡¯s identity and then looked at him, he¡¯d be like a mayfly gazing at the vast sky. "I lost." Yue Hongling didn¡¯t speak, letting him break the silence. "How rare, being able to spar with my senior brother. In the future, you¡¯ll be able to boast about it for many years," Yue Hongling said. Linghu Wushuang sighed deeply. "Indeed, very powerful, but still far from enough. But once I get stronger, I¡¯ll challenge him again. He¡¯s not as brutal and merciless as you say; instead, he treated me quite well," Linghu Wushuang said. "Hmph, do you understand him better than I do? He¡¯s kind to men, but cold and ruthless to women," Yue Hongling rolled her eyes and said. "That¡¯s true. After I sparred with him, I should¡¯ve left, but before I could go far, I saw a very beautiful young girl kneeling in front of Lu Ye¡¯s door." "Even though Lu Ye didn¡¯t come out immediately to help her up, he¡¯s indeed harsh to girls. That girl didn¡¯t even know why she was kneeling there," Linghu Wushuang remarked. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes shifted when she heard this. "What did she look like?" Linghu Wushuang pondered for a moment. "Very beautiful!" "Of course, do I not know she¡¯s beautiful? Every woman in front of that stinky senior brother is beautiful!" "Anyway, she was wearing a green long dress, holding a sword in her hand, with big, bright eyes, looking very obedient..." Yue Hongling relaxed slowly after hearing this description. Chu Ling! She had thought it might be some other seductive woman coming to find her senior brother. Wait! Yue Hongling suddenly froze. Why did I think that way? What business is it of mine if some seductive woman is looking for that stinky senior brother? Could it be that I... am jealous? Yue Hongling quickly shook her head, repeatedly muttering, "I¡¯m not jealous, I absolutely won¡¯t be jealous, I won¡¯t be jealous..." Linghu Wushuang? !!!??? ¦²(¤Ã¡ã§¥¡ã;)¤Ã Oh no, is she also Lu Ye¡¯s woman? His worldview was once again greatly shaken at that moment. This shock was so profound that he could hardly accept it. Does that mean, the more cruel and cold you are to a beauty, the more she likes you? Is courting a Dao partner not about being considerate and accompanying them, but about... beating them?! "Alright, I¡¯m going to cultivate now. You can leave, and don¡¯t bother me unless it¡¯s important." Yue Hongling issued an eviction order. Linghu Wushuang was still thinking about the whole beating thing when he heard Yue Hongling¡¯s words, immediately contemplating putting it into practice. "Junior Sister, I can help you with your cultivation! We can spar and train together to better understand our own shortcomings. I should be a bit stronger than you, so how about we practice a bit?" Yue Hongling glanced at Linghu Wushuang, her expression... "Don¡¯t you believe I¡¯m stronger than you?" Linghu Wushuang suddenly became enraged. A few minutes later... Linghu Wushuang was thrown hard to the ground, with the rocks beneath him shattered. His face was bruised, and his body trembled as if struck by a sieve. His eyes were filled with disbelief and fear. Holy hell! What kind of monsters are on Bai Lan Peak? He couldn¡¯t beat a single one of them, not even a single one! Hahaha... After sending Linghu Wushuang away, Yue Hongling cultivated for a while, making a small breakthrough to the second layer of Core Formation. "Wait, wasn¡¯t Chu Ling supposed to have gone home? Why is she back again, still kneeling in front of that stinky ¡ï Novelight ¡ï senior brother¡¯s door?" Yue Hongling muttered to herself in confusion. "No, I need to go back and check!" This was Yue Hongling¡¯s nature¡ªwhen something puzzled her, the uncertainty was more painful than death itself. As for confinement? What confinement? She was as close to her master as sisters; the idea of confinement felt too distant. Yue Hongling rushed to her senior brother¡¯s courtyard, and sure enough, she immediately saw Chu Ling kneeling on the bluestone ground, silently cultivating her martial arts. "Chu Ling, why are you back?" Yue Hongling asked. Chu Ling looked up at Yue Hongling and softly called, "Hongling Sister." "Stop kneeling. Get up. We, female cultivators, have dignity. Why should we kneel for him?" Yue Hongling stepped forward, intending to pull Chu Ling up, completely forgetting that in her past life, she too had knelt many times for such things. "Hongling Sister, I¡¯ve done something wrong. This is the punishment I deserve. Please don¡¯t worry about me." Chu Ling resisted Yue Hongling¡¯s pull. "What did you do wrong? I¡¯ll tell you, that stinky Lu Ye is really stingy. The perfect Return to Origin Pill he gave me in my past life, he hasn¡¯t even given it this time. A person as petty as him, kneeling here until the end of time won¡¯t change anything." Yue Hongling deliberately raised her voice. Bai Qiulan¡¯s figure appeared, staring at Yue Hongling with a displeased look. At this moment, Chu Ling began to explain. "I was wrong. I didn¡¯t realize how good he was to me. I even complained about him, and I hurt him. Not only did I plant the Yin-Yang Devouring Dao Gu in his body, but I also poisoned him with the Heavenly Stasis Poison. My sins are deep, and all the punishment I¡¯m receiving now, I deserve it." "Heavenly Stasis Poison..." Bai Qiulan froze when she heard the name. This was a type of toxin that could affect even a Heavenly Sovereign. Such toxins were extremely rare in the world. Moreover, the eight of them had each been searching for a type of toxin, and naturally, they had studied these things thoroughly. The Heavenly Stasis Poison was not unfamiliar to them. "Ah, this matter is in the past. Besides, the Heavenly Stasis Poison didn¡¯t work because it exploded when it tried to take effect. So, technically speaking, you didn¡¯t really harm him. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty," Yue Hongling tried to comfort her. But Chu Ling shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No, no... The Heavenly Stasis Poison is a toxin beyond the rules. Even though it didn¡¯t act at that time, it can¡¯t be cleared away. It will forever follow the person who was poisoned, with no cure!" Yue Hongling and Bai Qiulan¡¯s faces both stiffened as they heard this. They exchanged a glance, both seeing an indescribable panic in each other¡¯s eyes. "If time rewinds, if we¡¯re all reborn... the Heavenly Stasis Poison wouldn¡¯t follow, would it?" Yue Hongling murmured, lost in thought. If the poison followed... then what she had done... Yue Hongling shuddered suddenly, not daring to think further, not daring to think! Many toxins, even those that could affect a Heavenly Sovereign, Lu Ye could withstand, but they would only weaken his power. But if it were below the Heavenly Sovereign realm, those toxins would be much more troublesome. At that moment, Bai Qiulan quietly said, "Perfect Return to Origin Pill!" "The Heavenly Stasis Poison... seems to have followed Lu Ye, coming back with him..." Chapter 15: Get Out Lu Ye was not someone she was unfamiliar with. Bai Qiulan understood him relatively well. She had no personal grievances with Lu Ye. It was just that, all along, she couldn''t accept the distorted relationship between her and Lu Ye. If it had been in the past, she could have justified it as a means of relieving her Chaotic Yin Poison. She had gritted her teeth, forced a pained frown, and endured the humiliation of maintaining that relationship. But as time passed, after her Chaotic Yin Poison had been cured, she could no longer tolerate maintaining such an immoral, unacceptable relationship. Especially as a master, being constantly humiliated by her disciple, and still unable to resist... How could that be? And with the influence of others, Bai Qiulan struggled internally. She struggled, and then acted. Perfect Return to Origin Pill. Perfect Return to Origin Pill. These five words exploded like thunder in Yue Hongling¡¯s mind. "The Heavenly Stasis Poison froze half of his strength, meaning that when my senior brother''s Heavenly Stasis Poison took effect, he could only use half of his strength to condense the Yuan Dan. Is that why he chose to use the Perfect Return to Origin Pill?" Yue Hongling spoke with urgency. Bai Qiulan sighed. "Most likely..." At this moment, Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes turned red. She bit her lip so hard she drew blood, completely unaware. What foolish thing had she done? Half of his energy condensed into a Yuan Dan¡ªno matter how strong her senior brother was in his past life, as a Heavenly Sovereign, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to form a good Yuan Dan. He probably didn¡¯t even form a Heavenly Tier Yuan Dan. Yet she only thought of herself, thinking that her senior brother would rather waste the Perfect Return to Origin Pill than give it to her. She hadn¡¯t even considered that her senior brother not giving the pill to her was because he had his own reasons. "Senior Brother, I¡¯m sorry!" Yue Hongling shouted loudly towards the room. She finally apologized. But in the room, there was no response. Bai Qiulan was a strong cultivator of the Void Refining Realm, but she had never spied on Lu Ye. At this moment, she was anxious. If the Heavenly Stasis Poison hadn¡¯t disappeared, had the poison she used disappeared? "Lu Ye, are you still in the room? I have something important to tell you!" There was no answer. Bai Qiulan gritted her teeth, and finally used her divine sense to probe the room. However, the room was already empty. Where was Lu Ye? Lu Ye had long since left the room, leaving only Chu Ling kneeling outside the door, and the three women causing a ruckus. Now, in Lu Ye''s eyes, all the women in the world, one by one, were obstacles on his path. He simply found a quiet place and immersed himself in hard cultivation. At this point, his cultivation was rapidly approaching the eighth layer of Yuan Dan, advancing at a frightening speed. Of course, mere solitary cultivation wouldn¡¯t be enough; he still needed to acquire essential treasures. For instance, there was an ancient key in the Grand Dao Sect, known only to him. It was a key to open the Tomb of the Gods. Inside the Tomb of the Gods lay the remains of a fallen ancient god. Though the treasures of the ancient god weren¡¯t particularly precious, the body of the ancient god had given birth to a flower of divine blood. This flower, extremely rare, was crucial for the condensation of his first life. Divine Blood Flower, Wood Spirit Pearl, and Xuan Yin Soul Fruit! These three celestial treasures were indispensable. To cultivators in the Dao Integration or Void Refining realms, these might not be considered incredibly valuable, but to a cultivator in the Yuan Dan realm, these treasures were worth their weight in gold. Thus, he needed to participate in the sect¡¯s disciple competition, just as he did in his past life. He needed to secure the qualification to enter the Grand Dao Treasure Hall. Of course, this time, the competition would be much easier than in his past life. Time passed, day by day. Soon, it was September, and the mountain was cold early. The entire mountain was covered with red maple trees, like flames. Lu Ye''s cultivation had already reached the ninth layer of Yuan Dan. If he wanted to break through now, he could do so, breaking his Dan to form a baby. However, the Yuan Ying was his first life, so he needed to stabilize his foundation first. Since he couldn¡¯t break through yet, Lu Ye decided to roll up his sleeves and see if he could reach the thirteenth layer of Yuan Dan. Of course, if he couldn¡¯t, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Dong!¡± ¡°Dong dong dong!¡± A massive and grand bell rang out. Countless spiritual lights appeared, filling the sky. A commanding voice rang out, "Order, all peak masters, bring the ninety-second generation disciples to the Grand Dao Square for assembly!" In an instant, sword lights shot out from the seventy-two peaks, slicing through the sky and converging toward the main peak in a breathtaking and splendid display. Lu Ye didn¡¯t seek anyone out. A simple, unremarkable magic sword landed at his feet. He mounted the wind and flew toward the main peak. Disciples from all the peaks gathered. Lu Ye saw Bai Lan Peak, but he had no intention of approaching it. Interestingly, Chu Ling had come as well. He didn¡¯t approach, but a few people from Bai Lan Peak proactively walked toward him. "Senior Brother, I¡¯m sorry!" "Young Master, I¡¯m sorry!" "Husband..." Bai Qiulan opened her mouth, almost joining in their apology, but quickly stopped herself, breaking into a cold sweat. If she had said "Husband, I¡¯m sorry" in broad daylight... She feared it would cause a massive stir. Chu Ling and Yue Hongling were both incredibly beautiful women, and with Bai Qiulan added to the mix, it could be said that every move they made attracted attention. Seeing the two beautiful women apologizing at the same time, the crowd couldn¡¯t help but be puzzled. What¡¯s going on? Lu Ye had no interest in their apology. If apologies worked, then what use would blades and swords be? He took a step and walked away. With every step he took, the three followed in unison. After one more step, they followed again. Lu Ye... Forget it. Since he was bound to attract everyone¡¯s attention soon, he didn¡¯t mind it. "Get lost!" The three of them froze in place simultaneously. Lu Ye didn¡¯t care and continued walking away. With so many eyes on them, when they heard /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Lu Ye¡¯s harsh command, countless people¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Holy shit! What did I just hear? In response to these three stunning women¡¯s synchronized apology and following, he actually told them to "get lost"? Were they about to be wiped out for this? Chu Ling¡¯s expression remained calm, with a smile on her face. She was completely unconcerned by Lu Ye¡¯s reprimand and continued following him. Yue Hongling¡¯s face alternated between blue and red. She was a person who cared about her dignity, and being scolded like that in front of everyone made her feel utterly embarrassed. "Fine, if you want me to get lost, I¡¯ll get lost!" Fuming, Yue Hongling turned and walked in the opposite direction. Bai Qiulan... Her heart felt so tired! She followed Yue Hongling as she left. Lu Ye had initially thought that this single reprimand would make all three women leave, but to his surprise, Chu Ling still followed him. As for her, Lu Ye chose to ignore her. The vice sect master of the Grand Dao Sect began speaking. "The Grand Dao is vast, humanity shines brightly, the heavens have their seasons, humanity has its morals, ghosts and demons are confused, monsters..." However, these words sounded to the crowd just like the typical announcement: "In this golden autumn month of September, with the red maples covering the land, we welcome the 90th Sect Disciple Competition..." The rules were read aloud, and the rewards were announced. The vice sect master then declared that the Sect Disciple Competition had officially begun! This competition required everyone to participate. No one was allowed to hesitate before battle, and each person had to give their all. It was a two-out-of-one competition system. Lu Ye understood clearly, and it was no different from his past life. So, it proceeded as usual. Chapter 16: Like Art The competition began. This generation of disciples had been in the sect for half a year and had generally reached the Yuan Dan realm in their cultivation. The Grand Dao Sect, after all, was one of the most powerful sects in the First Heavenly Layer, and its disciples naturally had top-tier talent. Three months of full Qi Gathering made someone a genius, while six months made them a relatively ordinary talent. The majority of Grand Dao Sect disciples reached the peak of Qi Gathering within three to five months, before beginning to break through to the next level. On the arena, the disciples'' movements already looked quite proficient, as they were all at the Yuan Dan realm, a level that, in the mortal world, would make them formidable cultivators. In fact, disciples from large sects, when sent out for training in the early stages, might not be able to beat the experienced wandering cultivators. However, as time passed, the disciples from major sects would grow stronger and stronger. For a major sect, the Yuan Dan realm was just the beginning. But for many wandering cultivators, it could already be the limit of their cultivation. A disciple displayed impressive skills, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd. Not long after, Yue Hongling took the stage. By now, Yue Hongling had earned some recognition in the Grand Dao Sect. At just seventeen days in Qi Gathering, she directly broke the sect''s Qi Gathering record. She almost even broke the entire First Heavenly Layer''s Qi Gathering record. Add to that her stunning beauty and those impossibly long legs, which seemed to go on forever, and it was no wonder that she left a lasting impression on everyone. As soon as Yue Hongling stepped onto the stage, cheers and awe filled the air. However, there were still some eyes that couldn¡¯t stop glancing at Lu Ye. Because this man had actually told Yue Hongling to get lost... Yue Hongling was angry. Now at the fifth layer of Yuan Dan, her cultivation speed was rapid. Her opponent was only newly promoted to Yuan Dan. With a single step, she moved faster than her opponent could react. Before the other could even perceive her, the red wine-colored figure flickered and she had already soared off the stage, like riding the clouds. Too fast! Many watching elders nodded in approval, realizing what a promising talent Yue Hongling was. Many had originally underestimated her, thinking her talent was average. After a while, Chu Ling''s name appeared. She had really joined the Grand Dao Sect. "Young Master, I¡¯m going," Chu Ling said gently. Lu Ye looked forward, indifferent, ignoring her. A trace of bitterness appeared in Chu Ling¡¯s eyes, and her heart ached with a sharp, unrelenting pain. The way Lu Ye was acting now made her yearn for the past when he treated her so well. Of course, she also regretted just how foolish she had been! This scene, witnessed by everyone, left many of the male disciples grinding their teeth in frustration. What was he trying to do? And what about this beautiful girl? How could such a gorgeous girl be acting like this? She was clearly chasing after him like a lovesick fool? Chu Ling stepped onto the arena. Her opponent was also a female disciple. Chu Ling was about to make her move when the opponent spoke first. "Junior Sister, what are you doing? He has already humiliated you, yet you still cling to him? As female cultivators, we are no weaker than men." "I see that you have strong abilities and exceptional looks, and you practice swordsmanship. Your actions are truly tarnishing the reputation of female cultivators and sword cultivators alike." "If you are being oppressed or threatened by him, just tell me. I will make sure you get justice!" Chu Ling listened to the words and gently shook her head. "Everything I¡¯ve done is my own choice. To me, the Young Master is more important than even the swordsmanship. Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister." The senior sister''s eyes widened. "Do you know what nonsense you¡¯re speaking?" A cultivator of the sword way, and yet the sword way isn¡¯t the strongest to you? "Every word that Chu Ling speaks is from the heart!" "Alright, fine, if you won¡¯t listen, then I¡¯ll wake you up myself today!" Not far away, Sun Ruowei heard Chu Ling¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but glance at Bai Qiulan, then at Lu Ye. Lu Ye looked impeccable, handsome and gentle, like a cool breeze in the mountains or the bright moon in the sky. But... with this appearance, there are at least 80,000 men in the world who are as handsome, if not more so, than him. Even in the Grand Dao Sect, there are more than a handful of men who are more handsome than him. What could make Chu Ling so completely devoted to him? And that terrifying title, "Sister Bai!" No, I must investigate this thoroughly. Lu Ye ignored the multitude of gazes locked onto him, casually glancing around. He didn¡¯t care how they looked at him; his Dao heart had been reshaped and was now even more stable than in his past life. Such fleeting gazes were not worth mentioning. That senior sister attacked fiercely, holding a long sword. Like a breeze, three figures surrounded Chu Ling and began their assault. Chu Ling moved! A light gleamed like a swimming fish, like a lightning strike. Sparks flew as the sword tips intertwined. The black demon sword''s blade stopped just at the female disciple¡¯s throat. The disciple¡¯s hand holding the sword trembled uncontrollably, her eyes filled with shock. Not just her, many in the audience were equally shocked. The elder overseeing the match had a look of horror in his eyes. He was a swordsmanship elder, and he could sense the purity and power of Chu Ling¡¯s sword intent. For someone so deeply immersed in love, to be able to refine sword intent to such a degree... If she were to focus entirely on the Great Dao, would she not soar to new heights? Some even thought of finding a chance to kill Lu Ye, thereby ending the obsession of this sword cultivator who was distracted by love. "Thank you for the match!" Chu Ling sheathed her sword and said softly. "Bai Lan Peak¡¯s Chu Ling, victory!" Chu Ling jumped down from the arena and hurried over to Lu Ye¡¯s side. "Young Master, I won." Chu Ling¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Ye, almost waiting for his praise. Lu Ye closed his eyes, in a state of deep calm, completely ignoring her. Chu Ling felt a bit disheartened. It had been a long time since she had heard any compliments from him. What she had once taken for granted, now she found herself longing for. This scene was witnessed by many, and countless men in the crowd felt intense resentment towards Lu Ye. Their anger toward him was enough to resurrect a hundred evil sword immortals. Some of the sword cultivator elders even grew more hostile toward Lu Ye. After the four matches, it was Lu Ye¡¯s turn. Seeing him step onto the stage, more people now recognized his name. "Gu Qing, go for it! Defeat him!" "Let others see that a man who doesn¡¯t know how to cherish a woman is no good!" "Make sure to trample him thoroughly!" The crowd cheered for a disciple named Gu Qing. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t particularly familiar with this name; they must have just crossed paths by chance. However, he was quite familiar with a young man named Liu Yishui, who was cheering the loudest from the crowd. Gu Qing stepped onto the stage. The match began! Gu Qing was about to speak, but Lu Ye threw a punch. A transparent fist mark, the size of a grinding wheel, shot out with incredible speed toward Gu Qing. Gu Qing was shocked and quickly shouted in anger, swinging his long blade fiercely. The sword light shattered, and both the man and the sword were sent flying off the stage. A large spurt of blood followed, spraying freely. The surrounding commotion abruptly fell silent. "Thank you for the match!" Lu Ye stepped off the arena, his demeanor as calm as the wind, his appearance leaving # N§àv§Ölight # people speechless. The power of that punch struck at everyone¡¯s heart. Fast, precise, ruthless. Like an art form! Chapter 17: No Slapping in the Face "This generation truly has a lot of impressive faces," Vice Sect Master Ji Changming remarked with a sigh. "Yes, especially Bai Lan Peak¡¯s disciples, they¡¯re the most extraordinary." "Yue Hongling, Chu Ling, and Lu Ye. I didn¡¯t expect Junior Sister Bai to be not only talented in cultivation, but also such a formidable teacher." "Seems like the competition for the top spot will be a fierce battle." "Not necessarily!" "Oh? Why do you say that?" "They are undoubtedly strong, but aren¡¯t their emotions a bit too overwhelming? Take Chu Ling, for example. Her heart and eyes are entirely on Lu Ye. If it weren¡¯t for Lu Ye keeping people at a distance, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she had already crawled into his arms." Ji Changming... "And then there''s Yue Hongling. In such a short time, she¡¯s secretly glanced at Lu Ye no less than thirty times." Ji Changming... "And Junior Sister Bai!" "Huh?" "Though Junior Sister Bai hasn''t directly looked at Lu Ye, her head always seems to want to turn in his direction. Every time she¡¯s halfway there, she forces herself to turn back. I can¡¯t quite make sense of it." Ji Changming furrowed his brows. He glanced around, starting to feel a bit suspicious. "Senior Brother Ji, what are you looking at?" Ji Changming frowned and said, "I¡¯m just trying to figure out if I¡¯m in the Grand Dao Sect or in the Hehuan Sect right now." ... It was indeed quite strange, very strange. After one round of combat, half of the contestants were eliminated. Without pause, the second round of the competition began. The three continued to take the stage one by one, defeating their opponents in a single move. Their power was unfathomable. The few disciples who were originally favorites to win the championship now faded into the background, secretly calling them monsters in their minds. There was nothing to be done; after all, they were emperors in their previous lives, reborn with all their experience, martial arts, and divine abilities intact. Against the disciples of this generation, it was an absolute crushing victory. The second round passed. The third round began. The battles between geniuses grew even more exciting, drawing cheers from the crowd. When Chu Ling and Yue Hongling took the stage, the cheering grew even louder. But whenever Lu Ye took the stage, the entire arena would fall silent in an instant, as if it had been agreed upon beforehand. Lu Ye didn¡¯t mind. This time, Lu Ye¡¯s opponent was a genius named Li Jiumin, the top disciple of this year¡¯s Wendaofeng. He was an official favorite to win the championship. "I don¡¯t believe it, you can still defeat me with just one punch..." Before he could finish his words, Lu Ye¡¯s fist mark was already right in front of him. Li Jiumin quickly formed seals with both hands, summoning a yellowish shield adorned with brilliant and mystical symbols. This was the Turtle Spirit Shield, known for its powerful defense. As the fist mark made contact with the Turtle Spirit Shield, numerous cracks appeared, and with a crisp sound, the shield was shattered. The punch then continued on, sending Li Jiumin flying off the stage. A commotion erupted! Li ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) Jiumin¡¯s strength couldn¡¯t be said to be weak. He was already at the fourth layer of Yuan Dan and was a disciple carefully trained by Wendaofeng. Yet, he was still defeated in one punch. How could Lu Ye be so strong? "Too monstrous! Truly monstrous! I suddenly feel that Chu Ling¡¯s humble submission to Lu Ye isn¡¯t as bad as I once thought. I could accept it now." "Lu Ye is indeed handsome. No disciple in this generation will be his match." "Elder Bai is incredible. How did she train her disciples? Is it too late to join Elder Bai¡¯s faction?" The crowd murmured and discussed. One thing was certain: Lu Ye¡¯s name had firmly entered the hearts of all disciples of this generation. One punch broke the Turtle Spirit Shield, amazing! The fourth round. Only a dozen or so contestants remained. The battles were fast and intense. And now, it was time for Lu Ye to face Yue Hongling. The eyes of the disciples all brightened. It was finally happening! Up until now, Lu Ye, Chu Ling, and Yue Hongling had all defeated their opponents in a single move, and no one really knew the full extent of their strength. Now that these two were facing off, everyone could imagine it would be an intense battle. Yue Hongling furrowed her brows. She was facing Lu Ye? What a joke! How could she possibly defeat Lu Ye? But just admitting defeat without a fight didn¡¯t sit well with her either. Both of them were in the Yuan Dan realm, so why not give it a try? As the previous matches went on, Chu Ling had once again defeated her opponent in a single move, her power overwhelming. Finally, it was Lu Ye and Yue Hongling¡¯s turn to take the stage. "Senior Brother, please teach me," Yue Hongling said playfully, standing opposite Lu Ye. "But just so you know, no hitting my face." She wore a red battle skirt, her figure graceful, and her legs were pale and flawless, perfect to the extreme. Lu Ye smiled and, without warning, threw a punch at Yue Hongling¡¯s face from a distance. Sorry, he was in a rebellious phase! "You said no hitting the face!" Yue Hongling was furious but didn¡¯t stop her own actions. The Ancient Reversal Dao Scripture flowed within her, the Dao¡¯s resonance echoing in her body as her true essence transformed into a vast river. She too threw a punch. At that moment, Yue Hongling was fearless. Her Unyielding Emperor¡¯s Fist, infused with the bravery of breaking the boat and burning the bridge, collided fiercely with Lu Ye¡¯s fist mark. "Boom!" A loud explosion rang out. Yue Hongling¡¯s fist mark was shattered, and the immense force crashed toward her face like a tidal wave. It hit her squarely on the face. "Bang!" Yue Hongling was sent flying backward, her stunning face flushed like a blooming peach blossom. Hmm, just nosebleed. Yue Hongling felt her nose ache, and tears streamed down her face. "Stinky Senior Brother!" "I¡¯m not done with you!" Lu Ye ignored her. What a joke, still not done with him? Seeing Yue Hongling¡¯s miserable appearance, many people couldn¡¯t help but gasp in shock. "Wow, looks like Lu Ye really has no interest in these two women. Did we misunderstand him?" "Now that you mention it, maybe. If he had even a little bit of tenderness for them, he wouldn¡¯t have beaten Yue Hongling like that. Maybe it¡¯s because he has no interest in these two women, and that¡¯s why they¡¯ve been pestering him so much, forcing him to be so ruthless." "So, you¡¯re saying... Lu Ye is actually the one suffering?" "Think about it. If you don¡¯t like women and only care about the Dao, but two women keep trying to get in your face, trying to become your Dao partner, how would you feel?" "Who are these two women?" "Well, Yue Hongling and Chu Ling!" "I¡¯m actually happy about it!" "What do you mean, ''happy''? I mean, considering you only care about the Dao and not women." "Oh... well, I¡¯m happy too." "Get lost, get lost!!!" "I think, as a guy, when you¡¯re out there, you really need to protect yourself!" Lu Ye didn¡¯t expect that with one punch, he would completely reverse his reputation. So, the Sigma man is always the god! Yue Hongling gritted her teeth as she returned to Bai Qiulan¡¯s side. Sun Ruowei watched this scene, her eyes turning thoughtfully. Yue Hongling liked Lu Ye? Bai Qiulan, Bai Qiulan, what secrets are hidden at Bai Lan Peak? It seemed that Yue Hongling was the most naive one. It looked like she should focus on Yue Hongling first. Find an opportunity, and definitely dig for more information from Yue Hongling. Chapter 18: Naturally Willing The competition continued. The Grand Dao Sect was truly impressive. A disciple competition that had to end in one day. This was the efficiency of a major sect. In other sects, it''s common for a disciple competition to go on for days, sometimes even ten days or half a month. Perhaps this is the style of the Grand Dao Sect. If there''s time to watch these young disciples pecking at each other in competition, it might be better to spend the time cultivating instead. Didn''t even see the Sect Master at such an event. Ji Changming suspected that the reason the Grand Dao Sect set up a vice-sect master was because the Sect Master didn¡¯t want to waste too much time managing the sect¡¯s affairs. Fifth round. Lu Ye vs. Linghu Wushuang. Linghu Wushuang had been defeated by Lu Ye before, so naturally, he knew Lu Ye''s strength. "I have already made up for my shortcomings, but it seems I am still not your match," Linghu Wushuang said. This was the first time Lu Ye spoke during the competition. "To know shame and gain courage, continuous improvement is the path of cultivation." Linghu Wushuang paused for a moment. "Thank you!" "You''re welcome." "Then why are you always so harsh with your junior sister?" Linghu Wushuang asked, puzzled. Lu Ye smiled and did not answer. He brought his two fingers together. A sword intent gathered between his two fingers. With a single point. Linghu Wushuang¡¯s mind immediately rang with alarm, as he watched the sword light speeding toward him. It felt as though he was witnessing the profound mysteries of the sword way. "Feixia Observation of the Immortals!" "Clink!" The sword light collided with the sword light. Countless bloodstreaks suddenly erupted on Linghu Wushuang¡¯s body. His steps retreated again and again, and he only managed to stop at the edge of the ring. Lu Ye made no second move. Linghu Wushuang¡¯s mind vividly recalled the sword intent that had burst forth from the single point. He thought about it again and again, unable to forget. "I concede!" After conceding, Linghu Wushuang deeply bowed, jumped off the stage, and sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to comprehend. Lu Ye turned and left. One elder after another widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief. This sword intent? Absolutely stunning! Unbelievable! Before this, all that Lu Ye had displayed were simple, powerful punches that solved battles, showing an overwhelming might. But this sword intent, executed with just two fingers, revealed Lu Ye''s swordsmanship, which was terrifying! "White Qiulan¡¯s disciple? I''ll go ask Junior Sister Qiulan. She¡¯s not a specialized sword cultivator, but this swordsmanship genius should definitely be taught by [N O V E L I G H T] me!" "Ridiculous, you still can''t beat me. It should be me who teaches him!" "This sword energy is too incredible. I feel like I''m not even worthy to teach him. No, I need to find my master. My master will surely be ecstatic!" A group of sword elders immediately became busy. Some went to find White Qiulan, others went to seek their own masters. Before, it was normal for Lu Ye to display immense power, after all, this was the Grand Dao Sect, and it wasn¡¯t surprising to see a few monsters with great combat strength. But the swordsmanship Lu Ye just displayed was no longer just about being a powerful genius in combat. It was a rare swordsmanship seed, one that had only practiced for half a year and already reached such a level¡ªsimply... indescribable! White Qiulan was quickly surrounded. "Junior Sister Bai, did you see that? Lu Ye''s greatest strength is actually his swordsmanship. You¡¯re not particularly skilled in swordsmanship; how about you let Lu Ye be my disciple? If possible, I, from the Lonely Sword Peak, am willing to offer all the resources for the next three years to Bai Lan Peak!" "I am willing to offer five years, Junior Sister Bai, you know me. My Sword Concealing Heavenly Sutra has been difficult to find a successor for, and now I finally have a good seed. If you don''t give him to me, my Lonely Sword Peak will lose its heritage!" "Junior Sister Bai, I am willing to offer twenty years of resources to you..." White Qiulan looked at the figures all surrounding her, asking for Lu Ye, feeling a bit helpless. What do you have to teach? Lu Ye is not just terrifying in his swordsmanship, but in every path of cultivation, he is the most terrifying. Don''t say that you''re his master¡ªhe could even take the position of your grandmaster''s grandmaster, and he''d be able to manage it. "Senior brothers, I''m sorry, Lu Ye belongs to Bai Lan Peak, and I really can''t let him go to you all!" White Qiulan outright refused. "Oh, Junior Sister, Lu Ye is at Bai Lan Peak, and your Bai Lan Peak cultivates magic arts. It''s really such a waste!" "Besides, you already have Chu Ling, so let Lu Ye be with us!" "No, Lu Ye will absolutely not go to you. There''s no room for discussion!" White Qiulan resolutely rejected. Lu Ye watched this scene, raising an eyebrow. It shouldn''t be like this! Is White Qiulan still acting as his master? Shouldn''t she be treating him like a hot potato and quickly sending him out to avoid any further incidents like disrespecting the teacher or destroying the family? "White disciple, I want Lu Ye!" A powerful aura suddenly descended, and with his arrival, every sword in the area began to hum as if welcoming the master of swordsmanship. The old man wore a black robe, carrying an ancient sword on his back, and spoke in an extremely domineering manner. "Greetings, Battle Sword Elder!" "Greetings, Battle Sword Uncle!" "Greetings, Battle Sword Supreme Elder!" The crowd bowed to the Battle Sword Lord. Dao Integration Realm! An elder from the Dao Integration realm had come to claim the disciple. The crowd was shocked. They never expected that a disciple competition would lead to someone from the Dao Integration realm coming to fight for a disciple. If Lu Ye were to join the Dao Integration realm, it would be like rising a level, becoming a little brother to the Sect Master and the peak masters. "Battle Sword Brother, I actually think Lu Ye is more suited to my sword path." A light laugh echoed from the void. Another elder appeared. "Senior Brother Tao, why do I feel like Lu Ye is more suited to my sword path?" Yet another elder appeared. Three Dao Integration elders were now vying for Lu Ye. White Qiulan''s face became slightly darker. For some reason, she felt incredibly reluctant to let Lu Ye join anyone else''s sect. There was perhaps a hint of panic that she was unwilling to admit. If Lu Ye were to join another sect, would she and Lu Ye have no further connection from then on? No! No way! White Qiulan''s gaze became sharp. "Senior brothers, according to the sect rules, you are only allowed to choose disciples when they first enter the sect. Once they have already joined, it''s not the way of elders to compete for them. Now that you see my disciple''s talent, you''re trying to snatch him away. This is really not how elders should behave!" White Qiulan''s voice was firm. "You are not a sword cultivator, how could you teach a powerful sword cultivator?" "That still doesn''t give you the right to steal him!" A group of sword cultivators frantically began to persuade White Qiulan, but she remained unmoved. "Anyway, I don¡¯t care. Lu Ye is my disciple. As long as he agrees, I will immediately report to the Sect Master and let him decide!" "Indeed, Junior Sister Bai is stubborn. Let''s go find the Sect Master!" "Lu Ye, I now ask you, are you willing to leave Bai Lan Peak and join another sword cultivator''s sect?" The Battle Sword Lord asked. Immediately, all eyes turned to Lu Ye. Yue Hongling tightly clenched her fists, White Qiulan''s gaze was as calm as water, but at this moment, ripples formed in her heart. A faint smile appeared on Lu Ye''s face. He spoke softly. "Naturally, I am willing!" Chapter 19: Looting "Naturally, I am willing!" These four words were like a thunderclap, instantly exploding in the hearts of the few people present. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes widened, staring at Lu Ye in disbelief, then turning to her master. White Qiulan¡¯s body also trembled slightly, her hand clenched into a fist. There was a trace of shock in her eyes. And also a hint of confusion. Lu Ye didn¡¯t want to be her disciple. Hearing these four words, for some reason, White Qiulan felt panic rising in her heart, a sense of urgency overwhelming her. "Hahaha, good! Very good! Since Lu Ye has no objections, I¡¯ll immediately go and ask for the Sect Master''s decree!" The Battle Sword Lord laughed loudly, and his figure instantly vanished. The other two Supreme Elders also hurried to the main peak. A few sword-cultivating peak masters gritted their teeth and also flew toward the main peak. They weren¡¯t sure if the Sect Master would allow the Supreme Elders to fight over a disciple, or if the Sect Master would let Lu Ye join another peak instead? White Qiulan gave Lu Ye a deep look. "Master!" Yue Hongling¡¯s voice was full of urgency. She absolutely couldn¡¯t let her senior brother join another peak. Though she didn¡¯t know why, Yue Hongling felt an intense resistance, an overwhelming desire to keep Lu Ye from leaving their sect! "With me here, no one can take him away!" White Qiulan spoke with determination, her figure vanishing instantly. A group of terrifyingly strong experts had left, and only then did everyone realize, a common thought rising ~N§àv§Ölight~ in their minds: Lu Ye is going to be amazing! No matter who takes Lu Ye as their disciple in the end, Lu Ye will surely become incredible. But was it really okay for him to so directly express his desire to leave Bai Lan Peak? There¡¯s an old saying, "Once a disciple, always like a father." Although the cultivation world doesn¡¯t emphasize this too much, there should still be some subtlety. Just now, when the Supreme Elder asked if Lu Ye would be willing to leave Bai Lan Peak, Lu Ye¡¯s answer was so lighthearted. For someone like him, even if he joins another peak, will the other peaks hesitate in the slightest? At this moment, he encounters strength and leaves without a second thought. The next time he encounters someone even stronger, he will leave again. If only he had said something like, ¡°I¡¯ll follow the arrangements of the elders,¡± it wouldn¡¯t have been a situation of tearing the face off! This person is definitely talented, but his emotional intelligence is so low. Whether he can truly become a great figure still depends on whether the master he joins can tolerate him. The competition continued. After Lu Ye defeated Linghu Wushuang, he had already secured a spot in the top two. On the other side, it was the battle between Chu Ling and another top disciple of the Grand Dao Sect, Xiao Huarong. Xiao Huarong was also a peak talent of the Grand Dao Sect, gentle by nature, and her beauty was unparalleled. The interest of the crowd shifted, as compared to Lu Ye¡¯s situation, they preferred to watch the clash between two peerless beauties, not even daring to imagine how beautiful this battle would be. Chu Ling and Xiao Huarong took the stage. Both were stunningly beautiful, with distinctly different auras. One was as gentle as water, calm and unshaken; the other was like a sword, peaceful when she was sheathed but sharp when drawn. The battle began! On the other side. A group of people noisily rushed to the Grand Dao Hall. A middle-aged man with no beard seemed to have been waiting there for a long time. Sun Ruowei also followed, her eyes shining brightly. Let me see what the situation is. "Sect Master, there is a disciple named Lu Ye, who has extraordinary talent in swordsmanship. He is truly suitable for my inheritance. "Battle Sword Uncle, how can you say that..." Sect Master Liu Changfeng said, both amused and helpless. "Am I not speaking the truth? Sect Master, if Junior Sister Bai were a sword cultivator, I wouldn''t have said anything, but she''s a spell cultivator. Although I haven''t seen the sword he struck with his two fingers, my disciple showed me what it looked like. That sword, in the entire wasteland, among the heavenly prodigies, is truly unparalleled!" "No, he must join my sect. Your Battle Sword Peak is all about fighting and fighting. I don¡¯t think Lu Ye is the type of person who seeks to fight for the sake of fighting. He should cultivate my Concealed Sword, conceal the sword within, and strike once to announce his name to the world. This is the path he should follow!" "Utter nonsense! He struck his opponent into a complete mess with just one finger, and you say he''s not the type to fight fiercely?" "I don¡¯t think he is!" "Alright, stop arguing, let me speak fairly. Lu Ye must join my Lonely Sword Peak. The Battle Sword hasn''t been passed down yet, but the Concealed Sword has a group of concealed sword cultivators. If Lonely Sword Peak truly loses its lineage, it¡¯s over!" Sect Master Liu Changfeng was getting a headache from the noise, his brows furrowing tightly. "Enough! Everyone be quiet!" He shouted loudly. The hall immediately fell silent. Liu Changfeng¡¯s gaze turned toward White Qiulan. In that moment, there was a brief moment of daze in his eyes. It was undeniable that he had feelings for White Qiulan. But White Qiulan didn¡¯t return those feelings. Unconsciously, it had already been over a year since he had last seen Junior Sister Bai. And she seemed... more beautiful now. More beautiful? Liu Changfeng paused slightly, comparing his memories of White Qiulan with the current version of her. The old White Qiulan was as cold as ice, as proud as a snow plum. She was like an unreachable, unapproachable snow-capped ice lotus. But now, though still cold and proud, there was a hint of warmth around her. It was as if the snow-capped ice lotus had stepped into the bustling world. Was it just his illusion? He even felt a hint of... seduction from White Qiulan? Illusion! It must be an illusion! How could Junior Sister Bai have any seductive qualities? His voice softened, and he gently said, "Junior Sister." At that moment, the three Supreme Elders and the group of peak masters all felt a sudden jolt in their hearts. The Sect Master was being so gentle? This is bad! Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t help but secretly laugh, Hehe, you came to find the Sect Master? You¡¯ve made a huge miscalculation. The Sect Master was Bai Qiulan¡¯s number one fan. Whatever Bai Qiulan said, the Sect Master would nod so vigorously his neck might break. "Junior Sister Bai, I have seen the Sect Master!" White Qiulan¡¯s voice was calm. Liu Changfeng smiled, "I¡¯ve told you, you can call me Senior Brother, there¡¯s no need to call me Sect Master." "Rules of the sect cannot be overlooked, etiquette must not be discarded." White Qiulan really didn¡¯t have any feelings for Liu Changfeng. "Alright, alright, it¡¯s fine to call me Sect Master. Now, Junior Sister Bai, what do you think about this matter?" Liu Changfeng asked with a smile. White Qiulan had calmed down by this point. The impact of Lu Ye¡¯s willingness to leave Bai Lan Peak had finally subsided. Though she didn¡¯t want to admit it, her heart was strongly protesting¡ªLu Ye absolutely could not leave Bai Lan Peak. She came up with the perfect reason for herself. In his past life, under her guidance, Lu Ye became the most solid wall of defense for humanity, and now, with his rebirth full of resentment, she was deeply worried that Lu Ye would go down the wrong path. Therefore, she must always correct him. Yes, that¡¯s it! In his past life, she had always been his master, and in this life, she would remain so¡ªit was her responsibility. Chapter 20: Refining the Void to Victory over the He Dao Bai Qiulan spoke. "First of all, I absolutely cannot allow Lu Ye to leave Bai Lan Peak. This goes against sect rules and etiquette!" Yes, Bai Qiulan was such a person who adhered strictly to traditions. One can imagine how it was for her in her past life, being with Lu Ye, often crying and wailing. For her, it was a torment. Torment, while... "Second, the three uncles think that I am a practitioner of techniques, not a sword cultivator, and thus cannot properly teach Lu Ye, a sword cultivator. In reality, the three uncles are overthinking." "Techniques, I can teach!" "Swords, I can teach just the same!" "If the three uncles do not believe me, the sect leader can allow me to have a sword fight with the three uncles!" "If I win, Lu Ye will be a disciple of Bai Lan Peak." "If I lose..." Bai Qiulan''s expression was cold, and her white dress fluttered gently in the wind. "I will never lose!" Liu Changfeng... The three Grand Elders... The many peak masters... Isn''t she a bit too confident? "Alright, alright, I won¡¯t bully you. You say you can teach swords, then I¡¯ll seal my cultivation and fight you with the same cultivation level, the Virtual Realm!" "If you lose, let Lu Ye choose his master!" the Sword Master of the War Sword Sect said in a deep voice. Bai Qiulan looked up at the three Grand Elders. "You don''t need to suppress your cultivation!" The group of people immediately widened their eyes, unable to believe their ears. No need to suppress cultivation? These three Grand Elders were all Dao Integration Realm cultivators, and they were going to fight using swords. Wait, are you out of your mind? "Junior sister, I know you have the Taiyin Divine Body, but the three uncles are the most formidable experts, what are you doing?" Liu Changfeng hastily advised. The faces of the three Grand Elders turned red and pale in turn. What does this mean? Are they being accused of using their power to bully the weak? "Senior brother, no need to persuade. If you want Lu Ye, come to the sky and fight!" After speaking, Bai Qiulan stopped talking, and her figure disappeared, reappearing high in the sky. "Alright, alright, bullying the weak. For the sake of a successor, I¡¯ll take on this reputation!" The Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect was ready to throw away his face completely, and his figure disappeared. The group hurriedly followed. Liu Changfeng was so furious that he could barely contain himself. "Solitary Sword Uncle, you absolutely cannot harm Junior Sister Bai!" No one had high hopes for Bai Qiulan. The main reason was that there was simply no way to believe in her success. How [N O V E L I G H T] could this work? One in the Virtual Realm, one in Dao Integration. And yet, one in the Virtual Realm, who specializes in techniques, is going to use swordsmanship to challenge one in Dao Integration, who practices sword arts... Absurd, truly absurd! "Disciple, you don''t need to use a sword. Just let me be injured, and I will no longer mention taking in a disciple!" the Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect spoke. Bai Qiulan''s expression remained calm as she stretched out her finger and pointed at the sky. In an instant, the sky changed dramatically. A strong, cold, and domineering sword intent erupted, and chilling air rolled in, with clouds and mist swirling. In the sky above, a massive white moonlit sword appeared, made of clouds and mist, carrying wind, rain, and thunder, along with the Taiyin Dao. That giant sword was thousands of feet long. It spanned the heavens and earth. Under this sword, all beings felt like ants. Countless disciples of the Dao Sect, as well as powerful cultivators, looked up at the grandeur of this sword, its sword intent spilling across the sky. "The Taiyin Divine Sword, the Master is making his move." The battle between Yue Hongling and Chu Ling also paused, as they both looked up at the Taiyin Divine Sword. This was a powerful sword technique. It was specifically created for the Taiyin Divine Body. Well, it was created by Lu Ye. For someone in the Virtual Realm to wield the Taiyin Divine Sword, even in its embryonic form, it would be an extremely difficult task. But now Bai Qiulan had used it. When this Taiyin Divine Sword appeared, the three Grand Elders¡¯ faces simultaneously changed. "How is this possible?" Liu Changfeng exclaimed in shock. When did Bai Qiulan learn swordsmanship? What an intense sword intent, what terrifying sword might. When did she become so skilled with the sword? "Master, be careful!" Bai Qiulan¡¯s face turned pale as she suddenly pointed at the Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect. "Boom!" The long sword, with a massive roar, tore through the sea of clouds, resembling a Kunpeng soaring into the sky, and struck fiercely towards the Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect. Yes, it was going to crush him... This sword was almost as large as a mountain. The Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect let out a loud roar. A vast amount of sword energy erupted around him, swirling like an abyss, all rushing towards the Taiyin Divine Sword. Countless sword energies, as finely crafted as the most intricate parts, came together to form a magnificent sword light. This sword was the Solitary Sword! The two enormous sword lights collided with a deafening crash. Crushing, shattering, mixed with fire and thunder. The Taiyin Divine Sword violently shattered the Solitary Sword, and despite its broken form, it continued to charge towards the Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect. "Boom!" The Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect spat blood and was forced to retreat. The Taiyin Divine Sword dispersed on its own. "Master, you lost!" Bai Qiulan said coldly. The entire arena fell silent. Everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with shock. They couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªBai Qiulan had actually defeated the Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect. A Virtual Realm cultivator defeating a Dao Integration cultivator in a sword fight. A sword battle... won by a sword! Silence, true silence. Even the wind stopped making a sound. No one expected this scene. No one had anticipated this outcome. Bai Qiulan challenging the Grand Elder of the Solitary Sword Sect seemed like an act of anger, but could she really win? "Please, the next Master, please teach me!" Bai Qiulan spoke. The Grand Elder of the Hidden Sword Sect and the Grand Elder of the War Sword Sect exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in each other¡¯s eyes. The two hesitated for a moment. The War Sword Sect Master sighed. "Alright, the sword path you¡¯ve shown is enough to prove that you have the ability to teach Lu Ye. We were initially just reluctant to let such a precious gem get tarnished, but since you can teach, neither of us can be the ones to take this opportunity away. Alright, alright!" "Yes, that¡¯s exactly my opinion." "Thank you, Masters." The dispute over Lu Ye had come to an end. The powerful strength Bai Qiulan demonstrated was enough to leave everyone feeling stunned, especially the peak masters of her generation. They had thought everyone was in the Virtual Realm, but suddenly, Bai Qiulan could defeat someone in the Dao Integration Realm? Was this even possible? "Junior sister, your swordsmanship, is it not from the Grand Dao Sect?" Liu Changfeng asked curiously. "Returning to the Sect Leader, it is not the Grand Dao Sect¡¯s sword technique. I acquired it by chance." "I see, junior sister, you have extraordinary talent in the sword path. I happen to have many secret sword techniques, which I have collected over the years. Would you like to visit my personal library and have a look?" Liu Changfeng tried to invite Bai Qiulan for a meeting. Bai Qiulan glanced at him. "Sect Leader, no need. I don''t like swords." "I have many techniques from the Grand Dao..." "I don''t like techniques either!" Liu Changfeng... The meaning of this rejection was so obvious. For someone who specializes in techniques to say they don¡¯t like techniques¡ªit was a very clear refusal. "It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. I haven¡¯t seen you for a long time, and today, seeing you again, it feels like you¡¯ve become more easygoing. I¡¯m sure your cultivation methods have improved..." Bai Qiulan listened to Liu Changfeng finish speaking, then cupped her hands. "Since there is nothing else, Bai Qiulan takes her leave!" Liu Changfeng... Chapter 21: Killing Intent By the time Bai Qiulan returned to the arena, the battle between Xiao Huarong and Chu Ling had already ended. As expected, Xiao Huarong lost. In fact, just being able to exchange a few moves with Chu Ling was something to be proud of. With this, Chu Ling and Lu Ye were left to compete for first place. Chu Ling happily walked onto the stage, waiting for Lu Ye to come over. To be honest, if Lu Ye didn¡¯t need anything from the Grand Dao Treasury, she might have turned and walked away right now. She really felt like killing someone! Lu Ye thought to himself. He walked up to the stage, his fingers once again coming together. Killing intent? Chu Ling paused, and her smile became very forced at that moment. Young master, he actually has killing intent towards me... Chu Ling¡¯s eyes fixed on Lu Ye, and finally, after such a long time, Lu Ye looked at Chu Ling for the first time. Chu Ling initially intended to just give in and admit defeat, but after sensing Lu Ye¡¯s killing intent, her heart plunged into extreme pain. She suddenly knelt down on the stage. She closed her eyes. Come on, kill me! I¡¯ve taken a life from you, today I¡¯ll return it. Anyway, living now feels meaningless, it would be better to die, and dying by Lu Ye¡¯s hand would be my fate. This scene left everyone present utterly confused. "Why is this happening? How much does Chu Ling owe Lu Ye to act like this?" "Has this woman gone mad?" "Oh my god, what¡¯s the situation between these two?" The crowd below was filled with discussions. Chu Ling¡¯s actions were truly incomprehensible. Who would want to die like this? Lu Ye furrowed his brow upon seeing this. Finally, he spoke, "We have no emotional ties now. I won¡¯t kill you. How about you just stay away from me?" Damn, I can¡¯t kill her! If this had happened during their fight, with one killing move, Lu Ye would have had a 90% chance of directly eliminating Chu Ling. But now, in her current state, if Lu Ye took action, someone would definitely interfere. He couldn''t understand. Since it¡¯s already broken off, why not live your own life, and let him live his? Why does there need to be any further entanglement? "No, young master can kill me, but I absolutely will not leave you!" Chu Ling said resolutely. "Damn, you''re crazy!" He suddenly waved his hand, and Chu Ling was blasted away by a surge of energy, spitting blood as she was thrown off the stage. Victory. Though, Lu Ye¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t exactly great. "The winner, Lu Ye!" the deputy sect leader announced the results of the match. Lu Ye decided that he could no longer stay at the Grand Dao Sect. Once he had obtained what he needed, he would leave and go somewhere else to cultivate in seclusion. A bunch of lunatics, can¡¯t I just avoid them? Bai Qiulan returned. Sun Ruowei followed her, chattering [N O V E L I G H T] away. "Wait, when did you get this strong? You can even defeat Dao Integration cultivators now?" "I feel like you¡¯ve been hiding a lot from me. Are we still good sisters?" "Come on, spill the beans!" "After what the Sect Leader said, I also realized that you¡¯re not the same as before. Now you¡¯ve become... well... more..." Sun Ruowei carefully sized up Bai Qiulan. "Mm... you¡¯ve gained some charm, holy shit, what have you been doing behind my back?" Sun Ruowei suddenly widened her eyes. Charm! Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression remained the same, with those elegant and cold features, as though she were untouched by the mortal world. But now, between her brows and eyes, there was a trace of seduction, as if she had transformed from an immortal to a woman. Bai Qiulan raised an eyebrow, about to speak. Suddenly, an icy chill surged through her entire body, and her hand clenched into a fist. True essence flowed. Threads of cold energy poured out from her body. Her dark brows furrowed. Sun Ruowei, standing beside her, noticed the change in her expression. "What¡¯s wrong?" Just the faint cold energy made Sun Ruowei, who was closest to her, feel as if her Nascent Soul was about to freeze. How could Bai Qiulan be emitting such an aura? "No worries!" Bai Qiulan suppressed the coldness, but her heart was uneasy. At this moment, in front of her Nascent Soul, a drop of gray-blue liquid condensed. It was the most extreme coldness, causing her tiny Nascent Soul to furrow its brows uncontrollably. "I have something to do, I¡¯ll leave first." Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t dare to delay. The Chaos Yin Poison had appeared earlier than expected. The first time she had encountered the Chaos Yin Poison, it should have been at the Dao Integration Realm. However, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues. She had already found a way to handle the Chaos Yin Poison. Once she returned, she just needed to circulate the "Taiyin Transforming Sacred Scripture" to disperse the poison. Bai Qiulan quickly left. "Hey, wait for me!" ... Lu Ye received his reward, and just now, the cold aura emitted by Bai Qiulan had been precisely captured by him. A smile appeared on his face. The Chaos Yin Poison, it was an appropriate time for it to appear. Bai Qiulan¡¯s rebirth had naturally led to a significant improvement in her cultivation. To defeat a Dao Integration cultivator while in the Virtual Realm¡ªthis alone was enough to show she was only one step away from Dao Integration. Dear Master, the Chaos Yin Poison! I hope in this life, you can make greater breakthroughs than in the previous life, and ideally, use your own strength to turn the Chaos Yin Poison into nothingness. And become the champion of the sect competition. Lu Ye was honored with the title of true disciple. A true disciple held a higher status than an inner disciple. At this point, he was the first to become a true disciple. Even if someone else became a true disciple in the future, they would still have to address him as senior brother. However, Lu Ye didn¡¯t care about such things. He immediately made his way to the Grand Dao Treasury. He presented his token. "You may choose three items below the seventh layer. For the items you wish to select, simply place your identity token on the restricted area," said the Elder guarding the treasury with a smile. "Understood!" Lu Ye was quite familiar with the Grand Dao Treasury. There were plenty of treasures inside, with nine total layers, and the items grew more precious as you went higher. In his past life, he had been dazzled by the sights when he entered, and his goals had been clear. Now, he walked in without rush, leisurely inspecting the items. Every single treasure, its effects, its situation, all of them were laid out before Lu Ye. The first item: Wood Spirit Pearl. The second item: Key to the God Burial Ridge. The third item: A treasure furnace. The treasure furnace was used to exchange for the Xuan Yin Soul Fruit from the Dan Peak. This item belonged to the medicinal category, so it wasn¡¯t collected by the Grand Dao Treasury. After obtaining the three items, Lu Ye left the Grand Dao Treasury and headed straight to the Dan Peak. "Passersby, passersby, the Nine Dragons Treasure Furnace, exchange for one Xuan Yin Soul Fruit! Only exchanging for Xuan Yin Soul Fruits! Senior brothers, senior sisters, uncles, aunts, grandmasters, don¡¯t miss out!" "Not 998, not 668, one Xuan Yin Soul Fruit, take the Nine Dragons Treasure Furnace home!" "The Nine Dragons Treasure Furnace is good, the Nine Dragons Treasure Furnace is wonderful, nine times heating, nine times extraction, the finest medicinal pills are sure to come!" It had been a long time since he shouted like this, and now, he felt a bit rusty. But he was still quite satisfied. It wasn¡¯t just Lu Ye shouting. Under the Dan Peak, dozens, even hundreds, of cultivators were also shouting, including many alchemists in the Virtual Realm. Sometimes, if one was lucky, they could even encounter alchemists in the Dao Integration Realm shouting their wares. Chapter 22: Chaos and Viciousness The Nine Dragons Treasure Furnace was well-known. Now, under Lu Ye¡¯s loud shouts, it naturally drew the attention of many. Numerous alchemists turned their gaze toward him with admiration. What a kid, his voice is so full of energy; he definitely has the potential to be a great alchemist. "Only the Xuan Yin Soul Fruit? Won''t you accept anything else in exchange?" "No, only the Xuan Yin Soul Fruit!" Lu Ye¡¯s attitude was firm, even rejecting elixirs that used the Xuan Yin Soul Fruit as a primary ingredient. He only wanted the Xuan Yin Soul Fruit itself. Such was the Grand Dao Sect, full of resources. Within just half an hour, someone came rushing over with a Xuan Yin Soul Fruit. "I''ll trade it! I''ll trade it!" Foolish people were still debating with Lu Ye whether elixirs containing the Xuan Yin Soul Fruit could replace the fruit itself. Meanwhile, the smarter ones had already gone to find a complete Xuan Yin Soul Fruit. Got it! With all three items in hand, Lu Ye immediately headed back toward the sect. At the sect. Chu Ling was holding a box of pastries, waiting eagerly. When she saw Lu Ye coming, her eyes lit up, and she hurried to meet him. "Young master, I made your favorite mung bean cakes." Lu Ye''s figure brushed past her, leaving the sect. A common flying sword soared into the air, and Lu Ye stepped on it, turning into a streak of light that rapidly disappeared. Chu Ling didn¡¯t feel disappointed. The magic sword flew out at once, and she stepped on it, chasing after Lu Ye. ... Bai Qiulan¡¯s Daoist temple. Sun Ruowei paced anxiously back and forth at the door. What happened? How did such terrifying cold energy suddenly burst forth uncontrollably? What went wrong with the cultivation? Through the door, one could see that Bai Qiulan¡¯s cultivation room had already been frozen by frost, and the power of Taiyin was radiating a terrifying aura. Yue Hongling hurried over as well. Upon seeing this scene, she couldn¡¯t help but ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) exclaim, "How could the Taiyin Poison flare up so early?" This shouldn¡¯t be, the Taiyin Poison should only manifest at the Dao Integration Realm. Sun Ruowei, upon hearing this, hurriedly asked, "Hongling, what is the Taiyin Poison? Do you know?" Yue Hongling immediately realized she had misspoken. However, since Sun Ruowei was the best friend of their master and the Taiyin Poison couldn¡¯t be hidden from her, she decided to explain. "Due to the nature of our master¡¯s body, the Taiyin energy keeps accumulating. When it accumulates too much, it condenses into a liquid form. This liquid Taiyin energy is incredibly cold, causing excruciatingly cold pain. This is the Taiyin Poison," Yue Hongling explained. "Ah? What should we do? Is there any way to solve it?" "There is! Master has found a solution. Don¡¯t worry, Master, I¡¯m just surprised that the Taiyin Poison, which should only flare up at the Dao Integration Realm, appeared so early, before Master even reached that stage." Upon hearing this, Sun Ruowei instinctively felt that something was wrong. Dao Integration Realm. It was the realm pursued by countless cultivators. Even the Grand Dao Sect, as a top-tier sect, didn¡¯t have Dao Integration cultivators just lying around. But Yue Hongling was only at the Core Formation Realm, and based on her tone, she seemed incredibly familiar with the Dao Integration Realm, with no hint of awe at all. "Is there really a solution?" Sun Ruowei asked again, confirming. "There is!" The solution was found by Senior Brother. In the previous life, the Taiyin Poison troubled Master for many years, and Senior Brother spent years searching for a solution. But the Taiyin and Yang energies were the two strongest forces under the chaos of the heavens and earth. To resolve it was extremely difficult. But Yue Hongling still had great confidence in Lu Ye. Hearing that there was a solution, Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. At that moment, all the strange events from the past period resurfaced in Sun Ruowei¡¯s mind. A sense of gossip began to stir within her. "Hongling!" "Master, what¡¯s wrong?" Sun Ruowei hesitated for a moment before asking, "What¡¯s the deal with Chu Ling? What is her relationship with Lu Ye?" Yue Hongling¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. She wasn¡¯t stupid. "Why are you asking about this, Master? I remember you don¡¯t know Chu Ling, and you don¡¯t know Lu Ye either?" "Who said I don¡¯t know? Not long ago, Chu Ling almost died, didn¡¯t I save her? I could say I¡¯m her lifesaver." "And I think that Chu Ling is quite obedient. I originally wanted to take her as a disciple, but she¡¯s not intending to take a master for now. When she entered the Grand Dao Sect, I even helped." "But such a good girl, now she¡¯s so humble before Lu Ye, I really don¡¯t understand, and it hurts me." Yue Hongling nodded, completely ignoring the topic Sun Ruowei was bringing up. "Chu Ling has just entered the sect, and I haven¡¯t had much contact with her, so I don¡¯t know what their situation is." "You really don¡¯t know?" Sun Ruowei squinted her eyes. "I really don¡¯t know!" The two stared at each other for a moment, and Yue Hongling¡¯s gaze was so sincere and straightforward. Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t find any cracks in her words, so she had to put her doubts aside for now. At this moment, inside Bai Qiulan¡¯s room, a powerful aura erupted. Bai Qiulan, who had already reached the peak of the Virtual Realm, began her breakthrough. She was about to break through to the Dao Integration Realm today. "Has she broken through?" Sun Ruowei was both shocked and delighted. Yue Hongling looked at the room, her expression lacking joy and instead carrying a hint of worry. Dao Integration Realm. This was a watershed moment for the true power of the Taiyin Divine Body to be unleashed. Once Bai Qiulan broke through to Dao Integration, the terrifying power of the Taiyin Divine Body would finally show its fangs. In the past, whenever they helped their Master with the Taiyin Poison, it was always Senior Brother who assisted. But now, they had all fallen out with Senior Brother. Senior Brother wouldn¡¯t help anymore. And Master certainly wouldn¡¯t let Senior Brother help. So, what should be done about the Taiyin Poison? Inside the room. Bai Qiulan was stepping toward the Dao Integration Realm. For other cultivators, this breakthrough would be extremely difficult, but for her, it was not hard at all. It was only the drop of Chaos Yin Poison that weighed heavily on Bai Qiulan. Why was this happening? Bai Qiulan¡¯s face darkened. Beside her Nascent Soul, a drop of Chaos Yin Poison condensed. Under the operation of the "Taiyin Transforming Sacred Scripture," it quickly transformed into a dense Taiyin energy. This Taiyin energy circulated through her limbs and meridians, with a substantial amount entering her Nascent Soul, causing her aura to increase. Bai Qiulan paused her cultivation. The remaining Taiyin energy once again condensed, turning into a drop of Chaos Yin Poison. Bai Qiulan refused to give up. She activated her cultivation technique once more. The Chaos Yin Poison dissipated again. Her aura grew again. But when she stopped cultivating, the Taiyin energy once more condensed, and the drop of Chaos Yin Poison appeared again. Why was this happening? Bai Qiulan opened her eyes, panic and disbelief in her gaze. How could this be? In her previous life, she needed Lu Ye''s help early on. The two practiced in secret, using their special techniques to balance her Taiyin and Yang energies, allowing the Chaos Yin Poison to dissipate without any sign of reforming. Later on, after struggling greatly, she obtained the "Taiyin Transforming Sacred Scripture" and no longer needed Lu Ye¡¯s help. She was able to eliminate the Chaos Yin Poison by herself. But now, she was using the "Taiyin Transforming Sacred Scripture"! Why couldn¡¯t it drive away the Chaos Yin Poison as it had before? A sense of panic surged within her. After repeatedly circulating her technique, she finally reached the Dao Integration Realm. And that stubborn drop of Chaos Yin Poison was completely consumed during the breakthrough process. Chapter 23: Primordial Morning Mist It disappeared. Bai Qiulan finally let out a long sigh of relief. That drop of Chaos Yin Poison had finally disappeared. It should have been just the first drop of the Chaos Yin Poison, the most stubborn one, or maybe it was because her "Taiyin Transforming Sacred Scripture" had not been fully practiced yet, which caused the Chaos Yin Poison to not disappear earlier. It should be like that... But deep inside, there was a trace of unease that Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t want to admit. "Congratulations on your breakthrough to Dao Integration, how are you feeling now?" Sun Ruowei hurriedly asked. "Don¡¯t worry, everything¡¯s fine," Bai Qiulan said with a smile. However, Sun Ruowei wasn¡¯t completely at ease. She grabbed Bai Qiulan¡¯s small hand and took her pulse. "Cold energy entering your body, your qi and blood are weak. You, a Dao Integration cultivator, have such a pulse, and you still say you¡¯re fine?" Sun Ruowei said, her eyes widening. Bai Qiulan pulled her hand away and chuckled, "Just some minor issues." Yue Hongling didn¡¯t ask anything, just standing quietly to the side. Now, it seemed that Master Sun had noticed something and was eager to investigate further. Yue Hongling still remembered the shock from the last life when Sun Ruowei discovered that she and their Master were both Lu Ye¡¯s women. Even until her death, Sun Ruowei¡¯s last words had been, "No, how could you two be so messy?" Since that kind of thing wouldn¡¯t happen in this life, there was no need to let Sun Ruowei dig any further. "Where¡¯s Lu Ye?" Bai Qiulan asked. "After winning first place, Senior Brother disappeared. He must have left the sect to go train outside," Yue Hongling said. "To the God Burial Ridge..." "Should be." Sun Ruowei??? What? How do you both know where Lu Ye went to train? Also, what exactly is the God Burial Ridge? It sounds impressive, but why have I never heard of it? "Master, should we go check it out?" Yue Hongling asked. "No need to go." Yue Hongling hesitated, wanting to speak but held back. Bai Qiulan understood, and with a grip on Yue Hongling¡¯s shoulder, their figures instantly disappeared. Sun Ruowei??? She stared at the empty sky, watching Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling vanish without a trace. The previously ignited Eight Trigrams flames were now completely extinguished. "Damn, Bai Qiulan!" "Your grandpa, I treat you as a close friend, and this is how you treat me?" "Don¡¯t you understand? Your secrets have already been exposed. Tell me the truth, hiding it from me hurts more than killing me." "Bai Qiulan, come back here!" "I¡¯m going to sever all ties with you..." Bai Qiulan reappeared. "Oh, I forgot to bring you along." Sun Ruowei was suddenly brought along to the clouds, and Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling¡¯s expressions remained calm. "What did you two hide from me?" Sun Ruowei asked eagerly. Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling both showed confused expressions. "We didn¡¯t hide anything, we didn¡¯t say anything." "Then why did you avoid me just now?" "We didn¡¯t avoid you, we just forgot to bring you along." "Stop lying! I¡¯m such a big person, you could forget? Are you trying to fool a fool?" "Ah, are you really that big? I think you¡¯re petite, delicate, cute, and as beautiful as a flower. Not exactly a big person, right?" Sun Ruowei??? Damn, how am I supposed to stay mad at this? "What are we doing now?" Sun Ruowei asked. "To the God Burial Ridge, I¡¯m worried about my useless disciple. I¡¯ll go check on him," Bai Qiulan said. Yue Hongling seemed somewhat distracted. Because she was worried about the poison she had given Lu Ye, the poison was called "Primordial Morning Mist." Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t really a poison, but a special existence. Once the Primordial Morning Mist took effect, it would amplify a person¡¯s senses countless times. Even the slightest scratch would cause excruciating pain, enough to make a person faint. It lasted for seven days. This thing wouldn¡¯t be lethal, but it would cause endless suffering. A gust of ¡ï Novelight ¡ï wind felt like a blade scraping against the skin. A single ray of sunlight felt like being burned by fire. Yue Hongling intended to use the Primordial Morning Mist to cause Lu Ye¡¯s tribulation to fail. But if it erupted now... The intense pain could even cause Lu Ye¡¯s soul to dissipate. Yue Hongling felt a sense of regret. She shouldn¡¯t have poisoned her senior brother, especially after learning how much effort he had put into helping her cultivate and break through. She could only pray that the Primordial Morning Mist would be erased by the power of time reversal. The three arrived at the God Burial Ridge. A figure was sitting cross-legged, a long sword resting on their knees. It was Chu Ling. "Greetings, Sister Yue, Sister Bai... Master, greetings, Master Sun." Though Chu Ling had changed her address in time, "Sister Bai" was still heard by Sun Ruowei. Again, "Sister Bai"! Again, "Sister Bai"! And "Sister Yue" too! "Ling¡¯er, where is Senior Brother?" Yue Hongling hurriedly asked. "Master has entered the God Burial Ridge. I am here to protect him," Chu Ling replied. "Was there anything unusual before he entered the God Burial Ridge?" Chu Ling recalled that before Lu Ye entered the God Burial Ridge, he had given her a cold glance. "Mm, no unusual behavior." Yue Hongling felt slightly relieved. "I¡¯m a little worried. Ling¡¯er, let¡¯s go into the God Burial Ridge and check." "Master is eternal¡ª" "Cough, Ling¡¯er!" Bai Qiulan interrupted Chu Ling. What was that about "eternal"? Sun Ruowei glared at Bai Qiulan, cursing in her heart: You''re the biggest obstacle on my gossip path! Was she going to say "eternally invincible"? "Ling¡¯er, I¡¯ve done the same things you¡¯ve done. Senior Brother probably came to the God Burial Ridge to collect the Blood Flower of the Gods. He wants to break through to form the infant soul. The last time the Tianjiang Poison acted up, it was probably when Senior Brother was condensing his core, so this time, if he tries to break through to form the infant soul, something bad might happen," Yue Hongling said anxiously. Hearing this, Chu Ling¡¯s expression changed. "You did this?" Yue Hongling bitterly nodded. "What is it?" "Primordial Morning Mist..." Without saying another word, Chu Ling charged straight into the entrance of the God Burial Ridge. The four women rushed in together. Sun Ruowei caught a few key terms: Tianjiang Poison, Primordial Morning Mist. What are these things? Wait, you two little cultivators, only at the Core Formation Realm, how do you know about these strange things? The formations inside had already been completely broken by Lu Ye, and once again, it was the same old story: Don¡¯t talk about broken formations, don¡¯t mention that Lu Ye had been here before. Even if it were a completely new and intact formation, it would still be easy for Lu Ye. Ahead, the bodies of the Corpse Scorpions appeared again. Each of the Corpse Scorpions had been killed with a single strike. Many of the Corpse Scorpions were at the Infant Soul Realm. Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill. Was all of this done by Lu Ye? Lu Ye wasn¡¯t just a Core Formation cultivator? Why were these three women acting so normally, without any surprise? Didn¡¯t they think Lu Ye¡¯s actions now were completely beyond the abilities of someone at the Core Formation Realm? Even the Infant Soul Realm shouldn¡¯t have such power! They passed through a large number of Corpse Scorpion bodies. They also navigated through poisonous mists and mazes. Finally, the four of them came face to face with Lu Ye. Chapter 24: Breaking the Pill and Becoming an Infant Breaking the Core and Forming the Infant Soul! Lu Ye sat beside the ancient god''s corpse, his face serene, undergoing the process of breaking through the core to form his infant soul. The three treasures had gathered. In the moment of forming the infant soul, Lu Ye would condense his second life. Infant souls are also ranked by quality. The weakest is the human infant, followed by the Earth infant, Heaven infant, and Saint infant. In his previous life, due to the Nine-Life Undying Sutra, Lu Ye had forcibly advanced from a Heavenly Core to a Saint Infant. This time, with a Saint Core, he would naturally form a Saint Infant. Cracks began to appear on the brilliant Yuan Dan. Lu Ye sensed the arrival of a few people but didn¡¯t react. He knew these people wouldn¡¯t act against him. They had grievances with him in the past, and these had already been expressed in his previous life. Would they attack him again now? That would truly be a situation of endless, unkillable conflict. Of course, there was also a moment when Lu Ye hoped they would make a move... Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Thankfully, thankfully, the Yuan Shi Morning Mist didn¡¯t erupt. Suddenly, Lu Ye¡¯s body trembled. The shattered Yuan Dan erupted with unimaginable pain, his body, soul, everything seemed to be cracking apart at this moment. A cloud of white mist appeared around Lu Ye, threads of it curling in the air, and his fist clenched tightly. Pain! Incredibly terrifying pain! Lu Ye¡¯s thoughts became chaotic as all his senses magnified rapidly. Even his breath felt as though molten lava was flowing through his throat. "Ah!" Yue Hongling screamed. "Yuan Shi Morning Mist, Yuan Shi Morning Mist, Master, the Yuan Shi Morning Mist really followed us, what should we do? What should we do?!" Fear and urgency filled Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes. No one understood the effects of Yuan Shi Morning Mist better than her; it could bring unimaginable, excruciating pain. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t bear it. No one could bear such pain. A person would be tortured to death by it. "Master, what should we do, please save him, please save Senior Brother!" "Young Master!" Chu Ling¡¯s eyes were full of heartache. She saw Lu Ye¡¯s entire body covered in bulging veins, his body trembling constantly. She understood Lu Ye¡¯s endurance for pain. To make Lu Ye suffer like this, how unbearable must the pain be? Bai Qiulan also felt terrible in her heart. She was about to step forward when Lu Ye opened his blood-red eyes. "Go away!" He roared. "Senior Brother, this is Yuan Shi Morning Mist, you can¡¯t endure it, let Master help you, let her use the power of the Taiyin to temporarily freeze you." "Go away!" The intense pain twisted Lu Ye¡¯s face as if he were a devil, roaring at these women. Yue Hongling tried to speak again. Suddenly, a cold light burst forth. Chu Ling¡¯s eyes were filled with tears, but her stunning face was incredibly cold. "Young Master told us to leave, everyone go!" The demonic sword pointed at the three women. Chu Ling, in the end, strictly followed Lu Ye¡¯s command. "Go away!" Lu Ye roared once more. "Step back..." Sun Ruowei began to persuade. She didn¡¯t even know what Yuan Shi Morning Mist was, but seeing Lu Ye¡¯s current state, it was like a beast at the end of its tether. A sword light suddenly flared. Chu Ling had already struck ruthlessly. Sun Ruowei was startled and hurriedly shattered the sword light. "Leave, step back!" She forcefully pulled Yue Hongling and Bai Qiulan back, with Chu Ling following behind them holding her sword. The group left the deepest part of the tomb. Soon, a loud bang echoed, like a fist pounding forcefully against the earth. Although there were no cries of pain or screams of agony, the heavy crashing sounds made it clear just how much pain Lu Ye was enduring inside. "He won''t be able to handle it, Master, save him, he won¡¯t be able to bear it." Yue Hongling''s eyes were streaming with tears. Under normal circumstances, no one could withstand the kind of pain inflicted by the Yuan Shi Morning Mist without doing anything, let alone Lu Ye now. Do you know what Lu Ye is doing right now? He is breaking through his core and forming his infant soul! Breaking through the core to form an infant soul is inherently dangerous, and Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t even imagine what kind of pain Lu Ye must be enduring. "Master, I killed Lu Ye... I killed him again." "It shouldn¡¯t be like this, I don¡¯t want to kill him, I don¡¯t hate him anymore, he clearly has nine lives, why..." Yue Hongling¡¯s emotions completely broke down. She couldn¡¯t fathom it¡ªafter everything, Lu Ye had died by her hands alone. She didn¡¯t want Lu Ye to die, she couldn¡¯t live without him... Bai Qiulan gently waved her hand, and Yue Hongling immediately lost consciousness, collapsing into Bai Qiulan¡¯s arms. She listened to the booming sounds from inside, her expression equally pained. It was impossible to imagine what kind of suffering could cause Lu Ye to endure this. She knew how severe pain could be. When the chaotic Yin Poison flared up inside her, she had thought countless times about self-destructing to end it all. Such pain was beyond what a human could endure. Only later did Lu Ye help her. Lu Ye grew stronger, helped her more, and as her strength increased, the chaotic Yin Poison grew even more terrifying until she began practicing the Taiyin Transformation Scripture, which finally suppressed the poison. She hoped he would be okay, hoped he would be fine. Time passed, second by second. The booming sound finally stopped, and Bai Qiulan¡¯s figure instantly entered the depths. The tomb''s interior had been utterly destroyed. The ancient god''s corpse was shattered into pieces. Lu Ye regained calm, with each breath filled with a mighty force. "Lu Ye, how are you?" Bai Qiulan asked urgently. Lu Ye opened his eyes. The aura of the Infant Soul stage erupted, and it ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) was far thicker than the usual aura of someone in the Infant Soul stage, five or ten times more intense. "I''m fine, Master. May I ask what poison you used on me?" A faint smile appeared on Lu Ye¡¯s face as he sincerely asked. Yes, please tell me. I came back to life to become stronger, not to suffer like this. I breakthrough once and suddenly encounter a terrifying poison. Back when I was at the Heavenly Sovereign stage, I never even heard of poisons that could affect a Heavenly Sovereign. Where on earth did you find this stuff? I can¡¯t afford to fight you, but I sure as hell can avoid it! Bai Qiulan showed a bit of embarrassment on her face. "The poison I gave you is called Taiyin Bone Worm. It can..." Lu Ye raised his hand. "How many times have you done this?" "I... I''m not too sure..." Lu Ye! Alright, alright, you¡¯re so noble and impressive! You don¡¯t even know how many times you¡¯ve poisoned me! He had heard of the Taiyin Bone Worm and even seen it before, but never expected it to end up in his body. When he thought about why he¡¯d encountered the Taiyin Bone Worm, Lu Ye almost wanted to laugh. Back when he ventured to the deepest part of the Taiyin source and understood the Taiyin Transformation Scripture, he had seen the Taiyin Bone Worm there. How pathetic I am! Alright, alright, I really did a number on myself. Seeing Bai Qiulan breaking through to the Dao Integration stage, Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but watch and see just what kind of pain Bai Qiulan would fall into. Damn! Chapter 25: Seven Days of Pain Breaking the Infant Soul. Lu Ye successfully broke through to form his infant soul and returned to Bai Lan Peak of the Grand Dao Sect, immediately entering seclusion. It seemed like he was fine. In reality... Lu Ye grinned, and the pain he felt was indescribably satisfying. However, in his current state, the sensory amplification brought on by the Yuan Shi Morning Mist was not as unbearable as the pain he had experienced from the chaotic Yin Poison before. He could endure it. He wouldn''t die. Lu Ye sat cross-legged by himself, his muscles trembling and twisting. Chu Ling sat at the entrance of Lu Ye''s room, guarding him, though it didn''t really help. Yue Hongling woke up. First, she was confused, then suddenly jolted awake and sat up on the bed. "Master, how is Senior Brother?" Yue Hongling asked urgently. Bai Qiulan''s voice was gentle. "Hongling, don''t worry too much, he''s fine now." "Has seven days passed?" "It¡¯s only been a little over a day, not seven days yet." "That¡¯s not right!" Yue Hongling¡¯s face turned pale. "The Yuan Shi Morning Mist lasts at least seven days to dissipate. This means that the sensory amplification would last for seven days." Sun Ruowei quietly stepped back, straining her ears to listen closely. "Seven days? The pain existed when he broke through his core to form his infant soul, but now that the breakthrough has succeeded, there should be no more pain. So, what¡¯s the problem with it lasting seven days?" Bai Qiulan asked, confused. "Yuan Shi Morning Mist is extremely domineering. Even without any pain, the place it affects still brings intense agony. A single breath feels like lava flowing through your throat; every practice session feels like thousands of needles piercing your body; even a breeze feels like skin being peeled off." "Master, think about it. There are only a few poisons in the world that can affect Senior Brother. How could it be so simple?" Bai Qiulan fell silent. Indeed, there were very few things that could affect Lu Ye, who was at the Heavenly Sovereign stage. "But, your Senior Brother really seems unaffected," Bai Qiulan said. Yue Hongling frowned deeply. Why is this happening? "Master, does Senior Brother often endure pain?" Yue Hongling asked. "How could he? He¡¯s that strong, who could bring him pain?" Bai Qiulan¡¯s first thought was that it was impossible. Lu Ye was invincible in his lifetime, fighting against the heavens and the earth, with countless powerful figures kneeling at his feet. Even the most intense battles wouldn''t make Lu Ye feel extreme pain. "Then why is he able to bear it?" Yue Hongling asked, her voice tinged with panic. "Isn¡¯t that a good thing? Since he can endure such pain, that¡¯s a good thing!" At least, it wasn¡¯t Yue Hongling who killed Lu Ye. She now saw things clearly. Yue Hongling had probably already fallen deeply in love with Lu Ye. Before her rebirth, she had been unable to forget Feng Wuxie, but now, after being reborn, she hardly ever mentioned Feng Wuxie. Her heart and mind were completely filled with Lu Ye. Bai Qiulan dared not imagine what would happen if Lu Ye really died because of Yue Hongling. The pain Yue Hongling would feel would be unimaginable. "Senior Brother is really fine?" "Really fine!" Yue Hongling hurriedly stood up. "No, I need to guard Senior Brother!" Yue Hongling ran to Lu Ye¡¯s door, and Chu Ling glanced up at her. Then Yue Hongling sat down next to Chu Ling. Chu Ling??? "I¡¯ll guard Senior Brother with you." Chu Ling... Bai Qiulan watched the two foolish girls and couldn¡¯t help but shake her head helplessly. It¡¯s over. Yue Hongling is completely done for. Sun Ruowei¡¯s eyes sparkled as she stared at the back of Bai Qiulan¡¯s head. What had she just heard? There were only a few poisons that could affect Lu Ye? Lu Ye was so strong¡ªwho could bring him pain? Wait, didn¡¯t Lu Ye just break through to the Infant Soul stage? Why does it sound like from what you two are saying, Lu Ye is at least at the Dao Integration stage now? What exactly is going on? Bai Qiulan felt the scorching gaze on the back of her head and couldn¡¯t help but rub her brow. Her figure instantly disappeared. "Hey, don¡¯t run!" Sun Ruowei¡¯s figure also vanished. Clearly, she couldn¡¯t catch up with Bai Qiulan. Bai Qiulan circled around, shaking off Sun Ruowei, and arrived at a spot. She didn¡¯t even have a strong sense of awareness, and in this strange manner, she ended up in the place where Lu Ye used to love cultivating the most. The green mountains looked like dark ink, and the trees were lush and shaded. Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t care about propriety, sitting on the ground, her white dress spread out. She quietly gazed at the world around her. In her mind, Yue Hongling¡¯s question kept echoing. "Master, does Senior Brother often endure pain?" Her answer had always been impossible. But... Now, Bai Qiulan suddenly realized. Lu Ye had endured pain too. Before he had obtained the Taiyin Transformation Scripture, Lu Ye could only use Yin-Yang techniques to help her shift the pain. But to whom was the pain shifted? It was obvious. Sometimes, when Lu Ye couldn¡¯t bear the pain, he would become exceptionally violent, and Bai Qiulan couldn¡¯t handle it at all. She was conflicted, feeling both resistance and tenderness, along with a sense of deep compassion. During that period, Lu Ye indeed endured a lot of pain, because every time, Lu Ye would take the chaotic Yin Poison away, and she really didn¡¯t know just how much pain the chaotic Yin Poison could cause. Could it be...? No, if it were real pain, why would Lu Ye start to enjoy it? Every time, he would actively come to find her. No, it couldn¡¯t be because of the chaotic Yin Poison. The more Bai Qiulan thought about it, the more uneasy she became, so she decided not to think about it anymore. She forced herself to calm down, letting the mountain breeze blow over her as she began to meditate. Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Not only had Lu Ye endured the Yuan Shi Morning Mist, but his Yuan Infant now had a misty trace on it. Yes, he had refined the Yuan Shi Morning Mist into his Yuan Infant. Although it was a small amount, using it against an opponent, one could only imagine what would happen. Indeed, this would give him an extra method in the early stages. In the later stages, if he went to the Yuan Shi Mist Sky and directly collected the Yuan Shi Mist Sky, he would still have another method for later. Having never personally tried it, Lu Ye didn¡¯t know how effective the Yuan Shi Morning Mist was. He gently made a small cut on his arm, and the pain was ¡ï Novelight ¡ï so intense it nearly shattered his soul. After these seven days, he felt as though he had been reborn. He glanced at his Yuan Infant. It was just a little version of himself, vivid and lifelike. Considering its authenticity and its size, it was evident that this was a Saint Infant. Saint ? Giant Infant! He had cultivated to this point, breaking through to the Infant Soul stage, and if he kept going, he would soon leave Yue Hongling and Chu Ling behind. By then, they would be on entirely different levels. He couldn¡¯t wait to see whether they would feel desperate or not. Speaking of which, Lu Ye had reached this level in one go without any actual trials. The key was, there was nothing left to trial! If he needed mental fortitude, he didn¡¯t lack it. If he needed the Great Dao, he didn¡¯t lack that either. Any treasures¡ªif they were unclaimed¡ªhe could rush in and take them in the morning and return in the afternoon. And along the way, he could even help improve formations for previous owners. In such a situation, what was left to practice? Suddenly, Lu Ye sensed a slight disturbance. He froze, a smile appearing on his face. Master, has your chaotic Yin Poison begun to show again? The Taiyin Transformation Scripture could indeed dispel the chaotic Yin Poison, but the transformed chaotic Yin had to have somewhere to pour out. Otherwise, if it just stayed inside your body, and you were transforming it here while it condensed over there, what would be the effect? Chapter 26: The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented At this moment, Bai Qiulan''s expression was heavy. Incredibly heavy. The chaotic Yin Poison had appeared once more, just a drop, but it wasn''t a big issue. In her previous life, before Lu Ye helped her resolve it, she had once gathered as many as eleven drops of chaotic Yin Poison, enduring the excruciating pain of it day and night. Now, even a single drop caused her Dao Infant to become icy cold, and it had been a long time since she had experienced such a freezing pain. What truly made her expression grave, however, was that as she operated the Taiyin Transformation Scripture to refine the chaotic Yin Poison into chaotic Taiyin power, part of the Taiyin power surged into her Dao Infant, which she absorbed, while another part failed to disperse. It lingered in her Dantian. Moreover, there was a faint trend that it was beginning to coagulate back into chaotic Yin Poison. How could this be? Before, when she had refined the chaotic Yin Poison, aside from the part she absorbed, the rest had simply vanished. Why hadn¡¯t it disappeared this time? Bai Qiulan continued to circulate her techniques, the chaotic Taiyin power flowing constantly. Gradually, her Dao Infant began to turn ice blue. The intense cold was radiating from her body. It wouldn''t work, if she kept absorbing it, her Dao Infant would freeze. Why hadn¡¯t the chaotic Taiyin power vanished, as it should have? Endless questions filled her mind. Of course, it wouldn''t disappear. In her previous life, the excess chaotic Taiyin power had been transferred from her body to Lu Ye''s through the Yin-Yang Transformation Seal. Now that Lu Ye was no longer there to transfer it, Bai Qiulan could not force it out. This was due to her constitution. The Taiyin God Body could still survive. But the Chaotic Taiyin God Body became increasingly painful the higher the cultivation realm, eventually dying in endless agony. This was the fate of such a heaven-defying constitution. In the earlier stages, it could be balanced through Yin-Yang grand techniques, but in the later stages, it relied entirely on Lu Ye''s powerful cultivation to grind down the chaotic Taiyin power. But now, there was no Lu Ye. If Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t want to suffer too much, the only thing she could do was to cultivate furiously, raising her cultivation level faster than the chaotic Yin Poison could condense. Her Dao Infant could continuously absorb the chaotic Yin Poison. It became a race between her cultivation level and the speed at which the chaotic Yin Poison condensed. Thus, time passed without notice, like a fleeting moment in the mountains. After reaching the Infant Soul stage, Lu Ye''s cultivation progress was slightly slower than when he was at the Yuan Dan stage. However, after half a year, his cultivation had already reached the fifth layer of the Infant Soul stage. This speed was shocking, but no one knew. Because he didn¡¯t participate in any competitions, his presence was almost never seen in the entire Grand Dao Sect. The entire Bai Lan Peak had fallen silent. There was no movement, nothing at all. It seemed like everyone was waiting for a crucial moment. Until, suddenly, the sound of a bell rang! "Dong!" Yue Hongling''s body trembled, and she opened her eyes. It had come! "All disciples of the 92nd generation, gather in front of the Grand Dao Pavilion!" It had come! A storm among the younger generation was about to begin. The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented, opened! At the same time, Lu Ye opened his eyes, a faint smile appearing on his face. The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented! In his previous life, when he participated in the Ancient Battle Arena, he was at the sixth layer of the Yuan Dan stage. In this life, Lu Ye had reached the fifth level of the Infant Soul stage. In his previous life, he had fought against a strong opponent at the ninth level of the Yuan Dan stage with only the sixth level of Yuan Dan, then was chased by ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) the Infant Soul stage cultivators, as if he were a mere child. He even lost his life trying to save that fool, Yue Hongling. In this life, let¡¯s see who becomes the child. The path of cultivation is full of opportunities and dangers. The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented is a special space, where countless generations of geniuses have fought. Within this battlefield, there are endless treasures and divine items hidden. This space connects various great worlds: demons, monsters, Buddhists, Confucians, ghosts, gods... The Great Emperor lineage, the Heavenly Sovereign lineage... Countless young people go there. The battlefield alone is divided into nine levels. The higher you go, the more resources there are, and the spiritual energy becomes more abundant. The Ancient Battle Arena opens only once every thousand years, extremely rare. Those under a hundred years old can enter. Within, there is also the Eternal Genius Rankings. Those who make the list can receive massive rewards, and their names will be remembered by future generations of geniuses. In his previous life, Lu Ye had met both Zhuque and Shangguan Huanling in this very place. Thinking back to the moments when he encountered these two, Lu Ye couldn''t help but reveal a cold smile. In his previous life, when the young Zhuque was being chased by demon clan geniuses, Lu Ye had helped her. Shangguan Huanling, stunning and extraordinary, was on par with Lu Ye at the time, but was pushed into a dead end by her own brother. Lu Ye knew that in this rebirth, both of their strengths would increase, and they would become more cautious. But such a situation wasn¡¯t something that could be reversed just by gaining strength. Let¡¯s wait and see! Lu Ye flew toward the Grand Dao Pavilion, with Chu Ling quickly following behind. At the Grand Dao Pavilion, crowds gathered. Linghu Wushuang, Xiao Huayong, and Li Jiuwen had already cultivated to become the new generation leaders of the Grand Dao Sect, all reaching the peak of the Yuan Dan stage. Chu Ling and Yue Hongling had also reached the peak of the Yuan Dan stage. Clearly, their combat power was on an entirely different level compared to the three of them. After not seeing Lu Ye for half a year, Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. Lu Ye acted as if he didn¡¯t notice. Yue Hongling wanted to go up to Lu Ye and talk to him, but when she thought about meeting Feng Wuxie soon, she couldn''t resist the impulse in her heart. Feng Wuxie, the white moonlight in her heart. Thinking back to the days they fought side by side, though it was only two days, it was filled with sweetness. Was that the feeling of falling in love? Yue Hongling still needed to see Feng Wuxie once more to be sure. "The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented has undergone a change. It will soon open in the Central Region''s Jiulong Valley. This battlefield opens once every thousand years, and the resources within are rich. Those under the age of one hundred can enter, and it is the best battlefield for you all." "However, it is also extremely dangerous. The spirits of ancient geniuses wander within, and many young geniuses from the demon, monster, and ghost clans have entered. There are also many sects that commit murder and treasure theft. Think carefully, I will give you a stick of incense to decide. If you wish to enter the Ancient Battle Arena for the chance to obtain treasures, enter the Grand Dao ship!" Such an event would naturally be escorted by powerful Grand Dao Sect cultivators. Because the treasures within the Ancient Battle Arena are coveted by even many ancient beings. If someone doesn¡¯t die in the Ancient Battle Arena but dies on the way back to their sect, that would truly be a pity. "I emphasize again, the Ancient Battle Arena is extremely dangerous. Out of ten who enter, only two or three may return. Think carefully!" Lu Ye was the first to walk toward the Grand Dao ship. He boarded and found a spot with a good view. Chu Ling quickly sat next to him, and Yue Hongling pouted and sat behind him. One by one, disciples boarded the ship. Of course, there were those who didn¡¯t board. It couldn¡¯t be said that they lacked ambition; it was simply that their pursuits were different. Or perhaps they had a deep understanding of themselves. They couldn¡¯t even compete with others in the Grand Dao Sect, let alone in the Ancient Battle Arena, where countless powerful sects would gather. The time for the incense stick passed. Out of 147 disciples of the 92nd generation, 112 boarded the ship. But how many would return? But then again, isn''t this how cultivation has always been? Chapter 27: Sects "Kekekeke!" The black mist surged, and demonic energy overflowed. The eerie laughter shook the mountains and rivers, turning countless piles of skulls into powder. "The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented has finally opened. We have waited for this day for so long." A grim black banner fluttered in the void, with countless grotesque soul forms emitting silent screams, sending shivers down the spine. A massive white bone throne loomed over the mountain of corpses and sea of blood. "I give you a task: kill all the righteous geniuses, let them tremble beneath the feet of the demons!" "Yes!" One by one, beams of demonic light soared to the heavens. They charged into the massive vortex. Demon Realm. A gigantic figure crushed the mountains and rivers beneath its feet, with massive wings that blocked the sun. This massive figure resembled both a dragon and a phoenix, with eight legs and four wings, like a fusion of all beings. "Greetings, Demon Emperor!" The countless spirits bowed in reverence. "The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented has opened. I need the blood essence of the strongest human geniuses." "Bring them to me, and I will ascend to the position of Demon King, personally teaching them the supreme demon arts!" "Yes, Your Majesty!" Thousands of demons surged into the sky. A small, dull-winged sparrow looked up at the sky. "In this life, I will slay the Demon Emperor of All Spirits and bring peace to the demon race!" Buddha Realm. The ancient Buddha descended into the world. Ghost Realm. The Ghost Emperor awakened. The Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented seemed to be merely a contest between the young generation of geniuses, but in reality, it was a battle of the great world. The one who claims the top spot will receive the favor of the world and achieve an immortal legacy. Middle State, Jiulong Valley. This place is surrounded by nine mountains, with magnificent scenery. The central valley, like nine dragons fighting for a pearl, is extraordinarily mysterious. Here lies a sect, called the Dragon Cultivation Sect, but now the sect is trembling. Because powerful beings have arrived. Many, many powerful beings. Some would never see this many strong cultivators in their lifetime. The first to arrive, naturally, was the Middle State Dynasty. Not only did powerful disciples from great sects come to challenge the Ancient Battle Arena for the Talented, but many smaller sects and independent cultivators also joined. The Middle State Dynasty is one of the top forces in the vast wilderness, and the human forces in the wilderness can be summed up in a single rhyme. "One sect, three dynasties, and five sects, above and below, I reign supreme." In total, there are nine major forces, the nine most powerful forces on the first layer of the Celestial Realm. The "One Sect" is called the Wan Gu Sect, which has a long history and exists as a giant not only in the first layer of the Celestial Realm but across all nine layers. The "Three Dynasties" are the Middle State Dynasty, the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty, and the Supreme Imperial Dynasty. The "Five Sect" are the Grand Dao Sect, the Yin-Yang Law Sect, the Supreme Sword Sect, the Mountain and River Pagoda Sect, and the Tribulation Sect. This isn''t the absolute list of the nine forces, though many think the latter half of the rhyme "Above and below, I reign supreme" is just meant to complement the first part. But that''s not the case. In the heavens, there is the Sky Pavilion. In the underground, there is Youming. These two forces rarely act in the outside world. Many of their disciples are solitary, but they can be temporarily ignored. However, whenever the disciples of these two forces appear, they will be world-shaking geniuses, future contenders for the throne of the Emperor. "The Yin-Yang Law Sect has arrived!" A wandering cultivator exclaimed in surprise. A black-and-white ship crushed the clouds as it descended from the sky. Those aboard were all handsome men and beautiful women. They wore black and white robes and had an otherworldly air. However, this sect is often criticized. The Yin-Yang Law Sect is regular, but its affiliated sects are something else. That would be the He Huan Sect, which is famous across the vast wilderness. With 1,723 He Huan Pavilions spread across the major cities of the wilderness, always packed to capacity, their business booming. "What the hell, look at their clothes, has the Yin-Yang Law Sect already decided on their Holy Son and Holy Daughter so quickly?" Among the many black-and-white robes, a man stood out in white, tall and handsome, his eyes like the stars. This was Yang Wufa, the Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Law Sect. Beside him stood a woman, as beautiful as a country¡¯s treasure, her appearance as perfect as a piece of flawless glass, pure and clear. With just one glance, anyone would feel ashamed of themselves. This was Luo Yuan, the Holy Daughter of the Yin-Yang Law Sect. "Every time, the Yin-Yang Law Sect chooses their Holy Son and Holy Daughter the earliest, and they are always exceptionally strong. I think the Yin-Yang Law Sect really has a special way of selecting their Holy Son and Holy Daughter." "Do you think this pair will become Dao partners?" "Possibly, every time the Holy Son and Holy Daughter of the Yin-Yang Law Sect end up as Dao partners. After all, one is Yin, and the other is Yang. Who can resist the allure of the Yin-Yang Dao?" At that moment, a sword hum rang through the heavens and earth. A sword! In an instant, every cultivator''s sword seemed to go mad, shaking uncontrollably. Dozens of sword beams pierced the sky, and cultivators dressed in uniform robes stepped on their swords, riding them through the air. "The Supreme Sword Sect has arrived!" "My God, the sword intent is so strong, I feel like my magic sword is lucky it''s not human, or else it would jump out of its sheath and bow to the Supreme Sword Sect members." "My sword feels ~N§àv§Ölight~ ashamed and is about to shatter..." "There¡¯s no sword cultivator in the world like the Supreme Sword Sect, they''re too powerful." By the time Lu Ye and the others arrived, Jiulong Valley was already packed. Almost all the sects had arrived. Only the two most distant empires had yet to make their appearance. When the Grand Dao Sect arrived, it once again caused a stir. Although the Grand Dao Sect didn¡¯t seem to specialize in anything particular, they were truly powerful in every aspect, being top-tier in all fields. So much so that, among the Five Sects, the Grand Dao Sect was usually ranked first. The arrival of the Grand Dao Sect immediately attracted the attention of many strong cultivators, and many sharp gazes began sizing up Lu Ye and the others, their eyes glowing with battle intent. Not only did they observe the Grand Dao Sect with battle intent, but there was also a palpable battle intent between the various sects themselves. This was the first meeting of the new generation of disciples from the various sects. Which genius didn¡¯t dream of dominating their peers and rising to power with an invincible stance? Lu Ye¡¯s gaze also swept over the young cultivators, his eyes filled with a faint trace of reminiscence. Among the group of people present, some he had personally killed, and some would die in future battles. The road of cultivation is paved with white bones, as expected. Linghu Wushuang and the others gathered around, actively starting to explain who the powerful cultivators were and who the strong enemies were. What did they know? Lu Ye was far more aware than they were. For instance, the Yang Wufa they had just mentioned¡ªLu Ye clearly remembered how tough his bones were. When he shattered his head back then, Lu Ye¡¯s fist ached terribly. Time passed. Yang Wufa wore a smile as he walked toward the Grand Dao Sect. His target was clear: Chu Ling, Yue Hongling, and Xiao Huayong. The Grand Dao Sect wasn¡¯t the first to catch his attention. "Greetings, Fair Maiden. I am Yang Wufa, the Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Law Sect. May I ask for your name?" "Greetings, fellow cultivator. My name is Xiao Huayong." Xiao Huayong¡¯s tone was cold, but she still responded politely. Yang Wufa smiled and nodded, not lingering on the conversation, as though he was merely asking for a name. "Greetings, Fair Maiden, I¡ª" "Get lost!" Yue Hongling¡¯s sharp "Get lost!" came crashing into him. Yang Wufa¡¯s smile froze on his face. "I am the Holy Son of the Yin-Yang¡ª" "Did you hear me? I told you to get lost!" Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes widened furiously. Yang Wufa... Don¡¯t get angry, don¡¯t get angry. If you get angry, no one will replace you when you fall ill. His smile disappeared, and when he looked at Chu Ling, it returned once more. Chu Ling didn¡¯t waste words; her magic sword was already drawn. Come on, I¡¯ll cut you down! Yang Wufa... Alright, really alright! Chapter 28: Heavenly Fist The arrival of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty made the situation in Jiulong Valley slightly more tense. The arrival of the Wushang Heavenly Dynasty heightened everyone''s vigilance even further. There was no other reason than the fact that the Wushang Empire had recently grown more powerful and even started contemplating uniting the entire world. They stationed hundreds of thousands of troops at the border. A person who could stir up such a storm was naturally met with great caution. "Hahaha, why are all of you looking at us like that? Have I become so handsome that you can''t take your eyes off me?" A young man, dressed in a dragon robe, stood proudly. His expression was arrogant and filled with self-assurance. His stride was strong and imposing, his eyes sparkling with a sharp and fierce light¡ªhe was clearly a powerful figure. Next to him stood a woman, tall and slender, with a graceful and well-proportioned figure. She wore a colorful phoenix robe, her face blooming like a flower with a mysterious and noble aura. Shangguan Huanling. She was one of the closest people to Lu Ye in his past life, and someone who had once betrayed him. However, she did not immediately search for Lu Ye upon her arrival. She was an extremely proud person. While other women might have been preoccupied with love and emotions, after her rebirth, she had only one thought: she wanted to become invincible on her own, to reach the level of the Heavenly Sovereign, not to be protected by someone else. In this life, she absolutely would not have any connection with Lu Ye. The young man in the dragon robe was named Shangguan Wuchang. The Third Prince of the Wushang Heavenly Dynasty. Lu Ye paid no attention to the words of these people. He found a quiet place, closed his eyes, and began cultivating, quietly waiting for the opening of the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield. Chu Ling stood guard by his side, and the disciples of the Grand Dao Sect, initially stunned, followed suit and began sitting cross-legged to meditate. Seeing the Grand Dao Sect act this way, others couldn''t help but laugh mockingly. "Look at today¡ªwhen the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield is about to open, they''re still cultivating? In the past, they never seemed in a hurry, but now they¡¯re desperately trying to catch up." "Instead of cultivating, they might as well get to know a few more Tianjiao. Knowing their strengths would be useful if they encounter them." "Exactly!" Did anyone pay attention to their words? No! The disciples of the Grand Dao Sect remained calm and composed. Shangguan Huanling''s gaze finally turned towards the Grand Dao Sect''s position. She saw Chu Ling holding a sword while guarding Lu Ye, and noticed that Yue Hongling was standing very close to him. Her brows furrowed slightly. What was going on? Weren''t we eight supposed to hate Lu Ye to the bone? What was going on with you two? "What''s wrong?" Shangguan Wuchang asked, glancing at his sister. "Did you see that person?" Shangguan Huanling pointed at Lu Ye. "Those two women are quite beautiful." Shangguan Wuchang marveled. A love for beauty was only natural. "You¡¯re no match for him. Don¡¯t provoke him." Only then did Shangguan Wuchang''s gaze fall on Lu Ye. He couldn¡¯t see through his cultivation? Interesting. "Are you trying to provoke me?" Shangguan Wuchang suddenly said. Without waiting for Shangguan Huanling to respond, he continued, "Good, my sister, you truly understand me. I¡¯m someone who¡¯s easily provoked. Once we enter the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield, I¡¯ll make sure to establish my reputation by taking him down first!" "You''ll die." "Hahaha, then I¡¯ll die!" Shangguan Huanling nodded in satisfaction. "Then go ahead and die." She couldn¡¯t kill Shangguan Wuchang. If she did, she would be tainted by the aura of the Wushang Heavenly Dynasty¡¯s mark. Such an aura couldn''t be erased, and it would cause the Wushang Heavenly Dynasty to pursue her endlessly. But Lu Ye wasn¡¯t afraid of being hunted. Using Lu Ye''s hand to deal with Shangguan Wuchang was the best option. Yang Wufa was also watching Lu Ye, especially noticing how Chu Ling was guarding him with a demonic sword, vigilantly scanning the surroundings. His heart churned with a sense of agitation. Damn it, my woman, how can she be so respectful to another man? It was already like this on the surface¡ªhow much worse was it behind the scenes? Yang Wufa already felt a metaphorical hat being placed upon his head. Yes, Yang Wufa had a peculiar habit. Any girl he greeted was already considered his woman in his heart, and the rest of the women were fine as long as they kept their distance. But Yue Hongling and Chu Ling, these two women, were standing so close to another man? A deep sense of humiliation rose within him. This humiliation caused an indescribable discomfort in Yang Wufa, yet there was also an inexplicable feeling of pleasure. He had already placed Lu Ye on his kill list. But there was no rush. A smile appeared on his face as he walked toward Shangguan Huanling. After causing a stir for a while, the Grand Dao Sect took the lead, and more and more cultivators began to sit cross-legged and continue their cultivation. This included those who had previously mocked the Grand Dao Sect. Who the hell knew that the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield would open so slowly? It had already been four days, and it still hadn''t started. The fifth day. Boom! A massive roar echoed from the sky, and dark clouds gathered, forming a giant vortex that resembled the eye of a storm. Through the vortex, one could vaguely see a vast world within, strange and mysterious beyond belief. It had started! Eyes all around snapped open. Without a second thought, Lu Ye was the first to soar into the air, charging straight toward the eye of the storm. The others were stunned. Damn, he¡¯s so decisive? They quickly jumped to their feet and raced toward the eye of the storm. Yang Wufa¡¯s speed was terrifying, a streak of white light that cut through the night sky like a meteor. He was determined to surpass Lu Ye, aiming to be the first to enter the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield. The struggle had already begun. Lu Ye remained calm and composed, maintaining his pace. The two entered the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield at the exact same time. Space shifted, and a slight sensation of weightlessness enveloped them. The two descended from the sky, the immense gravity pressing down on them, making flight exceedingly difficult. Lu Ye ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) glanced at Yang Wufa. Yang Wufa also looked at Lu Ye. However, Lu Ye¡¯s eyes remained calm, with only a faint flicker of flame dancing within. On the other hand, Yang Wufa¡¯s eyes were filled with raging fury. "Has your weird habit flared up again?" Lu Ye spoke. Yang Wufa froze, a look of shock flashing in his eyes. How did he know? Lu Ye smiled. "Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t flare up again." "If I kill you, I¡¯ll be normal again." He formed a seal with his hands, and Yin-Yang energy began to manifest, suddenly transforming into a divine sword that slashed toward Lu Ye. Lu Ye clenched his fist. He threw a punch. Boom! Yin-Yang energy exploded outward. Yang Wufa¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He quickly formed another seal, and the Yin-Yang diagram hovered in front of him, swelling in size. "Divine Art, Yin-Yang World Extinguishing Light!" Lu Ye looked up, gazing at the immense Yin-Yang diagram. A terrifying beam of light began to condense. Lu Ye uttered three words. "Heavenly Sovereign Fist!" He threw a punch. The Yin-Yang World Extinguishing Light, filled with a mighty and overwhelming aura, formed a massive beam that came charging at Lu Ye. This attack was like a laser shot from beyond the world, one capable of piercing through the entire heavens and earth. Lu Ye threw his punch. The fist mark wasn¡¯t particularly large, but it carried a mysterious and profound meaning that was hard to describe. The fist mark collided with the beam. Crack! The beam shattered, breaking into powder, as the fist mark, with an unshakable stance and belief, smashed everything in its path. Chapter 29: Instant Kill As the others just entered, they were met with a scene that sent chills down their spines. A small punch mark shattered the intertwined black and white beams of light and crushed the Yin-Yang diagram. Yang Wufa, the Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Law Sect, was surrounded by a strong light, but this tiny punch mark shattered that light and struck him directly. Boom! Yang Wufa¡¯s body exploded into pieces. He was dead! Damn! Dead! Many people widened their eyes in disbelief and couldn¡¯t help but rub their eyes. Had they just seen an illusion? Or were they seeing things? Yang Wufa was dead? How was that possible? Lu Ye walked over to the shattered remains of blood and flesh, picked up the storage ring, and looked around. He chose a direction and quickly left. Swish... A stir erupted. Although the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield had instances of random teleportation, because so many people had entered, about a dozen or so had been teleported here. They had witnessed the entire process of Lu Ye killing Yang Wufa. They waited until Lu Ye''s figure disappeared into the horizon. The dozen or so people were left in shock. "Wait, that was Yang Wufa, right?" "It seems like it..." "The Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Law Sect?" "Yeah, it seems like it..." "He got shattered by a single punch?" "It seems like it..." "How is that possible!!!!!!" "It seems like it..." Everyone was stunned. The Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Law Sect, someone who should have been a prominent figure in the Ancient Battlefield, was crushed with just one blow? A group of people gathered around. They looked at the shattered clothes. Confirming that this was indeed the Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Law Sect, a wave of disbelief appeared in everyone¡¯s eyes. The fall of one Tianjiao signified one thing. The rise of another peerless genius. In Jiulong Valley. Not all the genius disciples had entered yet. They were still queuing up. At the Yin-Yang Law Sect, a blood-red stone suddenly shattered without warning. This was the Blood Soul Stone, used to monitor the survival status of disciples within the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield. "Who fell so quickly?" A group of people from the Yin-Yang Law Sect looked over. The Holy Maiden Luo Yuan hadn''t entered yet, but her gaze also fell on the stone. The moment she saw it, she froze. "The one who fell... was the Holy Son?" An elder¡¯s voice trembled, filled with disbelief. Boom! The Yin-Yang Law Sect was in an uproar. "How could the Holy Son fall? The Holy Son had already reached the Nascent Soul realm, and even condensed his Heavenly Infant. He was extraordinary¡ªhow could he fall?" "And to fall so quickly?" The words from the Yin-Yang Law Sect were heard by others, and they too were shocked beyond belief. No way, is this real? The people entering the Ancient Battlefield haven¡¯t even finished queuing yet, and your Holy Son is already dead? Is this Holy Son really that weak? Luo Yuan remained silent. She fell into deep silence. After a long while, her red lips parted, and she uttered two words, "Trash!" But, even if he was trash, he was still the Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Law Sect. Luo Yuan''s robes fluttered as she flew toward the entrance. She wanted to see who had killed Yang Wufa so quickly. On the side of the Wushang Heavenly Dynasty, Shangguan Wuchang was also somewhat delighted. "There''s such a strong person? It seems it won''t be too boring after all." His figure also flew out. Shangguan Huanling smiled lightly. It wasn¡¯t just going to be boring¡ªthere would be overwhelming surprises later on! Having been reborn, he seemed even stronger. After Lu Ye killed Yang Wufa, his heart remained calm, for in his past life, Yang Wufa had also died at his hands. Back then, the two of them had engaged in a battle that shook countless Tianjiao. They used every possible means, fighting for an entire day and night, and Lu Ye had only managed to kill him after suffering severe injuries. But now, all it took was one punch. His goal was clear: the Stone Sword Cliff. The Stone Sword had been his imperial weapon in his past /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ life, not a Heavenly Sovereign artifact, but a weapon forged for an emperor. However, during the Dark Chaos, the Stone Sword had been shattered, and the sword spirit within it had perished. Later, he had stopped using weapons altogether. Even when he reached the Heavenly Sovereign realm, he still did not possess a Heavenly Sovereign artifact. Even though he could forge weapons and had crafted one for each of the eight women, he had never crafted one for himself. Lu Ye was a nostalgic person. When his sword broke, it was as if he had become the sharpest sword himself. Now, in this life, he could reclaim his weapon. And this time, his sword would never break again. The Stone Sword Cliff had a unique geographical location, positioned on a mountain cliff, the closest place to the heavens on the second layer. At the top of the cliff, jagged stones stood, and among them was a stone resembling a sword. It absorbed the spirit energy of the world, bathed in the essence of the sun and moon, forming a naturally forged Stone Sword. In his past life, when Lu Ye had first acquired the Stone Sword, he had feared that some monkey might pop out of it while he was fighting. Fortunately, nothing that absurd happened. The first layer of the sky also had many valuable treasures, like the Sky Spirit Pond, the Three Fire Mountains, and the Hundred Herbs Valley, among many others... But there was no rush. He would get the Stone Sword first, then come back. If the entrance to the second layer had not changed, it should still be at the Three Fire Mountains. The Three Fire Mountains had originally been a single volcano, then became five, then nine, and so on, as each time someone tried to obtain divine fire, they were burned to death. Historically, a Great Emperor of Fire emerged, collecting seven kinds of divine fire in one go. It was said that this Emperor of Fire, in one breath, broke through seven realms, leaping from the first layer of Nascent Soul to the eighth layer. At that time, to break through, the power of the seven divine fires would have easily allowed him to reach the Refining Void realm, but he remained calm, suppressing his power, only breaking through seven layers. Of course, after breaking through these seven layers, anyone with sense knew that it would take at least half a year before another breakthrough could be made, or it would be wasted. The heat waves surged. Green, red, white. Three colors of flames flickered on the mountain, and the volcano¡¯s crater spewed black smoke, with a strange glow in the smoke. Some people were directly teleported here. Particularly from the Mountain and River Pagoda Sect, their eyes locked onto these three unusual flames, almost mesmerized. No alchemist or weapon master could resist the allure of such powerful divine fires, let alone three. Of course, not many could withstand the burning of their Nascent Soul or the Dan. Lu Ye charged forward. Under the watchful eyes of many, he ran toward the second volcano, the white flame burning fiercely, yet he was not afraid in the least. However, his target wasn¡¯t the volcano¡¯s mouth¡ªthe divine fire resided within the crater. Instead, he ran towards the side of the second volcano. He continued until he reached a spot where no one could see him. Then, he disappeared. "What¡¯s he doing?" "I don¡¯t know!" "Should we go check it out?" "This flame..." "Let¡¯s try!" The flames on the mountain surface were just the residual power of the real divine fire, and their temperature was not that high. One of the Tianjiao, walking through the flames, reached the place where Lu Ye had vanished and found that there was another Eye of the Storm capable of teleportation here. Chapter 30: Regaining the Stone Sword The second layer of space was picturesque. Mountains, rivers, and blooming flowers filled the view. Lu Ye enjoyed the scenery for about twenty seconds, feeling relaxed, before heading toward the Stone Sword Cliff. According to the timeline, about two hours later, various monsters and demons would make their appearance, and from then on, battles would erupt continuously. Countless geniuses of the human race would die or be injured. But it didn¡¯t matter. Those who could die weren¡¯t true geniuses after all. He continued running. Half an hour later, he arrived at the Stone Sword Cliff. At the base of the cliff, broken swords lay scattered on the ground or were lodged between the rocks. There were probably over a thousand of them. Each sword represented a sword cultivator who had died here. Lu Ye took a step forward. "Buzz!" All the broken swords began to hum. He took another step. "Whoosh!" Sword lights flashed, and three broken swords flew toward him. Lu Ye waved his sleeve, sending them flying. He took another step. All the broken swords suddenly erupted, launching attacks. Lu Ye threw a punch, sending many of the broken swords flying, but they formed a ring and came back toward him. The sword energy howled. Lu Ye¡¯s figure was completely surrounded by the broken swords. With each punch and palm strike, he sent the swords flying in all directions, moving step by step deeper into the area. By now, not a single sword had managed to land a hit on him. This didn¡¯t mean the broken swords weren¡¯t strong. In fact, each sword here, with just a single sword strike, could easily reach the Nascent Soul level. The power was immense, and dozens, even hundreds, of sword lights would erupt at once, easily killing someone in the Refining Void realm. But Lu Ye was too strong. Ten minutes later, Lu Ye broke through the area filled with broken swords. He bent his legs and leaped into the air. His body shot up like a rocket, soaring from the ground to the top of the cliff. There, among the jagged stones, a sword wrapped in brown stone dust stood quietly. The sword was four feet long, and its true form couldn¡¯t be seen due to the layer of stone dust. Lu Ye¡¯s gaze softened. It had been so long since he last saw the Stone Sword. When the Stone Sword was shattered in his past life, he had the thought of reforging it, but he had eventually let it go. The Stone Sword could be reforged, but the sword spirit could never return. But now, with the Stone Sword present, the sword spirit was there as well. He approached the Stone Sword, his dark ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) robe leaving marks as it was cut by sharp swords. His hair fluttered, and small wounds began to appear on his exposed skin. He extended his hand. Gripping the hilt of the Stone Sword! In that instant, countless terrifying sword energies surged toward Lu Ye like a flood. Lu Ye closed his eyes, his sword heart clear, his will unyielding. Though his body had turned into a terrifying mass of blood, his hand holding the Stone Sword did not tremble. His feet dug into the stone, grounding him. He couldn¡¯t step back. If he took a step back, he would have no further connection to the Stone Sword. This was merely a test from the Stone Sword. Whether it was the sword energy or the sword intent, they were all part of the sword¡¯s selection process. In his past life, Lu Ye never took a step back. Let alone in this life. His hand even lightly brushed against the Stone Sword, whispering, "Don¡¯t fear, don¡¯t be confused." How could a sword be confused or fearful? The sword itself couldn¡¯t, but the sword spirit could. At this moment, the sword spirit, in its confused state, vaguely had a thought arise. "What nonsense are you spouting? What the hell are you barking about? Who the hell would be afraid? Who the hell would be confused?" The sword energy intensified. A massive blood mist erupted, scattering toward the back. Lu Ye... Damn, I almost forgot, the current Stone Sword hasn¡¯t yet revealed its timid nature. Yes, this sword is indeed timid. Of course, it¡¯s not afraid of enemies; rather, it¡¯s afraid of the dark. Though it sounds absurd for a sword to be afraid of the dark, it truly is. The Stone Sword even refused to let Lu Ye forge a sword sheath for it. "Follow me, and become the strongest sword in the world," Lu Ye spoke again. "Stronger than the Three Lives Sword!" "Stronger than the Ancestral Sword!" "Stronger than the Supreme Sword!" "Stronger than the Invincible Sword!" The Stone Sword listened to these names. Although it didn¡¯t know just how powerful these swords were, the names themselves sounded incredibly strong. Plus, it couldn¡¯t make Lu Ye take a step back. This man, with his flesh almost entirely stripped away, still didn¡¯t retreat a single step. It could acknowledge that! The sword energy suddenly disappeared. The Stone Sword returned to its silent state. Lu Ye glanced at the injuries on his body but showed no significant reaction. He formed seals with his hands. Blood gathered automatically, forming a rather mystical symbol¡ªthis was, of course, the master-recognition contract. With a faint sword hum, the Stone Sword formed a close bond with Lu Ye. In fact, the Stone Sword was still trying to figure out what kind of master it had. It worried whether it had chosen the wrong master. However, it had been here for too long. If it didn¡¯t leave now, it would have to stay here for another thousand years, and that was far too long. But it didn¡¯t matter. If its sword master turned out to be incapable, it would eventually pass to someone else¡¯s hands. With its strength, it would eventually end up in the hands of someone powerful enough. Sword intent blossomed from Lu Ye¡¯s palm. Pieces of stone dust began to fall from the sword¡¯s body. Beneath the stone dust, the sword remained brown, lacking the dazzling sharpness it once had, even appearing spotty, like it had rusted. Mighty true essence and pure, crystal-clear sword intent flowed into the Stone Sword. "From now on, your name will be Stone Sword, with a nickname¡ªLittle Stone. Do you agree?" Lu Ye asked with a smile. The Stone Sword trembled slightly. [Disagree, quickly give me a cool name.] "It seems you like this name. Then, from now on, you¡¯ll be called that." [No, I didn¡¯t agree! Little Stone? Stone Sword? That sounds horrible! I''ve been the Stone Sword for so long, and now, as I¡¯m about to leave the mountain, you want to call me Stone Sword? Hey, did you hear me? I don¡¯t want to be called Stone Sword!] "Young master, you really are here!" Chu Ling¡¯s voice came from the distance as she quickly flew over. "Congratulations, young master, you¡¯ve regained the Stone Sword!" Stone Sword? Huh? The Stone Sword automatically merged into Lu Ye¡¯s body, as it was afraid of the dark and decided to settle on the back of his hand. A sword mark appeared on the back of his hand. The most important thing, the Stone Sword, was now obtained. Next, it was time to look for other useful items. For the younger generation, the most useful items were almost all found in the first layer of the battlefield. For instance, the Pure Water could cleanse one¡¯s talent, enhancing their abilities. The Sky Spirit Pond helped people cultivate quickly. Then, there was the Hundred Herbs Valley, which had numerous spiritual treasures and fruits. It also helped speed up cultivation and could be harvested for resources. The first major battle would take place in the first-layer battlefield. He flew toward the first-layer battlefield. It was time to collect the divine fire. As a weapon refiner and alchemist, a good flame was essential. Although the divine fires here weren¡¯t of the highest quality, they were perfect for transition at the moment. Thanks to Lu Ye¡¯s guidance, others had already arrived at the second-layer battlefield. When they saw no one there, they excitedly began searching. Lu Ye returned to the first layer, and the sword wounds on his body had already healed. His figure appeared at the very center of the volcano¡¯s mouth, and without hesitation, he jumped straight in. Chapter 31: Pure Water Pearl The battle has not yet appeared much. The treasure in the entire Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield is abundant, and just the first layer of the battlefield offers plenty of treasures that many people can obtain without needing to fight for them. In the Pure Water, at least a thousand people are soaking. This is a vast water pool, and the first target of Yue Hongling is the Pure Water. She has no choice; her talent is the worst, and the effect of the Pure Water is decent. She can''t afford to miss any opportunity to improve her talent. Her real goal, however, is the Pure Water Pearl. The water here was originally just ordinary water, but due to the presence of the Pure Water Pearl at the bottom of the lake, the entire lake has transformed into Pure Water. Her figure has already submerged into the depths of the lake. Others are not foolish either, and they are all heading towards the depths. However, the pressure at the bottom of the lake is immense. It is like the deep sea. The deeper they go, the more terrifying the pressure becomes, and the cultivators feel their bodies grow heavier, as if a massive mountain is pressing down on them. When they reach one thousand meters deep, only a few are still able to dive further. At one thousand five hundred meters, only three people continue to dive side by side. At two thousand meters, their bodies can no longer withstand such a great pressure, causing blood to seep from their seven orifices. Yue Hongling is fearless. Another person gives up. Now, only she and Shangguan Wuchang are still diving. Shangguan Wuchang gazes at Yue Hongling with admiration. Such a woman is truly rare, and she might even have the qualifications to become one of his Dao companions. "The journey is long, but I still don¡¯t know the young lady''s name. I am Shangguan Wuchang from the Supreme Divine Dynasty," Shangguan Wuchang says with a smile, transmitting his voice. "I know you!" Yue Hongling transmits her voice as well. "Oh?" Shangguan Wuchang''s lips curl into a smile. His name, as expected, is known by countless people. "Phantom Spirit is your younger sister, right?" Yue Hongling asks. "My little sister hasn''t been out in the world, but you know her. Could it be that you''re from the Supreme Divine Dynasty?" Shangguan Wuchang is somewhat surprised. "No, how much further can you dive?" Yue Hongling asks. "One thousand meters should be no problem," Shangguan Wuchang replies. Yue Hongling nods, indicating that she understands, and suddenly throws a punch. "Boom!" The fist mark sends countless waves, violently smashing towards Shangguan Wuchang. Shangguan Wuchang''s expression changes, and a Fangtian Huaji (a polearm weapon) appears in his hand, shattering the fist mark with a single strike. The force contained in the fist mark startles him. "Fearless Seal!" A large seal forms, carrying an even more powerful force as it smashes towards Shangguan Wuchang. "Boom!" Shangguan Wuchang feels a terrifying force coming toward him, and his body quickly rises. "Such courage!" Shangguan Wuchang roars, holding the Fangtian Huaji as he charges at Yue Hongling. Yue Hongling meets him head-on with her bare hands, surrounded by flickering symbols and markings. With every punch and palm strike, the Fangtian Huaji collides with her, and not only does she not fall behind, but she also forces Shangguan Wuchang to retreat step by step. What the hell! Shangguan Wuchang feels a sense of horror. In the Supreme Divine Dynasty, he is a top-tier genius, and though there are others who are more monstrous, there are at most only one or two. Now, he encounters someone like this, and she possesses such strength? "Get lost!" Yue Hongling shouts loudly. She forms a seal with both hands, and a near-solid seal condenses and violently smashes Shangguan Wuchang out. The buoyancy increases. The distance between them grows infinitely. Now, Yue Hongling has no intention of continuing to tangle with Shangguan Wuchang. He should be killed by her senior brother. What she needs to do now is obtain the Pure Water Pearl. According to what her senior brother said in her past life, the Pure Water Pearl is at the bottom. The lake is three thousand meters deep. Putting aside whether Shangguan Wuchang was exaggerating, if it''s really possible to dive another thousand meters, Yue Hongling decided to strike him out first, no matter what. Yue Hongling continued to dive. Two thousand five hundred meters. At this point, a suffocating feeling tightly enveloped Yue Hongling. This was because the pressure was too great. The Pure Water has water quality that is much denser than normal lake water, with pressure over a thousand times greater, something even a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage could hardly withstand. However, Yue Hongling felt that her limits were still quite far off; even four thousand meters would likely not be a problem for her. Wasn''t it easy for her senior brother to retrieve the Pure Water Pearl back then? But the whole thing was made out to be so dramatic, as if he were about to die, leaving her to stay awake and take care of him for so long, and even getting taken advantage of by him. Yue Hongling¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, though she wasn¡¯t sure if it was due to the pressure or because of the memories of things that happened before. Three thousand meters. The water in the lake had turned a dark blue, and it gave off a heavy, oppressive feeling just by looking at it. Yue Hongling froze. She was sure that she had already descended three thousand meters. But now, she looked downward, and everything was black. She couldn¡¯t see the lakebed at all, and for a moment, she felt lost. Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be three thousand meters? Could something have changed? She gritted her teeth, assessing how much more she could endure, and dove further down. Four thousand meters! At this point, Yue Hongling was indeed strong, but when she reached four thousand meters, she still felt an overwhelming pressure. Her heart seemed to stop beating. She still couldn¡¯t see the lakebed. Yue Hongling gritted her teeth and pressed on! Five thousand meters! At this point, a part of her bones had shattered, and her flesh began to show signs of decay. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, her face still showing disbelief. She looked at her body blankly and thought back to the way Lu Ye crawled out of the Pure Water Lake back then. Wasn¡¯t it three thousand meters? The location of the Pure Water Pearl isn¡¯t three thousand meters deep. The distance from the lake¡¯s surface to the bottom isn¡¯t three thousand meters either. An intense fear and suffocation overwhelmed Yue Hongling. She was fearless, but she could vaguely feel liquid dripping from the corners of her eyes. She was fearless. Because her cultivation technique was powerful, and she had the memories of her past life. In her past life, she was an emperor. What terrifying scenes had she not experienced? But what about Lu Ye, who helped her retrieve the Pure Water Pearl back then? At that time, Lu Ye was just a new disciple who had only recently left his sect, someone who would even hesitate to kill a person. For such a fledgling cultivator, how could he possibly have the courage to continue diving in such terrifying, suffocating, and even desperate waters, if he had no obsession and no strong conviction? Because you never know how much farther you are from the lakebed. It could be another hundred meters, maybe a thousand meters, or even three thousand meters... In such a hopeless, endless environment, Lu Ye still remembered that she needed the Pure Water Pearl. But why did he lie to himself? Why lie to himself, saying it was only three thousand meters? Yue Hongling gritted her teeth and continued to rush towards the lake¡¯s bottom. "Crack, crack, crack..." Her bones kept making crisp sounds. Yue Hongling no longer knew how many meters she had descended. A faint blue glow finally entered her vision. She could no longer see clearly, but still, she fumbled her way to the center of the blue glow and grasped the Pure Water Pearl. At this moment, her body had an intense craving. She needed the Pure /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Water Pearl to merge with her body immediately. As soon as it did, her body, on the brink of shattering, would immediately recover, and the effect of enhancing her talent would be the best. Merge! Merge! This wasn¡¯t the enchantment of the Pure Water Pearl, but the signal from her almost shattered body sent directly to her brain. Chapter 32: That’s Not Love Yue Hongling did not choose to merge with the Pure Water Pearl. She restrained her body''s desire, the primal instinct of all living beings to survive. Endless pain flooded her mind. Her brain kept issuing commands, urging her to absorb the Pure Water Pearl, to absorb it immediately. It turned out, her senior brother had endured this kind of pain back then. To enhance his talent, he had actually suppressed the very instinct to survive. No wonder her senior brother had suffered such severe injuries. No wonder, no wonder... It was too painful! Yue Hongling deeply felt the pain her senior brother had endured, and intense regret tore at her heart like countless venomous insects. Her senior brother had truly been too kind to her. In this world, which man could treat her better than his own life? Feng Wuxie couldn¡¯t do that! Although she had never been with Feng Wuxie, she could be certain that Feng Wuxie could never do such a thing. But her senior brother, that wasn''t love! No matter how good he was to her, without that fleeting heartbeat, she could only feel gratitude, not love, towards him. It was only when she was with Feng Wuxie that Yue Hongling felt that excitement, her heart racing, her body heating up. Senior Brother, in this life, apart from being with you, I will agree to anything, even if it means dying for you! Yue Hongling silently swore an oath in her heart. She started swimming upwards, her strength gradually dwindling. No, she really couldn¡¯t hold on much longer. After much hesitation, Yue Hongling finally decided to refine the Pure Water Pearl. Her senior brother had no use for it, but if he had, she would have willingly given him the treasure for free. Since her senior brother had no use for it, after improving her own body, she would definitely go help him find a very precious treasure. With the swallowing of the Pure Water Pearl, Yue Hongling¡¯s injuries began to recover rapidly, and the Pure Water Pearl continued to alter her physique, expelling countless impurities. Yue Hongling¡¯s cultivation began to break through. She was about to shatter her core and enter the Nascent Soul stage. Yes, when she fought Shangguan Wuchang before, she had not yet broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, but she had hidden her realm. In fact, if Yue Hongling were at the Nascent Soul stage, she could have easily severely injured Shangguan Wuchang with a single strike. After all, she was a reincarnated Emperor. By the time Yue Hongling¡¯s injuries healed and her breakthrough succeeded, reaching the lake''s surface, Shangguan Wuchang was already standing there, holding his Fangtian Huaji, waiting for a long time. "We didn''t finish the fight properly in the water, how about we have another round now? What do you think?" The heavy Fangtian Huaji swung, pointing at Yue Hongling as he spoke. Yue Hongling¡¯s beautiful face revealed a cold smile. ¡°You couldn¡¯t even defeat me in the water. Don¡¯t think you stand a chance now.¡± The Fearless Divine Fist struck again. A fist imprint rushed toward Shangguan Wuchang. He swung his Fangtian Huaji, slashing through the fist mark, already planning his follow-up attack. However, the moment the Fangtian Huaji and the fist imprint collided, Shangguan Wuchang felt an immense, unbeatable force surging from the fist imprint. "Boom!" The Fangtian Huaji was lifted high. Shangguan Wuchang''s face flushed, and his body couldn¡¯t stop; each step left a deep imprint in the ground. He retreated more than a dozen steps before barely managing to stop his momentum. He stared at Yue Hongling in horror. How is this possible? Yue Hongling, however, ignored him. She had no intention of killing this guy¡ªlet him be for Shangguan Huanling! ... Lu Ye walked out of the volcano, a ball of flames like a ribbon wrapped around his Nascent Soul. One of the three flames in the volcano had extinguished. This meant that a divine flame had been taken. The divine flame Lu Ye took was called the Daylight Yang Flame. Its temperature was high enough to be useful until reaching the Fourth Heaven, and if it wasn¡¯t, it could be upgraded. Next location. Bai Yao Valley. To gather his second life, Lu Ye needed a Golden Sunflower from the core of Bai Yao Valley. It was incredibly difficult to find such a thing outside. In his past life, it was here that he had found it. His figure departed. Chu Ling also left. She had now realized something very real and terrifying. That was, Lu Ye''s strength was growing increasingly powerful. If her cultivation continued to progress so slowly, she would no longer have the qualifications to follow Lu Ye in the future. In her past life, Lu Ye had actively brought her along. In this life, however, Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t care about her life or death. She calculated the time. Other demons, monsters, and various forces would soon arrive. Those things were far from the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield, so they were a bit delayed. Lu Ye looked up. And saw purple and black whirlpools appearing in the sky. Vibrantly colored whirlpools, almost appearing one after another with barely a minute¡¯s gap, followed by demonic, ghostly, andÑýÆø (demonic qi), eerie howls, manic laughter, roars... Lu Ye took one look and didn¡¯t care anymore. In fact, he even felt some disdain for these noisy beings. His figure arrived at Bai Yao Valley, a place filled with various kinds of formations. The rumor was that this was once an ancient and powerful sect¡¯s medicinal garden. Lu Ye, however, knew the rumor was false. Because the formations here had all been set up by one person, who had wanted to # N§àv§Ölight # use the formations to challenge the countless ancient Tianjiao, a formidable figure. Even though he had died in battle later, his formations had contributed greatly, and his name had been passed down through the ages. Of course, he wasn¡¯t dead yet. The people in Bai Yao Valley were tirelessly studying the formations. To formation masters, the herbs might not even be as valuable as these formations. Because when the formations were set up, the formation master was only about twenty years old, and his ideas were very suited to the younger disciples. One of the people kept disappearing and reappearing. This was because he was constantly breaking through the formations only to encounter new ones. Watching the speed at which he was breaking the formations, Lu Ye¡¯s eyes showed a hint of surprise. How did he discover such a talented formation master? Looking at the speed of breaking formations... Normally, such a person shouldn¡¯t be nameless. If he was, there could only be one possibility. He died halfway through. Lu Ye felt some regret. A formation master with such talent had died before he could fully grow. It was truly a pity. He could help him a little. Lu Ye entered the formation. It wavered slightly, and his figure completely disappeared. He entered the formation, but instead of breaking it, he chose to use it. Soon, his figure appeared in front of the formation breaker. The formation breaker was focused on his work, and suddenly, a person appeared, startling him. ¡°You, you... are you a human or a ghost?¡± The young man, with red lips and white teeth, asked with some fear. Lu Ye??? ¡°Have you ever seen a ghost?¡± ¡°No... no.¡± ¡°Then have you ever seen a human?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference between me and a human?¡± The young man finally regained his composure, somewhat embarrassed. The sudden appearance of Lu Ye had indeed startled him. ¡°Sorry, you... you¡¯re more handsome than anyone.¡± Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh. This kid¡ªwas he foolish? He had some emotional intelligence. Was he emotionally intelligent? He was actually quite smart. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Li Huaiyu.¡± ¡°Hmm, continue breaking the formation well. Focus and comprehend carefully.¡± With that, Lu Ye¡¯s figure disappeared. Li Huaiyu¡¯s eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the direction Lu Ye had disappeared. He then looked back at the intact formation. How... how did he do that? Chapter 33: Killing Lu Ye continued to delve deeper. The formations that remained were changed by him, replaced with a completely new system of formations, and not just one system. Among them, there were two formations. One was the Strong Light Formation, which had no real lethality but could blind others'' eyes. The other was a short-distance teleportation formation, capable of transporting someone between ten to thirty kilometers. Though not too far, it would be enough for an emergency escape. He kept changing the formations. As he continued to alter them, he eventually reached the Golden Sunflower. He took out a jade box and sealed the Golden Sunflower. He also picked a dozen or so precious herbs that might be useful, and Lu Ye left Bai Yao Valley. Li Huaiyu was still tirelessly breaking the formations, his eyes filled with exploration and satisfaction for knowledge. He broke through more formations. Upon encountering a new formation, Li Huaiyu¡¯s expression changed. He had become trapped in the formation, and /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ in front of him appeared a group of muscular, eight-pack abs men, all beckoning him with their fingers. Ah! Had the formation changed? Not just the formation, but the entire system of the formation had changed. What was going on? He had almost figured out the formation master''s thinking, yet now the formation had undergone a complete transformation. Could it be... that young man from earlier had something to do with this? To be able to alter a formation without breaking it, how terrifying must his mastery of formations be? Another issue was... why were there eight muscular, handsome men in the illusion? For a man like him, wouldn¡¯t it have been more fitting to have eight beautiful women appear in the illusion instead? ... Leaving Bai Yao Valley, Lu Ye¡¯s next destination was Tianling Pool. As the name suggested, Tianling Pool was rich in spiritual energy, beneficial for cultivation. With the system''s help speeding up his cultivation, if he trained in Tianling Pool, his progress would be even faster. He walked out of Bai Yao Valley. A rumbling sound came from the distance. The battle had begun. The human race had become strong, driving all the foreign races out of the vast wilderness, where spiritual energy was most concentrated. They already had grudges with various factions, and now with the younger generation gathering, it was a complete mess. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t particularly concerned about these matters. Strong people are made through battle. No one can avoid fighting. In a place like this, everyone¡¯s age and cultivation are about the same. If they fight, they fight. Who¡¯s afraid of whom? Unless it¡¯s a situation where someone is bullying the weak, massacring indiscriminately, then Lu Ye would step in. Fighting among peers, if someone dies, so be it. "Boom!" A figure heavily crashed in front of Lu Ye. "Fellow daoist... help... help me..." A disciple from a small sect spat out blood, clearly nearing the end of his life. "Hahaha, you''re going to die too!" A black bat cackled, viciously charging at Lu Ye. Lu Ye had initially planned to just bypass the situation. But since the black bat had attacked him... A sword light gently sliced through. The bat was cleaved in two. Lu Ye found the bat¡¯s storage ring, a spark turning it to ashes. With a flick of his sleeve, the ashes scattered into the air. "Bats¡¯ Mist!" A cry of sorrow rang out as more than ten black bats, moving with incredible speed, rushed toward him. They glanced at the bat that had been sliced in two, but before they could speak, Lu Ye¡¯s sword light cut through. "Whoosh whoosh whoosh..." Under the sunlight, the light warped. Sword lights crisscrossed, and all ten bats were cleaved in two. Blood spilled onto the ground, the stench of blood overwhelming. Lu Ye beckoned with his finger, collecting the storage rings from each bat, then stepped away. "Fellow daoist, please let me know your name. The kindness you have shown today will be repaid by me, Ji Liang, of the Qiankun Sect!" Lu Ye did not stop, disappearing into the horizon. The great battle had indeed begun. Along the way, there were the bodies of demons and humans alike. Some bodies were mangled beyond recognition, while some female cultivators had been stripped bare, their bodies covered in bite marks. The cruelty of the cultivation world was laid bare at this moment. Two figures, covered in dirt and fleeing in a panic, rushed towards Lu Ye. "Fellow daoist, hurry, the demon race has occupied the Tianling Pool ahead. They¡¯ve killed many people. Now, the human race has chosen to form an alliance to fight the demons and monsters. We can head to the alliance point together and fight back against the demons and monsters!" Lu Ye was slightly intrigued. This hadn¡¯t happened in his past life¡ªhumans actually formed alliances? "Who made the alliance?" Lu Ye asked. "It was Yue Hongling from the Grand Dao Sect who took the lead, and many powerful factions responded. It¡¯s not only safe there, but we can also join forces to fight back against the demons, so we won¡¯t be picked off one by one by them. Fellow daoist, please come with us." So it was Yue Hongling! No wonder things had changed. "No need," Lu Ye said, "I still want to check out the Tianling Pool." "But fellow daoist, the Tianling Pool has already been occupied by the demons. If you go now, aren¡¯t you just walking into death?" Lu Ye wasn¡¯t angry. "I¡¯m just going to take a look. If it¡¯s dangerous, I¡¯ll retreat in time." "I advise you not to go." "I¡¯m the kind of person who won¡¯t give up until I reach the Yellow River." Lu Ye was always tolerant of kind-hearted people, like these two. They simply meant well, wanting to guide him to a safer place. "Then, fellow daoist, take care!" "Take care!" Having crossed paths by chance, Lu Ye was already very close to the Tianling Pool. Ahead, the scent of blood wafted through the air. The Tianling Pool wasn¡¯t particularly large. Its opening was only about ten zhang in diameter, and its water was a brilliant green, like a gem embedded in the earth. Dense spiritual energy filled the air, manifesting in the form of mist. Around the Tianling Pool, many bodies lay in a gruesome state. Large demons were gnawing on the corpses, while other demons were leisurely cultivating in the Tianling Pool. The sound of crunching bones echoed sharply. Lu Ye¡¯s figure appeared not far off. Pairs of eyes opened all around, almost simultaneously locking onto Lu Ye, filled with murderous intent. It seemed as though Lu Ye didn¡¯t notice, continuing to walk towards the group of demons. "Interesting!" A leopard demon suddenly smiled. It leaped out of the Tianling Pool, causing all the water to evaporate. Its fur began to shimmer with strands of light. "A confident human, he probably thinks he can kill us all by himself." The leopard demon spoke to the other demons. "But, in reality?" "He¡¯ll beg for mercy." The demons immediately burst into laughter. "He¡¯ll howl in pain." "Hahaha..." The mocking laughter turned into hearty laughter. "He¡¯ll cry and beg us to end his misery." "Roar!" "Ha ha ha!" "Howl..." The leopard demon watched Lu Ye with mockery, and its figure suddenly turned into a golden light. "Beg for mercy!" "Whoosh!" The leopard demon''s body was split in half and flew out. Blood stained the ground in a V-shape. "Enough with the talk, you all should die." Lu Ye walked steadily, his figure flashing like frames being skipped in a movie, as in the blink of an eye, he had covered ten zhang and was already among the demon crowd. A sword strike slashed out. Seven or eight demons in a straight line exploded, their bodies disintegrating. The slaughter had begun! Chapter 34: Finding True Love A phoenix cry echoed. A demon burned its bloodline, transforming into the shape of a fiery phoenix, spiraling toward Lu Ye to kill him. The sword light flashed. The fire phoenix was cleaved in half, trees snapped, and the sword qi disappeared into the forest, its extent unknown. The demons occupying Tianling Pool, from their initial cruelty, to their astonishment, then to terror, and finally to collapse. The figure in dark robes, casually waving sword qi, was unstoppable. No demon could block a single stroke of the sword qi. All around, there were severed limbs, blood flowing everywhere, and the Tianling Pool was stained a faint red. Some demons had completely broken down, wailing as they fled. Lu Ye didn¡¯t chase them. It just felt like a waste of time. While killing demons earlier, he had also noticed a few familiar faces, such as the Little Golden Leopard King, the Iron-Eating Beast, and a descendant with the bloodline of the White Tiger. These were ones he had fought in his past life, but in this life, they were easily dispatched with a single sword. Lu Ye stepped into the Tianling Pool. He began cultivating. The water in the Tianling Pool rippled gently, and vast, pure spiritual energy continuously entered Lu Ye¡¯s body. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. "King Tianwu, King Tianwu, it''s bad! A very powerful human has appeared in Tianling Pool. He single-handedly slaughtered many of our demon brethren in the Tianling Pool. Please, King Tianwu, help us and kill him to avenge our fallen brothers!" A demon, crawling and stumbling, rushed into the demon forces, shouting urgently. At this moment, King Tianwu appeared in human form. Once a demon reached the Nascent Soul stage, they could transform into human form to speed up their cultivation. While humans were physically weaker compared to demons and monsters, humans possessed something that all other races lacked: wisdom. Wisdom could be likened to intellect, or to the light of wisdom. Over millions of years, # N§àv§Ölight # the human race had evolved to become the most suitable beings for cultivation in the world. In the past, human cultivation aimed to evolve into something like demons or monsters¡ªadorned with strange markings on their bodies, worshipped by all, growing into muscular giants, or even growing limbs similar to demonic beasts. But now, both demons and monsters liked to take human form and study human cultivation methods. Tianwu was one such example, and he wasn¡¯t the only one. Though Tianwu had taken human form, his sides were still covered with sharp limbs, as if he retained his demon heritage. "Are you telling me that a single human killed all the demons in Tianling Pool?" Tianwu asked. "Yes! That human is too strong. His sword light could not be stopped by anyone. With one strike, he can kill over a dozen demons. It¡¯s terrifying!" "That terrifying?" The demon messenger suddenly had purple threads crawling up its body. It grabbed its throat, its eyes widened as it looked at Tianwu. The purple threads covered its eyeballs. This demon could no longer speak another word. Its body stiffened, and its life force completely vanished. It was dead. "First, chase after Feng Wuxie. Nothing is more important than this matter!" Tianwu said coldly. Tianwu was confident that he was not weaker than any other genius, but he had never imagined that remnants of the Phoenix race still existed in this world. The Tianwu clan, who fought heaven and earth, were incredibly powerful. But when facing the Phoenix race, they were at a natural disadvantage. It was a suppression similar to a food chain. Even if Feng Wuxie was weaker than him, just seeing Feng Wuxie made him feel a shiver from the depths of his soul. How could he tolerate this? Feng Wuxie must be killed. He would annihilate the Phoenix clan from the world, once and for all. "Yes!" A group of demons continued to track Feng Wuxie¡¯s trail. On the other side, in the human gathering place, this location was called Wudao Fengya. The wind here could make people extremely alert, greatly increasing their inspiration. Many could enter a state of sudden enlightenment. The humans gathered here had already surpassed a hundred individuals, including many powerful figures, such as Shangguan Wuchang, Liao Yijian from the Supreme Sword Sect, Yun Tianxing from the Mountain and River Treasure Tower Sect, and more. Many had already fought demons and monsters, knowing how formidable their enemies were. However, they didn¡¯t feel much fear. The strength of the human race wasn¡¯t just empty talk. If you randomly picked a human and a demon or monster to fight, the human would usually emerge victorious. The only problem was that demons and monsters often liked to attack in large groups, which made them difficult to handle. Yue Hongling saw that more and more people were gathering, and powerful figures had also joined. The things Lu Ye had done in his past life, she was now doing for him in this life. Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard this time. Now, she was finally going to meet that person. "If we can meet again without tears in our eyes, will we still blush like we did back then, when we hurriedly engraved ''forever together''¡ªthat beautiful lie..." Yue Hongling hummed this song. It was a song her senior brother used to sing, one from his hometown. She had even visited his hometown, but never heard the song there. But it was truly beautiful. "The base has been established. I¡¯ll be leaving now," Yue Hongling said to the crowd. "Huh? Where are you going?" The others were confused. Could it be that Yue Hongling was going to search for treasures alone? "Looking for true love!" Yue Hongling happily lifted her face, her long ponytail swaying lightly. "Looking... for true love..." "Ah, so Fairy Yue considers the Dao as true love. Such a heart seeking the Dao is truly admirable!" The others quickly understood. In the end, she was going to look for treasures, right? Well, it was better than truly searching for true love. "Hahaha, well, that¡¯s one way to put it. In that case, everyone, may we meet again by fate!" Yue Hongling bade farewell to the others and quickly vanished. Based on the timeline, Feng Wuxie should be fleeing towards the second layer of space, as there was a very cruel battlefield there. Many demons and ghosts were fighting near that battlefield. She herself had once been hunted by demons in her past life, which was how she ended up meeting Feng Wuxie, who was also being chased by demons. The two of them then began to work together, fighting side by side, searching for a way to escape. This time, it would proceed in the same way. But what was different was that, in her previous life, she wasn¡¯t strong. In this life, there were very few who could actually defeat her. Yue Hongling rushed towards the second layer of space. Soon, she arrived at the second layer of space. Just like the events of her past life, her figure appeared at Blood Demon Mountain, competing for the Unstained Flower that grew there. A great battle had occurred here in the past, with many demons dying in the area. They were tainted by demonic blood. However, in the place tainted by demonic blood, a Unstained Flower, which grew out of the mud but remained unstained, blossomed. It could only be said that the world was truly wondrous. In terms of strength, Yue Hongling could easily wipe out all the demons here and leisurely take the Unstained Flower with her. However, that would deviate from the main course of events. She suppressed her power to a level similar to her past life, hurriedly fleeing, while a group of demons behind her howled and began to give chase. Feng Wuxie, I¡¯m coming. Chapter 35: Feng Wuxie "Tianwu, I have no grudge or enmity with you, why are you so determined to kill me?" Feng Wuxie, covered in blood, let out a furious roar. He truly didn''t understand. They were all demons, and now they were on this ancient battlefield for young talents. You''re not hunting humans, not killing demons. Why are you killing your own kind? Are you out of your mind?! "Do I need a reason to kill you?" "Survival of the fittest, natural selection. If I had to explain myself every time I killed trash, wouldn''t my entire life be wasted on explanations?" "How about a one-on-one fight?" Feng Wuxie took another hit, a new wound added to his body. In a one-on-one fight, he wasn¡¯t particularly afraid of Tianwu. After all, he had the noble blood of the Phoenix Clan. Even though his cultivation was a bit weaker, he could still fight! "One-on-one? Hehehe..." "Should I put away my thousand legs when fighting with you so you don¡¯t feel it¡¯s unfair?" Tianwu sneered. Feng Wuxie had a strong recovery ability, and although he was constantly being wounded, he could still jump around energetically. However, if this continued, things would not look good. Demons hunting demons ¡ª no other faction would step in to help, at best, they would refrain from kicking him while he was down. Feng Wuxie gritted his teeth. Damn! Damn it! This Tianwu was a madman. Once he grew stronger, he would wipe out this disgusting race! At this moment, a loud rumbling {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} suddenly came from ahead. Was there a change? Feng Wuxie saw a figure in red appear in his sight, and as he got closer, he couldn¡¯t help but feel stunned. What a beautiful woman! But, as beautiful as she was, behind her followed a large group of demon cultivators. Black clouds rolled, and the demonic energy surged as they pursued the woman in red. The two of them were heading towards each other. Yue Hongling looked at the young man who had appeared countless times in her dreams. The boy was covered in blood, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. Her eyes couldn¡¯t help but redden. So many years, so many years had passed. After Feng Wuxie¡¯s death, he had lived in her heart for far too long. Now, she had finally seen him again. In the instant they met, there was almost no exchange. They both ran in opposite directions. The demons and the devils were getting closer, both sides cautious, for these two factions were never known for peaceful coexistence. "We demons have no intention of being enemies with the devils. How about we join forces and kill the two of them?" Tianwu shouted loudly. The devils, too, breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright!" So, the demons and devils gathered together, yet remained clearly distinct. They all pursued Yue Hongling and Feng Wuxie. "What did you do? Why are so many demons chasing you?" Feng Wuxie asked, looking at Yue Hongling. This human woman was truly beautiful. "What did you do? Why are so many demons chasing you?" Feng Wuxie curled his lips into a smile. "I suspect it¡¯s these ugly demons, jealous of my handsome face, so they started hunting me down." Yue Hongling??? It wasn¡¯t that Feng Wuxie¡¯s words were wrong, but when he said that, she instinctively thought of Lu Ye. Because Lu Ye sometimes acted just as narcissistic. He would say his other name was Lu Yanzu, or Lu Pan''an, and so on... Yue Hongling knew that Yanzu and Pan''an were famous handsome men from Lu Ye¡¯s hometown. Seeing Yue Hongling staring blankly at him, her running speed didn¡¯t slow down, but her expression was clearly lost in thought. Feng Wuxie couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Damn my charm! Such a beautiful human woman, just by meeting me once, has already fallen for me. But now wasn¡¯t the time for flirting. "Do you have any way to shake off the pursuit?" Feng Wuxie asked. "No!" Yue Hongling snapped back to her senses, feeling a twinge in her heart. She actually thought of Lu Ye when she was with Feng Wuxie. Could it be that she was really a cheap woman? When she was with one, she thought of the other. When she was with the other, she thought of this one? No! She had always liked Feng Wuxie! It was just that she had spent too much time with her senior brother. So much time that he had become part of every aspect of her life, every inch of it. Both physically and spiritually. This situation would definitely gradually disappear later. "Then the two of us are most likely going to die. One side''s pursuit is already so difficult, let alone now with two sides chasing us." "We won¡¯t die. We¡¯ll find my senior brother. Once my senior brother arrives, these people are nothing but a bunch of clumsy fools." "Your senior brother is that strong?" "Of course. My senior brother is invincible among his peers!" "That¡¯s great. Where is your senior brother?" "This way!" The two of them changed direction, with constant long-range attacks falling, and they both struck to shatter them. "Then what is your senior brother¡¯s attitude towards demons? I mean, a good demon, one who has never eaten humans and has no interest in doing so." Feng Wuxie asked. "Don¡¯t worry, my senior brother never kills innocents!" Yue Hongling glanced at Feng Wuxie from the corner of her eye. Just from his appearance, Feng Wuxie was undeniably handsome. Even though he looked rather disheveled now, it added a broken kind of beauty to him. The constant long-range attacks were clearly affecting their speed. Seeing the distance between them closing. "We''re finished, we''re finished!" Feng Wuxie¡¯s eyes were filled with despair. This time, it seemed like he was really going to die. Suddenly, Yue Hongling formed hand seals, and a long magic spear materialized above her head, shooting towards the demons and monsters behind them. The spear had a long range, and if any demon or monster wasn¡¯t careful, they would be pierced right through. However, the spear was too slow to form, and there were too many demons and monsters. It couldn¡¯t affect the chase at all. "Single-target attacks won¡¯t work. We need an area attack!" Feng Wuxie shouted. "I don¡¯t have an area attack!" Feng Wuxie gritted his teeth. "I do, but after I release the attack, you have to run with me." In reality, Feng Wuxie still couldn¡¯t fully trust Yue Hongling, but things had already reached this point. If he released the Heavenly Phoenix Flame, he would certainly be drained of energy and unable to escape. If he did nothing, he would definitely be surrounded and killed. There were no other options left. "Okay!" Yue Hongling gave a clear answer. A loud phoenix cry suddenly rang out, and Feng Wuxie burned all his energy. Above his head, a magnificent flame phoenix took shape. Releasing this move was undoubtedly very taxing on Feng Wuxie, and afterward, he felt incredibly weak. "Go!" The magnificent flame phoenix, with its trailing tail, charged toward the demons and monsters. Yue Hongling grabbed Feng Wuxie¡¯s clothes, originally intending to carry him, but somehow didn¡¯t do so. "Boom!" The flame phoenix exploded. The sky was filled with fire rain, blocking the path of the demons and monsters, and the distance between both sides widened again. Yue Hongling¡¯s lips curled up slightly. After the demons and monsters broke through the fire rain, they continued their pursuit. "Why hasn¡¯t your senior brother shown up yet?" Feng Wuxie weakly asked. "Sorry, I think I¡¯m lost." Feng Wuxie??? Chapter 36: Fighting Side by Side "Goddamn lost?!" Feng Wuxie''s eyes filled with despair. He wanted to shout at Yue Hongling, but he was worried she might just abandon him right then and there. "Forget it, forget it. It''s not your fault." Now, Feng Wuxie could only try to soothe Yue Hongling and began to recover his strength. The smile on Yue Hongling''s face grew even more apparent as the demons and monsters drew closer. Suddenly, a massive rift appeared ahead. It looked as though the rift had been sliced open by a single strike, with the soil on both sides scorched black, looking incredibly solid. Yue Hongling charged into the rift without hesitation. "This place is a chokepoint, no one can pass. Hurry up and restore your strength, I¡¯ll block the demons and monsters ahead. If I can¡¯t hold on, you¡¯ll take over for me!" "Can you hold them off?" Feng Wuxie asked weakly. "I can!" She threw three bottles of pills to Feng Wuxie. Yue Hongling looked ahead. In the previous life, it was here too. They had fought together, constantly fending off the demons'' attacks, and eventually managed to hold out until Lu Ye arrived. This time, Yue Hongling could actually wipe out these demons and monsters on her own, but she still wanted to experience the scene that had made her feel a flutter in her heart back then. "Kill!" The rift was narrow, and the surrounding scorched soil was as solid ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) as iron, making it a perfect battlefield. Two demons charged from above and below. Two magic seals struck simultaneously, repelling the demons. Seeing this, Feng Wuxie quickly swallowed a pill and tried to calm his mind, beginning to recover his demonic power. Yue Hongling fought steadily. She was like an immovable barrier, blocking all the demons and monsters. Tianwu charged forward. Once again, Yue Hongling casually punched him back. Tianwu??? This couldn¡¯t be right! This human woman is this strong? Wait a minute, if you¡¯re this strong, why does it feel like you don¡¯t even need to run? You could just kill all those devils, right? Why bother running around for so long? I don¡¯t get it! Unbelievable! "Exhaust her!" Tianwu roared angrily. One demon after another charged forward, Yue Hongling had the power to kill one with a single punch, but she purposely held back from killing them. Time passed minute by minute. The demons were pushed back, then came again, only to be pushed back once more. Feng Wuxie recovered quickly. His phoenix bloodline was still incredibly powerful. He secretly opened his eyes and looked at Yue Hongling. He saw she was as steady as a mountain. He even began to consider escaping on his own. However, this idea was quickly rejected. He could run, but Tianwu was like a mad dog, unwilling to stop until one of them was dead. If he ran, Tianwu would definitely stop chasing Yue Hongling and focus on him instead. Leaving Yue Hongling behind like that would only make her hate him. After considering it all, he couldn¡¯t run! Yue Hongling was still holding on, and Feng Wuxie didn¡¯t entertain any more thoughts and continued to recover his strength. Another ten minutes passed. It seemed Yue Hongling had reached her limit, her body swaying as if about to collapse. Feng Wuxie knew it was time for him to act! His strength wasn¡¯t too weak, and in a one-on-one fight, he wasn¡¯t afraid of anyone. As Yue Hongling took a step back, Feng Wuxie suddenly charged in front of her. "My turn now, you recover your strength!" Feng Wuxie shouted. Yue Hongling paused for a moment. In a place where Feng Wuxie couldn¡¯t see, she revealed a faint smile. This feeling... Yue Hongling¡¯s brow furrowed suddenly. Something wasn¡¯t right! Why didn¡¯t it feel like before, when her heart raced? What was wrong? Yue Hongling was puzzled. Could it be because she was now strong enough that she didn¡¯t feel that sense of danger? Back then, it was here, where she truly held on to the extreme. The moment Feng Wuxie appeared before her, her heart had raced like never before. An infinite sense of security enveloped her. But now, that feeling was nowhere to be found... Yue Hongling furrowed her brows tightly, swallowed a pill, and began to recover the consumed true essence. Feng Wuxie¡¯s strength was indeed remarkable, but facing the endless barrage of attacks, he was still constantly injured. He simply couldn¡¯t last as long as Yue Hongling. As his injuries became more severe, Yue Hongling suddenly struck him with a palm to knock him unconscious and dragged him to the rear. Tianwu¡¯s face twisted with fury. "Hand over Feng Wuxie, and we demons will not get involved in your grudge!" Yue Hongling¡¯s expression remained relaxed. She placed Feng Wuxie down and turned her gaze to the group of demons and monsters. "Unyielding!" She shouted, her fists smashing out. "Boom!" The violent true essence transformed into two distinct runes that shot into the demons and monsters. In an instant, several demons ahead exploded, their blood staining the scorched earth. Tianwu??? Demons??? Without uttering a single word of nonsense, Yue Hongling¡¯s foot imprinted a clear mark on the ground. Secret symbols flashed, and with a posture that seemed to destroy everything, the demons and monsters ahead were shattered one after another. Tianwu roared, all of his centipede legs emitting light as they transformed into a beam that charged toward her. Yet Yue Hongling effortlessly shattered it with a single punch. Tianwu??? Holy crap, you¡¯re this strong? If you¡¯re this strong, why did it take so long for us to fight? Why were you being chased by a group of devils? These devils... do they even deserve to chase you? What kind of bizarre game are you playing, pretending to be weak to eat the tiger? Boom. The demons and monsters were utterly shattered by Yue Hongling¡¯s ferocity. In this rift, which offered no escape, Yue Hongling, with the might of a storm, destroyed all of them. Yue Hongling killed the last devil and began to clean up the battlefield. She collected all the storage treasures, then set their bodies ablaze with fire. With the unconscious Feng Wuxie in tow, she quickly disappeared. As she looked at the unconscious Feng Wuxie, Yue Hongling began to ponder. In the last life, they had held on, until her senior brother arrived and killed those demons. He wouldn¡¯t let her stay with Feng Wuxie, directly abandoning him and forcibly taking her away. So, she never knew what Feng Wuxie went through afterward. Later, when she met Feng Wuxie again, they explored dangerous places together, practiced together, and searched for treasures together. When she was with Feng Wuxie, she was truly very happy. Now, with her senior brother not intervening, could she just stay with Feng Wuxie directly? She hesitated. Forget it, even if she didn¡¯t stay with him, she would meet him again soon enough. It was better to stay with him all along. But the lack of that heart-racing feeling this time was truly strange. Not long after, Feng Wuxie slowly opened his eyes. The sky had already darkened. Yue Hongling lit a campfire, staring blankly at the flickering flames, not even sure what she was thinking. "Am I dead?" Feng Wuxie suddenly woke up with a start. "No, you''re alive and well." Feng Wuxie looked at himself, perfectly unharmed. He pinched his own arm, and upon feeling pain, he realized that he was indeed alive. "Fairy, how did we escape?" Feng Wuxie quickly asked. "My senior brother came, killed those demons, and then we escaped," Yue Hongling replied. "Where is your senior brother?" "My senior brother is a busy man, he¡¯s already left." "Ah, so it¡¯s just the two of us alone?" Feng Wuxie said in disbelief. Yue Hongling narrowed her eyes. "You wish! Once you wake up, I¡¯m leaving too. Goodbye!" Chapter 37: Buddhist Disciple Yue Hongling left. Originally, she had planned to explore with Feng Wuxie, but after he woke up, she found that being with him felt somewhat awkward. So, she decided to leave temporarily. But it wasn¡¯t a complete departure. With a secret technique, Yue Hongling¡¯s aura faded completely, and unless one saw her with their own eyes, no one in the entire Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield, other than her senior brother, should be able to sense her presence. She kept a watchful eye on Feng Wuxie from a distance. "Whoo... it''s good that I left," Feng Wuxie looked at the dark sky and could no longer see Yue Hongling¡¯s figure, letting out a relieved sigh. That scared me to death. "That ''senior brother'' title, it clearly sounds like a man. Such a beautiful girl, and he could let her follow me? If anything happens to her, that senior brother of hers will definitely kill me." Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Feng Wuxie¡¯s brain sure worked well. But he wasn¡¯t wrong. In the previous life, when her senior brother found out she had developed feelings for Feng Wuxie, he became very angry. So much so that when Feng Wuxie was in danger, her senior brother refused to let her save him and tied her up. That was how Feng Wuxie ended up dead. He had even said it was a trap, a trap aimed at him. How could that be? Feng Wuxie and her senior brother had never crossed paths, so how could a trap aimed at her senior brother have been set? It was just her senior brother¡¯s jealousy exploding. Because of that incident, she hated her senior brother for a long time, but over time, that hatred gradually faded. In this life, her senior brother should no longer disturb her. She could finally pursue her true love. As for the little problem with Yue Hongling... Lu Ye definitely didn¡¯t want to get involved. If nothing changed, Yue Hongling would die in the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield. She was certain of it! Why was she so sure? Because Lu Ye had died there once. That was Lu Ye¡¯s first life, wasted because of Yue Hongling, but this time, it wouldn¡¯t happen again. Lu Ye was cultivating to the extreme at Tianling Pool. Although the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield contained many postnatal cultivation opportunities and rare treasures, Lu Ye lacked for nothing. He just needed to cultivate! The cultivation effects of Tianling Pool were even better than he had expected. In just a little over three days, his cultivation had advanced another level. He had broken through to the sixth level of the Infant Realm. At this point, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say he was the highest in the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield. And his combat strength? Even more terrifying. He wasn¡¯t very interested in killing, whether it was demons, monsters, or even those crazy gods. He had no interest in them. I just want to cultivate! But just because he didn¡¯t go looking for trouble didn¡¯t mean others wouldn¡¯t come looking for him. Tianling Pool was an excellent treasure land, naturally drawing many people''s attention. "Amitabha!" Lu Ye heard the Buddhist chant, slightly startled. Buddhism? He thought about many factions that might come looking for trouble, but he didn¡¯t expect the first to arrive to be from the Buddhist sect. Lu Ye didn¡¯t open his eyes. "Benefactor, this place has a connection to the Buddha. Would you kindly consider practicing elsewhere?" A gentle voice spoke. Lu Ye, in a calm voice, replied, "I am cultivating here and have not disturbed the Buddhist sect. You are no match for me, and I advise you not to provoke me." "Benefactor, how can this be called provocation? From afar, I saw the Buddha¡¯s light shining here. This pond of spiritual water is likely transformed by relics. Please, benefactor, move to another place." Lu Ye opened his eyes. A bald head, two bald heads, three bald heads... There were seven Buddhist disciples in total. "Chasing me away is one thing, but pulling the ''Buddha connection'' card? You Buddhists are always so good at making the unreasonable seem reasonable, truly shameless." "Benefactor speaks recklessly. We Buddhists are compassionate. If any other demons or monsters were to come, seeing you alone, they would have already attacked and killed you. Benefactor, do not remain deluded." "Annoying!" "Bold!" A stone sword appeared in Lu Ye''s hand. With a single slash, The cyan sword light immediately surged with the wind, rippling the Tianling Pool slightly. The seven Buddhist disciples simultaneously released golden light, but they saw the cyan sword light tear through the golden light as though it was a sharp blade cutting through tofu. Blood stained the Tianling Pool. The severed bodies of the disciples fell one after another into the water. Lu Ye closed his eyes again. The world became quiet again. Cultivation continued. On the other side, a group of monks had just finished cleaning up the battlefield. "Amitabha. As monks, we are compassionate. Demons and monsters disrupt the world, and we will help transcend them, which is in line with the Great Dao." "Indeed, indeed!" "Has Disciple Duwu gone to Tianling Pool?" The leading monk, with red lips and white teeth, and a golden light on his brow, looked holy and gentle. If it weren¡¯t for the blood dripping from his Zen staff, anyone would think he was a kind monk. Not everyone in the Buddhist sect had the right to hold a Zen staff. Ordinary monks held staffs, higher-level monks held maces, and those who could carry the iron # N§àv§Ölight # staff at such an age were probably Buddha¡¯s children. Some monks also carried bells, cymbals, and bowls, among many other items. "In response to Brother Dusheng¡¯s words, Disciple Duwu indeed went to Tianling Pool." "Tianling Pool is suitable for cultivating Buddhist scriptures, a good place to go. Ordinary disciples can go, Du Neng, you lead disciples below the ninth level of Yuan Dan to go there." "This bell is called the Karma Bell. If anything unusual happens, crush the bell, and I will arrive." "Understood!" "Others, come with me to find Buddhist relics." "Yes!" Du Neng watched as more than ten monks left and looked toward Tianling Pool. "Brothers, follow me!" Dozens of monks hurried toward Tianling Pool. Lu Ye was still cultivating. After a while, Du Neng led a group of monks there and immediately saw Lu Ye floating above Tianling Pool. They could see mist constantly flowing into Lu Ye''s palms. The bodies of the seven Buddhist disciples lay severed in two, floating above Tianling Pool, along with many demon and human corpses. The once beautiful Tianling Pool now resembled a demon¡¯s den. "Disciple Duwu!" Du Neng let out a sorrowful cry, his eyes widening in anger, looking like a Vajra demon-slaying warrior. "Did you kill Disciple Duwu and the others?" Du Neng shouted angrily. Lu Ye, disturbed once again, didn¡¯t open his eyes but could already feel dozens of Buddhist auras approaching. Tsk, looks like all these so-called Buddhist disciples are going to die in my hands today. One group after another keeps coming, and each batch is stronger than the last, but they still can¡¯t escape death. "You disturb my quiet cultivation, and death is too light a punishment." Lu Ye muttered eight words. Du Neng¡¯s eyes turned red. "Good, good, good! You say you disturb my cultivation, but you harm others. How is that any different from a demon?" "Today, I will slay the demons. Disciples, listen up!" "Yes!" "Eighteen Arhats Demon-Slaying Formation!" "Yes!" Eighteen monks simultaneously flew onto the surface of the Tianling Pool, their auras unified. Attacking one was like attacking all eighteen¡ªthis was an extremely difficult formation in Buddhism. Lu Ye opened his eyes. "Always seeking death, why bother?" The eighteen Arhats'' eyes widened, their bodies glowing with golden light, as though they were coated in gold. "Strike down!" Chapter 38: She likes me? "Devil!" He¡¯s a devil! He¡¯s a devil that even the Buddha cannot suppress, a devil that cannot be transcended! Du Neng, covered in blood, his once pristine monk robe now stained with dirt, stumbled and fell to the ground. A monk at the Breaking Infant realm actually fell due to panic. This was truly unthinkable. Du Neng fled, madly scrambling, and he didn¡¯t even remember the Karma Bell that the Buddhist Child had given him. In his subconscious, he knew that even the Buddhist Child would be doomed if they came face to face with such a devil. Lu Ye killed the last person and watched Du Neng flee. For a moment, he was speechless. Still at the Breaking Infant realm, and with such poor mental fortitude. He had killed a lot this time, so it felt like he was slipping into the killing state from his previous life. In his previous life, Lu Ye didn¡¯t even know how many powerful beings he had killed. As he looked over, he happened to lock eyes with Du Neng. It was like Du Neng was staring at the Lu Ye from his previous life, and that single gaze was enough to cause Du Neng to collapse. Lu Ye didn¡¯t pursue him. He couldn¡¯t be bothered. From now on, if Du Neng survives, there should be one more mad monk in this world. The smell of blood was slightly pungent. It affected his mood. Lu Ye thought for a moment, then extended his hand. A stream of bodies flew toward him, including the ones that had died earlier, all piling up together. He set them on fire, reducing them to ashes, leaving nothing but bone fragments. He gently waved his sleeve, a gust of wind blew through. The world felt fresh. Lu Ye was in a great mood as he returned to the Tianling Pool to continue his cultivation. There were no treasures beneath Tianling Pool, unlike the Pure Water Pool. The formation of Tianling Pool was related to the terrain, and if there were no pool here, but just land, it was highly likely that a spiritual stone mine would form over time. And the scale of that spiritual stone mine would likely be quite large. Time passed slowly. Another five days. Lu Ye¡¯s cultivation had reached the seventh level of Breaking Infant. His cultivation speed was incredibly fast¡ªfaster than usual and extremely stable. His true essence was so abundant it far surpassed the ninth level of Breaking Infant. On the other side. Because the space above the third level of the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield hadn''t opened, the ruins and treasures on the lower three levels had already been thoroughly looted. So, battles became more frequent. With no more treasures, they might as well fight to pass the time. Fighting against the world¡¯s best talents was the only way to truly understand oneself. But the humans were too strong. Li Wubai of the Taishang Sword Sect single-handedly slaughtered ninety demons and left without a scratch. Feng Longxiang of the Jie Sect smashed the third ghost prince of the Ghost Clan with a single punch. The Saintess of the Yin-Yang Law Sect, Luo Yuan, fought the Little Dragon King of the Demon Clan without losing an inch. Each one more ferocious than the last. When Lu Ye first crossed into this world, to be honest, he had felt somewhat out of place. In the novels he had read, humans were weak, bullied by a hundred clans, but in this world, humans were terrifyingly strong, and each clan was being brutally beaten. Once the clans were defeated, they liked to form alliances. In fact, forming alliances was almost second nature to them. The reason there¡¯s the term ¡°demons and monsters¡± is because these beings like to band together and jointly deal with humans. Once they form an alliance, it¡¯s lively. Humans, on the other hand, were under immense pressure. In the previous life, Lu Ye had been the leader on the human side, constantly battling these demons and monsters, killing many of their top talents. This time, Lu Ye was focused solely on cultivation, as he had already passed the stage where he needed to rely on fighting to improve. Without Lu Ye, Yue Hongling took on the responsibility he had once carried, leading the charge against the demons and monsters. Her combat power was terrifying, stunning countless people. As the battles raged on, Yue Hongling¡¯s reputation grew, becoming known far and wide. The war was in full swing. Every day, people were dying. In addition to Yue Hongling gaining fame, there was another solitary swordsman who became well-known, and that was Chu Ling. Chu Ling, with a sword in hand, was unstoppable, just like Yue Hongling. Shangguan Huanling was gathering her strength, not yet famous, but quietly building up her power. Lu Ye was cultivating with all his might. She had seen him from afar once and had only become more certain of the correctness of her decision to remain in seclusion. No matter how intense the battles were now, they couldn¡¯t compare to leaving a mark on the Ancient Heavenly Talents List. That was truly a world-shocking act. Yue Hongling, aside from fighting the demons and monsters, had been paying attention to Feng Wuxie. Feng Wuxie¡¯s progress was also very evident. The original Feng Wuxie had only been at the Yuan Dan realm, relying on the Phoenix bloodline within him to fight against the Breaking Infant realm. Now, he had officially broken through to the Breaking Infant realm. However, he knew Yue Hongling¡¯s power, so he never joined the demon¡¯s ranks, just kept a low profile. And he wasn¡¯t a fool. Yue Hongling¡¯s attention toward him was clearly higher, especially after an accidental encounter when Feng Wuxie realized that Yue Hongling had been watching him from afar. At that moment, Feng Wuxie thought, "What is going on?" His mind was full of questions. What¡¯s happening? Even ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) though he hadn¡¯t joined the demon ranks to fight against humanity, he had heard of Yue Hongling¡¯s great name more than once or twice. Now, she was watching him from a distance¡ªwhat did that mean? After discovering it once, Feng Wuxie started paying attention. He saw it for the second time. The third time. The fourth time... If the first time was a coincidence, then Yue Hongling secretly observing him repeatedly could not possibly be a coincidence. Why? Why? Feng Wuxie was baffled. Could it be...? Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Feng Wuxie¡¯s mind. He thought of an incredible, but plausible possibility. Could it be that Yue Hongling... had developed feelings for him? No way! No way! Absolutely impossible! Yue Hongling¡¯s fame was growing, and she had fought against all kinds of powerful beings¡ªdemons, monsters, ghosts, gods¡ªnever losing once. She had even killed many talented individuals. Such an extraordinary woman, having met him only a few times, how could she possibly like him? Besides, women are attracted to strength, and he wasn¡¯t strong! At least, not when compared to Yue Hongling¡ªhe wasn¡¯t strong at all. Soon, Feng Wuxie encountered a crisis. "A demon!" Just as Feng Wuxie was about to enter a stone cave, which was mysterious and potentially held treasures, a person suddenly appeared from inside the cave. They faced each other. The person was dressed in white, and suddenly their eyes turned golden. "Huh? A Phoenix bloodline?" The person¡¯s face lit up with joy. "I was just thinking about finding a mount, and unexpectedly, just as I had that thought, a precious mount has appeared right in front of me. The Lord of Light is truly blessing me!" "Divine race!" Feng Wuxie¡¯s face changed instantly as he rapidly retreated. "Hahaha, as the monks would say, meeting is fate. You might as well not run!" Cao Hong suddenly spread a pair of pure white wings from his back and flew toward Feng Wuxie with incredible speed. The aura of the third layer of Breaking Infant erupted. Feng Wuxie¡¯s face changed drastically, and he transformed into his true form. A creature resembling both a bird and a phoenix, with golden-red feathers, appeared, and the chase began. Cao Hong¡¯s speed was astonishing. He released a series of white threads that formed a large net, trapping Feng Wuxie. Feng Wuxie poured all his energy into fighting back, using flames to try and burn the net. "Glory of Light!" "Boom!" A white lightning bolt struck from the sky, and the world was bathed in blinding white light. Feng Wuxie flapped his wings, breaking the lightning, but his entire body still fell into paralysis. Chapter 39: She Likes Herself Yue Hongling¡¯s figure moved. But then she stopped. She was still quite clear that Feng Wuxie couldn''t possibly be limited to just this level of ability. Sure enough, a change occurred. Just as the divine race¡¯s Cao Hong was about to grab Feng Wuxie by the neck, Feng Wuxie¡¯s entire body transformed into flames. The flames were intangible, and Cao Hong''s hand passed right through them, grabbing nothing. The flames took on an embracing form, wrapping around Cao Hong. A whirlwind rose, the wind fueling the fire, the golden-red flames transforming into a fire tornado that crazily burned Cao Hong. "Get away!" Cao Hong roared. "Boom!" A white light spread out, the fire tornado exploded, and flames filled the sky. The flames suddenly condensed, reforming into a fire bird. Cao Hong, his body scorched black, looked in pain. His eyes were filled with rage as he pointed at Feng Wuxie and shouted. "Divine Lock!" In an instant, white chains appeared around Feng Wuxie¡¯s body. The chains were numerous, binding him completely without any chance of escape. Moreover, the chains carried a suppressive force. Feng Wuxie cried out in pain, struggling with all his might. But the white chains snapped and reformed, repeatedly locking and snapping again, no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn¡¯t break free. Cao Hong walked over and punched Feng Wuxie in the face. Boom! Cao Hong attacked again with a wide swing. The first thing to do when trying to tame a mount with high intelligence is to strike fear into it. Only by deeply embedding the seed of fear and performing multiple obedience tests could the mount be successfully formed. Yue Hongling watched this scene and shook her head lightly. Clearly, during the earlier battle, Feng Wuxie had more powerful means at his disposal, yet he hadn¡¯t used them. Such a waste... It didn¡¯t matter. As long as she was strong, even if Feng Wuxie was a waste for now, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. In her past life, wasn¡¯t it her senior brother who was strong and she was weak? She still lived happily. Her figure descended from the sky, rushing toward Cao Hong. Cao Hong suddenly looked up and saw Yue Hongling. A thought arose in his mind. A beautiful woman, I don¡¯t know her, she¡¯s not friendly, can kill her! A holy light appeared in his hand, the light twisting and condensing as he slapped it toward Yue Hongling. "Fearless Seal!" The Fearless Seal was not just one move, but a set of hand seals, containing eighty-one distinct seals, each with its unique effect. As Yue Hongling grew stronger, the number of seals she could use increased, and her explosive power grew as well. Boom! A huge rumble sounded. The white light orb was shattered by the seal, and with an unstoppable force, it slammed into Cao Hong¡¯s face. Boom! Cao Hong¡¯s large face exploded, and his body slid violently on the ground for several dozen meters, smashing a stone into pieces. "Such a hard head," Yue Hongling praised, lifting the large seal and charging forward again. "Why are you, a human, saving a demon?" Cao Hong roared. He pulled out a large shield and desperately withstood Yue Hongling¡¯s repeated strikes. Feng Wuxie looked at Yue Hongling¡¯s back, his eyes turning red. She came to save me. Sure enough, she likes me! She definitely likes me. Otherwise, how could she, a demon, be this strong while I¡¯m so weak? If she didn¡¯t like me, why would she keep following me? "Because I like you!" Yue Hongling answered as she sent Cao Hong flying again with a strike. Cao Hong coughed up blood, fear appearing in his eyes. She¡¯s too strong, this woman is too strong. What seemed like a small hand seal felt like the strike of a mountain when it hit. "You''re also trying to turn him into a mount, right? I¡¯ll give him to you. We have no enmity, so let me go." Feng Wuxie¡¯s smile faltered slightly. A mount... She wants to make me her mount? Yue Hongling smiled lightly, without rebutting or saying a word. She raised her seal and slammed it down again. "You''re crazy!" Cao Hong roared, unable to comprehend what was wrong with this woman. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his internal organs shattered. If she came down with three more seals, his body would be crushed to pieces. After dealing with Cao Hong, Yue Hongling turned to look at Feng Wuxie. "Are you okay?" Feng Wuxie had the word "mount" flashing through his mind. Was she trying to tame him as a mount? "I''m... I''m fine." "Then, if you''re fine, I¡¯ll be leaving now. Goodbye." Yue Hongling turned to leave. "Wait." Feng Wuxie called out to her. "Hmm?" Feng Wuxie took a deep breath. He was feeling something was terribly off. Because the strength Yue Hongling # N§àv§Ölight # had shown now, and her overwhelming fame, didn¡¯t match the power she had displayed when they were together, fighting side by side. This meant that the time they were being chased wasn¡¯t by accident¡ªit was Yue Hongling¡¯s plan all along. She had deliberately been chased, and had deliberately encountered him. "Why did you save me? What¡¯s your real motive?" Feng Wuxie asked loudly. There was no denying that he liked Yue Hongling now, and only when he liked her did he keep thinking that she liked him back. Yue Hongling paused when she heard his question. She stared straight into Feng Wuxie¡¯s eyes, and in that moment, she saw the hope in his gaze. He was waiting for her to say that she liked him. Yue Hongling lightly furrowed her brows. She did like Feng Wuxie, but it didn¡¯t feel like the right time to confirm anything. The past fluttering in her heart wasn¡¯t there. Had it been there, she might have been willing to throw caution to the wind and go with him, no matter what. But right now... "Because I think you''re fun." Yue Hongling left behind those words and soared into the air. You think I''m fun? Feng Wuxie froze, what kind of answer was that? But this "fun"... Feng Wuxie slowly began to understand, his eyes widening. Fun... wasn¡¯t that just the precursor to liking someone? This extraordinary woman, who had truly developed feelings for him! Feng Wuxie¡¯s heart started beating rapidly, and his handsome face flushed, growing hot. He pressed his hand to his chest. A feeling began to take root in his heart. "By the way, here¡¯s something for you, contact me if you need anything." Yue Hongling returned and threw Feng Wuxie a conch-shaped magical item. "Speak into the conch, and I¡¯ll hear you through another one." After tossing it to him, she turned to leave again. "Wait!" Feng Wuxie stopped her again. Yue Hongling raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?" "Can I come with you?" Feng Wuxie asked. The Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield was just too dangerous, and since Yue Hongling was so strong, it would be great for him to stay with her. Even just using the treasures she didn¡¯t need would be enough for him to continue his cultivation. Yue Hongling frowned. "No! The Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield is for training, not for you to sit back and relax. Goodbye!" She decisively left. Feng Wuxie... Sit back and relax, so that¡¯s what she thinks? Feng Wuxie gritted his teeth. He would definitely train hard, so that the next time Yue Hongling saw him, she would open her eyes wide! Chapter 40: Do I deserve it? "Hongling, can I call you that?" Yue Hongling didn¡¯t respond. "I¡¯m currently in the second-floor space, in the Demon Swamp. I¡¯ve found a great place for cultivation and am focusing on my training. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t fall behind you!" "Damn it, the Demon Swamp is occupied by the Blue Crocodile Clan. They allow other major demon clans to cultivate there but won¡¯t let me enter." "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll go to the Qinggu Valley to meditate." "The Qinggu Valley is occupied by a group of monks. Such a place for cultivation should be open for all living beings to use!" "Hongling, are you listening?" "Today, I fought against a demon clan for a Demon Flame Fruit. I won, but the fruit was ruined." "Why is it that the Phoenix Clan no longer exists? If the Phoenix Clan were still around, I wouldn¡¯t have to be so lonely." "Hongling, can I come to you? There are so many powerful forces controlling resources, and alone, I can¡¯t stand up to them." Finally, Yue Hongling replied with one sentence. "No. Since you don¡¯t have a force, then observe how solitary cultivators train." "Ah, so you can hear me. I thought this magic tool was broken. Hongling, can we talk?" Yue Hongling was very busy. In fact, in her previous life, Yue Hongling had already known that Feng Wuxie was a bit clingy and talkative. She actually liked this kind of personality because she herself was strong, and this soft, clingy personality complemented hers well. As for her senior brother, he was tolerant and optimistic. Feng Wuxie gave Yue Hongling a completely new feeling. But maybe because she wasn¡¯t as strong as she was in this life, Feng Wuxie¡¯s soft and clingy personality wasn¡¯t as obvious in her previous life. This life... It was hard to say. Yue Hongling was really busy now. She was slowly becoming the number one figure among humans, constantly fighting and fighting for territory. Fighting demons, fighting monsters, fighting monks, fighting ghosts, fighting gods. Fight, fight, fight. Only after truly becoming the leader of the human race did Yue Hongling realize how busy this position was. There were so many things to do every day. And what about Lu Ye in his past life? In his previous life, her senior brother was definitely not as strong as she was now. The battles were even more brutal, and senior brother killed countless strong enemies while she was constantly injured. But still, she kept bothering him, asking him to accompany her in training, asking him to save her, asking him to help her find the treasures she needed. Facing these requests, Lu Ye always agreed with a doting smile, then went to fight a hard battle, injuring himself to make the enemy fear him, and then found time to accompany her. It turned out that senior brother was so tired. Yue Hongling felt some heartache. From the matter with the Pure Water Pearl, she had already realized that what her senior brother bore was far more complicated than she had thought. She sighed softly. At least now, her senior brother had it easier. Lu Ye was truly at ease now. He had occupied the Tianling Pool, and his cultivation speed was increasing rapidly. All the spiritual energy from the Tianling Pool was converging toward him. At this moment, the Tianling Pool had become a forbidden place. So far, all kinds of creatures had ventured in, but if anyone dared to act against Lu Ye, they would meet their death. If they tried to compete for spiritual energy, they would be sent flying. If they resisted, they would still die. Demons, monsters, ghosts, gods¡ªnone of them dared to come near Tianling Pool anymore. The place that was supposed to be a sacred ground for cultivation had been turned into a devil''s lair by Lu Ye. With a rumble from within Lu Ye¡¯s body... Breaking Infant, Eighth Layer! It was terrifying. His cultivation was skyrocketing like a rocket, rapidly increasing at an astonishing rate. But Lu Ye wasn¡¯t at all unsettled. He knew his own situation well. Step by step, he walked steadily, with each step leaving a deep print. Years later, when he looked back from the peak, he would clearly see every step he had taken. For now, though, he continued to cultivate. On one side, time passed peacefully, while on the other, bloodshed raged like wildfire. Yue Hongling¡¯s cultivation also grew fiercely as she worked to make up for the deficiencies of her past self. The "Eternal Reversal Sutra" was a battle-based technique that required constant combat, growing stronger with every defeat, and only by being brave and fearless could one truly comprehend its essence. In her previous life, Yue Hongling had been too well protected by Lu Ye, and this had made it difficult for her to break through in the later stages. It was only when Lu Ye made the hard decision to throw her ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) into a dangerous outer world for training that she was able to recover some of her power. The human race was fierce. Yue Hongling had firmly seated herself at the top of the human race, her reputation reaching the ears of the demons, monsters, gods, and even Buddhas. But as the humans grew fiercer, the environment for other races like the demons grew harsher, making life even more difficult for rogue demons like Feng Wuxie. He had tried so hard to control his emotions, his tone, but some pleading still slipped into his voice. "Hongling, I was seriously injured today, but don¡¯t worry. With the Phoenix bloodline, my recovery ability is very strong." Yue Hongling, upon hearing this, felt a slight nervousness but wasn¡¯t as worried as she expected. For a cultivator, being injured was completely normal. "Hongling, the situation among the demons is becoming increasingly strange. Every demon has become a little mad, and I feel my situation is getting very dangerous." "Hongling, can I come to you? I really want to come to you now. As long as I¡¯m by your side, I¡¯ll do whatever you ask." "Sorry, I¡¯m just too anxious and too lonely. I¡¯ve heard your name more than once already. You¡¯re just too strong." "I¡¯ve been seriously injured again. The demons are also clashing with the Buddhist and Divine races, and the demon-controlled blessed lands are starting to shrink further." Yue Hongling had just finished a battle. It was against a son of the gods, at the fifth layer of Breaking Infant, with the powerful bloodline of the Thunder God. Yue Hongling had spent a lot of effort to defeat him. Looking at her charred body, Yue Hongling frowned slightly. The Heavenly Pills weren¡¯t as strong as the Holy Pills from her previous life. She took out the conch-shaped magical artifact. "Hongling, Hongling, can you say something to me?" "I haven¡¯t heard you speak in so long." Yue Hongling realized that she had been so focused on her recent battles that she hadn¡¯t seen Feng Wuxie in a long time. She hadn¡¯t even spoken to him once. She picked up the conch, trying to soften her tone as much as possible. "Keep cultivating. With your Phoenix bloodline, as long as you work hard, we¡¯ll eventually stand side by side, fighting across the world. I believe in you!" After saying that, Yue Hongling calmed herself, closed her eyes, and resumed her cultivation. "Boom!" Feng Wuxie¡¯s body was violently kicked away, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood. The Little Dragon King, with a human body and a dragon¡¯s head, coldly and fiercely stared at Feng Wuxie. "With someone like you, you still have the nerve to say that Yue Hongling likes you? Look at yourself. Do you even deserve it?" Chapter 41: Blind Feng Wuxie rolled on the ground, his body covered in blood, in a terribly wretched state. A group of powerful demons surrounded him, watching him closely, their eyes full of hunger. As the demon race grew weaker and their ambition to dominate the ancient battlefield of Tianjiao gradually faded, the order of the Demon King of All Spirits reappeared in the minds of the demons. "Collect the blood of all spirits and offer it to the Demon King, in exchange for the supreme secret inheritance." Naturally, Feng Wuxie, a demon with part of the Phoenix bloodline, caught the attention of the Little Dragon King. Capturing Feng Wuxie was incredibly easy. One could simply send a small Demon King or a pure-blood demon to take him. As they were about to strike, Feng Wuxie, already terrified to the point of breaking, suddenly shouted that he knew Yue Hongling¡ªnot only that, but they had an extremely good relationship. This caused the demons to freeze in confusion. The name "Yue Hongling" had nearly caused them to develop calluses in their ears. She was a human woman so powerful that she made demons tremble. But now, this half-blood phoenix, whose body was covered only in its precious blood, claimed to know Yue Hongling? "Do you know, Tianwu, Tianwu tried to kill me once. It was Yue Hongling who saved me. It was Yue Hongling who killed Tianwu," Feng Wuxie hurriedly explained, trying to prove he knew Yue Hongling. "Tianwu was also killed by Yue Hongling?" The use of the word "also" was well-placed, fully proving that the powerful demons Yue Hongling had slain were not just one or two. "Yes, yes, it was her who killed him." And so, Feng Wuxie was brought before the Little Dragon King. When the Little Dragon King heard this, his face darkened to the point of resembling coal. Although he and Yue Hongling were enemies, that was due to their different races, naturally at odds. But setting race ¡ï Novelight ¡ï aside, he greatly admired Yue Hongling. She was an incredibly rare genius, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy. Yet this garbage¡ªsaying that Yue Hongling had feelings for him¡ªwas something the Little Dragon King would never believe, and he immediately began to mercilessly beat Feng Wuxie. Feng Wuxie felt like he was about to be beaten to death. He had to prove himself, he had to prove it. So, he took out the treasure, the conch. The demons waited for Feng Wuxie to contact Yue Hongling. If there was no reply within five minutes, he would be beaten. If no reply came after a quarter of an hour, Feng Wuxie would die. As the quarter of an hour passed, Feng Wuxie sank into despair because he knew Yue Hongling rarely replied to him. "Alright, time''s up." The Little Dragon King clapped his hands, a smile spreading across his face. There was no voice coming from the conch, and honestly, the Little Dragon King breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, such a stunning woman like Yue Hongling, how could she possibly be interested in a coward like this? If she really did, the Little Dragon King would be disappointed. He approached Feng Wuxie, ready to take his blood. Just as Feng Wuxie was completely desperate, the Little Dragon King''s claws had already risen when suddenly, the conch trembled twice. "Wait!" Feng Wuxie suddenly screamed. "She replied! She sent me a message!" Feng Wuxie cried out, nearly losing his mind in the face of death. The Little Dragon King''s claws stopped. His eyes became deep, his pupils shrinking. If you looked closely, you could see the murderous intent contained in those narrowing pupils. "Kneel!" The Little Dragon King spoke coldly. Feng Wuxie knelt before him, his body trembling uncontrollably. "Listen!" Feng Wuxie activated the conch, and Yue Hongling''s voice came from within. "Train well. You have the Phoenix bloodline. As long as you''re willing to work hard, we can walk side by side, fighting against the world. I believe in you!" Yue Hongling''s gentle, clear voice echoed from the conch. The Little Dragon King froze. The demons around him widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief. Every single demon present doubted their ears. Because they had truly heard Yue Hongling¡¯s voice. Yue Hongling¡¯s voice toward them was always like this: "Kill!" [Shouted in anger] "Your fate is sealed!" [Said with disdain] "This place belongs to the human race. Get out now, or there will be no mercy!" [Cold and ruthless] "I¡¯ll smash you with one punch!" ... But now, her voice was calm, with even a hint of tenderness. Yet, the words she spoke were still explosive. What did it mean to walk side by side? What did it mean to fight the world? What did it mean by "I believe in you"? What the hell!!! Is this really Yue Hongling? "Really, it¡¯s Yue Hongling. I¡¯m not lying, really..." The Little Dragon King roared in fury, lifting his foot and kicking Feng Wuxie¡¯s face hard. "Boom!" Feng Wuxie was sent flying, crashing into two large trees and vomiting blood, his body stiffening and bending from the excruciating pain. "What exactly is your relationship with Yue Hongling?" The Little Dragon King grabbed Feng Wuxie by the hair, his eyes filled with cruelty as he asked. "Good... good friends..." "Have you done anything else?" "No... nothing..." The Little Dragon King slapped Feng Wuxie¡¯s face again, causing him to spit blood nonstop. At that moment, Feng Wuxie had only one thought: to survive. He would do anything to survive. He had the Phoenix bloodline, and he would eventually become the strongest of the strong. "I... I can help you. Yue... Yue Hongling is our demon race¡¯s... our enemy. As long as you don¡¯t kill me, I... I can help you lure her out..." Feng Wuxie spoke first. Hatred had already taken root in his heart. If it weren¡¯t for his repeated requests to follow Yue Hongling, she would never have agreed. How did he end up in such a miserable state? It was all Yue Hongling¡¯s fault! It was all her fault! The Little Dragon King paused, raising his head to look at the powerful demons. All the demons were stunned. Then, they grinned, revealing wicked smiles. What a great idea! What a brilliant idea! The Little Dragon King couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Yue Hongling, this is the kind of person you like? Hahaha... A woman like her, how blind could she be? The Little Dragon King laughed dramatically, his entire body shaking. Tears were falling from his eyes as he laughed. But the next moment, his expression turned incredibly cold. "Immediately contact the demon race, the ghost race, the divine race, and the spirit race. Do not contact the bald monk. Tell them the hunt for the human race has begun!" "Yes!" The Little Dragon King looked up at the sky. Raindrops began falling through the clouds, drenching everything with a steady downpour. Boom! A thunderclap split the sky. Lu Ye suddenly opened his eyes. It was raining. He remembered that in his past life, it was also in this rain that he lost his first life, killed by the siege of countless enemies. In this life, it would be Yue Hongling¡¯s turn. Chapter 42: Feilei Mountain It started raining! The sound of thunder suddenly woke Yue Hongling. Her heart sank. This was bad! She had been so absorbed in the battle that she had forgotten that Feng Wuxie might fall into danger in the recent days. Now, the human race had been winning battle after battle, while the other races were being pushed to the extreme. A cornered dog will jump over the wall¡ªthere''s no need to chase a desperate enemy. It seemed it was time to slow down the fight with the other races. The human race could take this time to digest the treasures they had gained recently. As for her, she decided to stay with Feng Wuxie and help him survive this calamity. "Shixiong, you told me this was a trap, and this life, I will make sure it never happens." Yue Hongling immediately called for Luo Yuan and Feng Longxiang. "Miss Yue, who are we fighting next?" Feng Longxiang, who was eight feet tall and as strong as a little giant, asked. He was from the Jie Sect, the only sect among the major powers that practiced body-forging techniques, and their cultivation method was quite interesting. They started by growing larger, initially becoming a small giant, then shrinking, back to the size of a young boy, then growing again like a small mountain, shrinking again like a child, growing into a giant mountain, shrinking again like a baby, and repeating the process. Every cycle increased the strength of the body. Looking at Feng Longxiang¡¯s eyes, it was clear he had immense respect for Yue Hongling. Luo Yuan stared at Yue Hongling, his eyes holding a hint of approval¡ªa recognition of her beauty. "I¡¯ll be away for a while. You two will take charge of the human race affairs ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã from now on. No more offensive actions; just defend and digest what we¡¯ve gained," Yue Hongling said. "But the momentum is strong now, we¡¯re not attacking?" Feng Longxiang asked, surprised. "Yes, no more attacking. First, digest the heavenly treasures, turning them into our own power. That¡¯s the real way to gain strength. If we continue attacking without increasing our power, one mistake, and we¡¯ll lose everything," Yue Hongling replied. "Alright, but where are you going? Why not let Shangguan Wuchang manage? I can accompany you and go explore!" Feng Longxiang said seriously. "Shangguan Wuchang is too distracted, and I¡¯m not going out to fight. You don¡¯t need to follow. If you two can¡¯t make up your minds, go find Zhu Wangtian." "Got it." Yue Hongling hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "If things really reach a dead end, you can go to the Tianling Pool and ask my Shixiong to come out. Once he does, all problems will be solved." When Feng Longxiang and Luo Yuan heard Yue Hongling¡¯s words, they both showed surprise. Her Shixiong? Yue Hongling was already so strong, and if she said that in a desperate situation, she would turn to her Shixiong, then her Shixiong... "Is your Shixiong that strong?" Feng Longxiang suddenly felt a surge of battle intent. Yue Hongling smiled, and the meaning behind that smile was truly complex. "Anyway, you two know¡ªif things get truly desperate, just go to the Tianling Pool. And don¡¯t say I sent you." Hmm, Yue Hongling was quite self-aware. It was possible that Lu Ye had originally planned to help, but once he heard, "Oh, Yue Hongling sent you," he would change his mind. That would be a disaster. After settling the matters, Yue Hongling left. She took out the magic conch. "Where are you now?" On the other side... Demons, monsters, spirits, gods, and various other races had just begun to make contact. Feng Wuxie sat cross-legged, silently recovering his injuries, with two powerful demons keeping a close watch on him. "Buzz... buzz..." The magic conch in front of Feng Wuxie began to vibrate. The two demons guarding him immediately became alert. A large blade was placed at Feng Wuxie¡¯s neck. "You won¡¯t say anything you shouldn¡¯t, right?" "I know." His eyes held mockery and cruelty. How had he fallen to this point, and now they wanted to reach out to him? What had they been doing before? He had begged multiple times to join them, even resorting to pleading, but what had happened? He couldn¡¯t go back. Everything was irretrievable now. "Where are you right now?" Yue Hongling''s clear voice came from the magic conch. Feng Wuxie looked up at the two demons. "How should we answer?" The two demons exchanged glances. They had just finished contacting the powerful leaders of the major factions, but although they had made contact, they weren¡¯t fully prepared yet. "We need to ask the Little Dragon King." "It¡¯s too late. If I don¡¯t reply for too long, Yue Hongling will grow suspicious," Feng Wuxie said firmly. "Then we still need to ask the Little Dragon King!" "I said it¡¯s too late!" Feng Wuxie, suddenly growing bold again, let out a loud roar, despite the blade still pressed against his neck. The two demons... Feng Wuxie held the magic conch to his mouth. "Don¡¯t worry, since I¡¯ve already planned to design her death, I will not leave her any chance to survive. If anyone dies, it will only be me!" "You all need to trust me now. You have no choice but to trust me!" One of the demons left, and the other stopped refusing Feng Wuxie¡¯s contact with Yue Hongling. Feng Wuxie cleared his throat. "Hongling, you actually took the initiative to contact me?" His voice was filled with surprise. The demon holding the blade to Feng Wuxie¡¯s neck couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of contempt. What was this thing? Buzz... buzz... "Where are you now? I¡¯ll come to find you," Yue Hongling asked. "Ah, you¡¯re coming to find me? That¡¯s great! Let me check where I am right now and I¡¯ll tell you the location. There¡¯s no recognizable landmark around here." "Okay!" Feng Wuxie looked up at the wolf demon. "Tell the Little Dragon King to hurry up!" ... Yue Hongling stood on top of a small mountain, gazing at the distant waterfall, quietly waiting. She was deep in thought. She had been reborn! It was true that she had been reborn, but after the rebirth, she had lost the feelings she had for Feng Wuxie in her previous life. Without that feeling, could it still be considered love? How should she behave when she met Feng Wuxie again? Could she blame her Shixiong for this? Her gaze was filled with a touch of confusion, the fluttering emotions from her past life clear in her mind. But after everything she had been through, she was no longer the little girl she once was. Now, she had the wisdom of a great emperor. When compared to the Dao, love and relationships seemed so weak. If only there had been no interference from her Shixiong in her past life, how much better would it have been? Yue Hongling grew restless. She picked up the magic conch again. "Where exactly are you? Have you found any recognizable landmarks?" "Hongling, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m more anxious than you. I¡¯m finally able to see you again. I¡¯m searching right now, it won¡¯t be long." Yue Hongling took a deep breath, trying to calm the restlessness in her heart. Waiting was also a kind of training. Time passed, second by second. Buzz... buzz... The magic conch vibrated again. "Hongling, I found it. It¡¯s Feilei Mountain. Come to Feilei Mountain to find me." Yue Hongling stood up and vanished from her spot. Feilei Mountain, a place where demons were active¡ªhow could Feng Wuxie have ended up there? Forget it, it doesn¡¯t matter. The Tianjiao Battlefield, there¡¯s nowhere I can¡¯t go! Chapter 43: The fun is coming Feilei Mountain is located on the third level of the Tianjiao Ancient Battlefield. The terrain here is perilous, with frequent thunderstorms striking the mountain¡¯s peak, creating an abyss in the center of the mountain. The mountain is rich in gold and stones, and with lightning striking it, the entire peak is enveloped in lightning, emitting golden light. It is renowned for its beauty, known as the "Flying Thunder Gold Washing Mountain." As Yue Hongling made her way to Feilei Mountain, she couldn''t help but think back to her previous life. In her past life, Feng Wuxie was pursued by the demon race, who wanted to harvest his phoenix blood to refine the blood of all spirits, to be consumed by the Demon King of All Spirits. Feng Wuxie sought her help. The place he sought help was in the Silent Forest. At the time, she immediately planned to go, but her Shixiong wouldn¡¯t allow it. He said it was a trap, a conspiracy. The purpose was to capture Yue Hongling and lure Lu Ye there to kill him. She insisted on going, not believing her Shixiong¡¯s warning, and disregarded everything. She even injured herself to force her Shixiong to relent, but her Shixiong¡¯s heart was as hard as stone. Yue Hongling had wondered more than once if her Shixiong was simply jealous, or if he wanted Feng Wuxie to die. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of his disciple liking another man. But to her surprise, her self-injury had failed to move Lu Ye¡¯s heart. He had even knocked her unconscious and imprisoned her on the spot. What happened next, she didn¡¯t know. When she woke up, she was weak and poisoned by her Shixiong, unable to move. No one cared for her. At that moment, Yue Hongling¡¯s heart was torn with pain and hatred. She hated Lu Ye. Then, the door opened. Lu Ye stood in the backlight, making it difficult for her to see clearly. He threw her a bloodstained magic conch and coldly informed her, "Feng Wuxie is dead, his body is gone." At that moment, Yue Hongling nearly went mad. But the drug made her unable to move, not even able to go crazy. She could only cry endlessly. At that time, Lu Ye stood in the light, as if he wanted to say many things, but seeing her dazed expression and the continuous tears, all his words finally turned into three words. "Sorry." Lu Ye said these three words, then turned and left. Were those three words an apology for imprisoning her? The past flashed before her eyes. Yue Hongling felt a sense of loss. Now, she could have Feng Wuxie, but she had lost her Shixiong. Why was there no way for everything to be perfect? Her Shixiong could have eight women, so why couldn¡¯t she have two...? Cough! Yue Hongling suddenly snapped back to her senses. What was she thinking about? With her Shixiong''s personality, the moment she and Feng Wuxie confirmed their relationship¡ªwithout even holding hands¡ªhe probably wouldn¡¯t even give her a second glance. Forget it, forget it. She wouldn¡¯t think about it anymore. ... "Ding ding ding..." In Lu Ye¡¯s mind, the system¡¯s sound was like a drumbeat. Lu Ye helplessly opened his eyes. "What¡¯s going on?" "Ding, come and watch the fun!" "I¡¯m not really in the mood to watch." "Ding, you¡¯ve just broken through to the Infant Realm, and you¡¯ve still got a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand years to cultivate. This kind of excitement is rare, watch it!" The system had switched back from being the Dao of Heaven to being the system. During its time as the Dao of Heaven, it had been without desires, but now it seemed to have been pent up for too long. As a result, it was now actively craving some gossip. "You can watch it yourself, I need to cultivate." "Ding, how can that be? When you watch a match at home, do you watch it alone?" "Yes!" "Ding, come on, watch it with me, I don¡¯t care!" Lu Ye was somewhat helpless due to the disturbance. This damn system, sooner or later, it would turn you into the Dao of Heaven. A light screen gradually unfolded in front of Lu Ye. "Ding, they haven¡¯t gathered yet, so I¡¯ll split the screen into two parts." Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh. This guy actually knew how to split the scenes? The white light screen divided into two sections. One section focused on Yue Hongling, and the other focused on ¡ï Novelight ¡ï Feilei Mountain. Yue Hongling was rushing toward Feilei Mountain, while demons and monsters were busy setting up formations at Feilei Mountain. Lu Ye watched this scene, his heart calm, even feeling a bit amused. Why? Because this scene felt like a dark comedy sketch. She thought she was rushing toward love, but in reality, she was rushing toward death. Love = Death? "The formation has changed. Originally, it was the Eight Desolation Lock Killing Formation combined with the Blood Demon Refining Heaven Formation. This time, it¡¯s... the Divine Sky Thunder Formation and the Eight Desolation Lock Killing Formation. That makes sense; the Silent Forest didn¡¯t have the same favorable conditions as Feilei Mountain." "And it also has the Heavenly Demon Illusion Formation..." Lu Ye understood. In her past life, Yue Hongling wasn¡¯t strong, so as soon as she appeared, she could easily be captured. As long as they caught Yue Hongling, even if it meant facing mountains of blades or seas of fire, Lu Ye would charge in. Yes, in the past life, Lu Ye, as the top human genius, used Feng Wuxie to bait Yue Hongling, and the real target was always Lu Ye. But this life, without Lu Ye, Yue Hongling had become the number one genius of the human race, her strength reaching its peak. If the formation was left exposed and Feng Wuxie wasn¡¯t as important as they imagined, it would all be in vain. Using the Heavenly Demon Illusion Formation to cover it up was perfect. Lu Ye smiled. He was a versatile talent¡ªalchemy, artifact forging, talisman creation, and formations were all his skills. But Yue Hongling was a combat-type talent. How would she escape from the formation? Yue Hongling wasn¡¯t flying fast. From her expression, it seemed she was deep in thought. Lu Ye, having nothing better to do, decided to stretch his muscles and gave a set of Heavenly Sovereign Fist, sending a mighty gust of wind. Of course, it was just for show. The real Heavenly Sovereign Fist¡ªif he could unleash even one billionth of its power, it would be an achievement. Even when he killed Yang Wufa, the power used was very minimal. "Ding ding ding, almost there, almost there, host, look!" Lu Ye returned his attention to the light screen. At this point, Yue Hongling had already reached Feilei Mountain. The mountain was shrouded in mist, with dark clouds covering the sky, and light rain continued to fall. How did Feng Wuxie end up here? With the rain, the chance of the Flying Thunder Gold Washing Mountain appearing was even higher. But considering that demons and monsters generally disliked heavenly thunder and didn¡¯t like hearing the sound of lightning, Feng Wuxie being hidden here seemed relatively safe, so she thought it was reliable. Where is he? Yue Hongling looked around but didn¡¯t spot Feng Wuxie. She took out the magic conch and began to contact him. While contacting, she continued climbing Feilei Mountain. This was also a treasure land. One of her fearless seals was the Heavenly Thunder Seal. If a living being faces the heavenly thunder without fear, they can become a supreme powerhouse. She continued to ascend. Suddenly, Yue Hongling stopped. A faint sense of danger spread through her heart. Her expression changed, and in an instant, she prepared to retreat. "Get in there!" A thunderous roar. A giant figure appeared below Yue Hongling in a blur, holding a purple-golden copper pillar, even larger than Yue Hongling herself, and it was swung fiercely toward her. With this strike, the giant exploded with terrifying power, his entire body trembling with blood bursting out. Yue Hongling¡¯s expression changed dramatically. Chapter 44: Take Your Time "Boom!" The immense roar echoed throughout Feilei Mountain, louder than even the sound of thunder. Although Yue Hongling had quickly unleashed the Mountain Crushing Seal from the Fearless God Seal, she was still struck by the giant''s full-force blow, sending her flying upwards. Blood mist enveloped the giant¡¯s body, and the terrifying force from the collision shattered his bones. The pressure on his blood caused his veins to burst, his flesh tore apart, and blood splattered everywhere. However, the goal had been achieved! Yue Hongling entered the mist, and in the next moment, the mist began to swirl and distort, with rays of light weaving together as three major formations exploded simultaneously. Heavenly Demon Illusion Formation! Divine Sky Thunder Formation! Eight Desolation Lock Killing Formation! "Hahaha..." Countless laughs rang out almost simultaneously from all directions of the mist, filling the air with a mocking sound. Figures emerged from the mist, each with a look of wild joy on their faces, gazing greedily at Yue Hongling. "To actually bring Yue Hongling here, and alone at that, I really didn¡¯t expect this. The unrivaled Yue Hongling, turned out to be such a fool!" "Hehehe, she¡¯s not a fool. As the humans say, she¡¯s just someone who values love and loyalty!" "A top human powerhouse, interested in a mere pretty boy from our demon race. Yue Hongling, ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) am I not fiercer than Feng Wuxie? If you..." He was still speaking lewdly, but before he could finish his sentence, his body was suddenly struck and sent flying, deep into the ground, a heavy footprint nearly crushing his body. "Don¡¯t speak. Shut up." The Little Dragon King¡¯s voice was cold as he spoke. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The sudden turn of events left her in a state of indescribable astonishment. How could this happen? What is this? Is this a trap? Did Feng Wuxie send her here, pulling her into this trap? Why? She couldn¡¯t accept it, she couldn¡¯t understand. She had already made her feelings clear to Feng Wuxie, telling him that as long as he worked hard to cultivate, the two of them could fight side by side in the future, conquering the world. Given her personality, saying such words was practically a confession. She didn¡¯t believe Feng Wuxie couldn¡¯t understand her! But why did Feng Wuxie do this? What was his purpose? What did this mean? At that moment, a scene from her past suddenly flashed in Yue Hongling¡¯s mind. In that scene, she was arguing with Lu Ye. "Shimei, you can¡¯t go. Feng Wuxie¡¯s invitation is a trap. If you go, you will surely be captured by the demons." "How could it be a trap? The demons don¡¯t know that I have feelings for Feng Wuxie!" "How are you so sure they don¡¯t know? Your strength isn¡¯t strong, and Feng Wuxie is being hunted. Why would he ask you to rescue him?" "Just because I¡¯m not strong, why would the demons specifically design a trap for me?" "Because their real target is me!" "Hahaha, Shixiong, stop joking. Do you think the demons would first make Feng Wuxie lure me out and then use me to lure you? That¡¯s impossible! You¡¯re overthinking this. You¡¯re making Feng Wuxie out to be worse than he is." "Many alien races have been driven to the edge by our human race. They can¡¯t compete with us head-on, so they¡¯ll resort to risky moves. I¡¯ve already learned that the demons are closely in contact with the ghost, demon, and divine races, which means there¡¯s a great killing threat." "That threat won¡¯t be aimed at someone like me, who¡¯s average in strength!" "You! You really have a thick skull!" "I¡¯m going! I¡¯m going to save Feng Wuxie!" "No!" "I have to go!" "You can¡¯t go. I said no!" "Shixiong, you¡¯re just jealous of Feng Wuxie!" "You won¡¯t let me go, I... I¡¯ll die right in front of you..." Yue Hongling sighed softly. Her expression became calm. During the battle, she wouldn''t allow herself to have intense emotional fluctuations. Any emotional turmoil would be the biggest influence on the fight. But even though she didn¡¯t want any fluctuations, the enemy didn¡¯t think the same way. "Yue Hongling, do you want to see Feng Wuxie?" The Little Dragon King asked. Perhaps out of unwillingness, Yue Hongling nodded. "Yes." Feng Wuxie was brought forward, covered in blood, his face swollen, and his bones broken, not just one or two. Because the Little Dragon King had become increasingly irritated, he grabbed Feng Wuxie and beat him again. Yue Hongling looked at Feng Wuxie in his current state. Unexpectedly, when she looked at Feng Wuxie, she felt no emotional turbulence. No sadness, no hatred, no pain. "Is he really beaten like this?" Yue Hongling tried to hold on to some hope. The Little Dragon King smiled. "Don¡¯t misunderstand, he didn¡¯t get beaten like this because we forced him to lure you here. It¡¯s purely because he voluntarily said he knew you and could help us kill you. I loathe this kind of demon behavior, so I beat him like this," the Little Dragon King said with a smile. The Little Dragon King¡¯s words completely extinguished Yue Hongling¡¯s remaining hopes. "It¡¯s all your fault!" Before Yue Hongling could even ask, Feng Wuxie suddenly began to scream uncontrollably. "It¡¯s all your fault! How many times have I told you? I said I wanted to follow you, I wanted to follow you! You¡¯re so strong! You have the ability to protect me! Why wouldn¡¯t you agree?" "Do you know what I¡¯ve been through here?" "If you had let me follow you earlier, none of this would have happened. You like me, then let me follow you! Protect me!" "You don¡¯t protect me, you don¡¯t help me, and even when I say a hundred things to you, you don¡¯t reply. What kind of liking is this?" "You¡¯re nothing but a cheap woman!" Yue Hongling... Protect him? She suddenly laughed. Feng Wuxie wanted her to protect him? She had lived so long, always protected by her Shixiong. Whenever there was trouble or difficulty, she would go to Shixiong, and he always solved it for her. Now, someone thought she should protect him? That because she hadn¡¯t protected him, he thought she deserved to die? "Feng Wuxie, don¡¯t kill him, leave him to me!" Yue Hongling¡¯s voice turned cold. She spread her arms and legs, ready for action. "Let¡¯s go together!" "Boom!" A thunderous lightning struck down, and the Nine Heavens Thunder Formation immediately erupted with its divine power. The blazing white thunder, carrying immense heavenly might, struck straight at Yue Hongling. "Wind Binding Seal!" A bolt of lightning split the air, and powerful figures emanated from eight directions, their auras connected, their destinies intertwined, charging toward Yue Hongling. The battle had begun. ... "Ding ding ding, host, why didn¡¯t Yue Hongling react like Chu Ling, crying hysterically and in a frenzy after discovering the truth?" The system asked, full of confusion, making loud noises in Lu Ye¡¯s mind. Lu Ye fell silent for a moment before answering. "That¡¯s because she hasn¡¯t fallen into a desperate situation yet." "Yue Hongling¡¯s emotions are always like flowing water. In the past, I was her dam, and when the dam broke, her hatred flooded like a storm. Now, it¡¯s battle that serves as her dam, and when it¡¯s destroyed, her regret will flood like a river." "Just wait and watch." Chapter 45: Bloody Battle! Fierce Battle! "Not bad. Continuous battles have made her blend better with the Fearless Seal. Indeed, in cultivation, early effort outweighs the late compensations by a hundredfold." Lu Ye commented while watching Yue Hongling¡¯s fight. "Ding ding ding..." The system emitted an unsatisfied clinking sound. You¡¯re watching the battle, and I thought it was for the thrill of emotional revenge, yet you¡¯re commenting on the importance of early-stage cultivation? Do you want to have another epiphany or not? Just as the system was about to form that thought, it saw Lu Ye close his eyes. A massive suction force emanated from his body, drawing all the surrounding spiritual energy into him. With a rumble. Lu Ye¡¯s aura surged again, breaking through to the ninth level of the Infant Realm. He truly had a breakthrough. The system... At this moment, the system couldn¡¯t help but dislike those women even more. The more indifferent Lu Ye appeared, the deeper the wound must have been at some point. To take, to let go. Four simple words¡ªhow much pain, how much struggle did it take to reach them? ... "Kill!" Yue Hongling grew stronger with each passing moment. Her body was charred, her clothes stained with blood, her eyes filled with intense killing intent and battle spirit. Various seals flowed from her hands effortlessly. Fearless Seal, Mountain Crushing Seal, Wind Binding Seal, Spirit Absorption Seal, Rebirth Seal, Strength Seal, Divine Light Seal... Eighty-one types of seals, all cultivated to completion, could turn a practitioner into a flawless monster. Although Yue Hongling¡¯s current strength wasn¡¯t enough to unleash all eighty-one Fearless Seals, or even half of them, in a battle of this level, it was enough. "Boom!" A divine race genius was sent flying, his chest caved in, writhing in excruciating pain. But wisps of light wrapped around this divine genius, and his caved-in chest quickly began to recover. In just a few seconds, this divine genius let out an angry roar and rejoined the battle. This was the terrifying aspect of the Eight Desolation Lock Killing Formation. Eight directions, united as one. The lethal damage that should have killed was shared by others, and the injuries recovered quickly, allowing the enemy to join the battle again, continuously locking and killing their opponents in the formation. Yue Hongling knew this couldn¡¯t go on for much longer, so she used a secret technique. "Fearless Divine Body!" In that instant, Yue Hongling¡¯s aura soared, and golden threads of light began to radiate from her body, her hair turning a faint golden color. "Destruction Seal!" "Boom!" A demon race genius was instantly turned into minced meat by this blow. Recovery was impossible. The other seven were also injured. The combat power Yue Hongling displayed at this moment was truly terrifying. So horrifying! In the Eight Desolation Lock Killing Formation, she could still kill like this? "Boom!" Another thunderbolt fell from the sky, striking directly at Yue Hongling. Heavenly thunder was the strongest attack. Yue Hongling¡¯s body was blasted into the abyss, this abyss a long stretch of time, forged by the lightning itself. She coughed up blood. The Eight Desolation Lock Killing Formation switched to eight new opponents, charging toward Yue Hongling. Around her, countless figures appeared, at least a hundred. All of them were waiting for their turn, and the demon race¡¯s Little Dragon King, the demon race¡¯s Duan Jianmo, the divine race¡¯s Ancient God Prince, the ghost race¡¯s Yin Sha Ghost Prince¡ªthese top geniuses hadn¡¯t even made their move yet. The lineup was formidable, and the enemies were numerous. It was despairing! But Yue Hongling did not despair. She became more ruthless, her true essence continuously bursting and igniting. She also used the Spirit Absorption Seal to forcibly rob the enemy¡¯s true essence to replenish her own, while the Rebirth Seal absorbed the life force of her enemies to heal her injuries. The battle raged on. Thunder rained down once more. The various alien races looked at Yue Hongling, who, despite being in such a situation, was still able to repeatedly kill her enemies, their expressions filled with shock. Her strength was overwhelming! Her combat power was terrifying! One woman... not that they looked down on women, but very few women could elevate their combat power to such an extent. This terrifying killing power, even men could hardly match it. "If we don¡¯t eliminate her and let her grow, our clans will face great disaster!" Yin Sha Ghost decisively said. "Humanity prospers, always able to produce one or two extraordinary individuals. The tide is with the humans, how unfortunate!" The Little Dragon King stared at Yue Hongling¡¯s figure, his expression somewhat dazed. He felt discomfort. He didn¡¯t even know why he felt this way¡ªhe just knew he felt bad. There was jealousy, anger, and sorrow... "Increase the assault! Don¡¯t let her have a chance to recover!" The Little Dragon King roared. The eight attackers simultaneously jolted, unleashing their strongest killing moves. Yue Hongling was struck by four attacks at once, spitting out blood. Thunder struck again. Seven figures retreated, while one figure was caught by Yue Hongling and thrown into the path of the heavenly thunder. "Boom!" The thunder tore apart the body of the demon race genius, destroying both his body and soul. Another eight figures charged at her. The assault was relentless, like the waves of the sea, endless and inexorable. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes were filled with murderous intent, her gaze cold. She was like a killing machine, relentlessly slaughtering. Even if she could only kill one at a time, she would do it ten times, a hundred times, and she would eventually kill them all. But it was too difficult! The enemies! All she saw were enemies. Various attacks rained down on her, and the heavenly thunder roared and struck again. She could indeed recover. But the true essence she recovered could never match the essence she had lost. Every strike was full force. The toll on her true essence was unimaginable. Yue Hongling didn¡¯t know how long she had been fighting. She was growing tired, her body becoming heavy, and the flow of her true essence was growing sluggish. The ground beneath her was littered with broken corpses. Blood had formed a pool. Unconsciously, half of the allied enemies had already fallen. One by one, the proud warriors¡¯ faces had lost their smiles. They were now staring at Yue Hongling with intense focus and grave expressions. She was still killing! As Yue Hongling captured a ghost race genius, slamming a talisman on him, the ghost race genius turned into black mist, causing everyone¡¯s brows to twitch wildly. "Is she really not tired?" A demon race genius muttered in disbelief. "She¡¯s human, she must be tired. She¡¯s finished!" Duan Jianmo¡¯s voice was no longer as cold as usual. It now carried an unusual undertone. Yue Hongling was truly a practitioner to be admired. Even if she was their enemy. But after fighting like this, anyone could understand what kind of despair Yue Hongling was enduring in the formation. The other alien race geniuses had even started to feel fear. Almost, almost. At this moment, Yue Hongling was covered in wounds, swaying on the verge of collapse, her breath growing weaker and weaker. But so what? She could still fight. She could still kill. The heavenly thunder roared once more, falling again. The Little Dragon King ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze had turned completely cold. "Everyone, it¡¯s our turn!" Chapter 46: Heartbroken "Senior Brother, how did you manage to fight your way out back then?" This thought surfaced in Yue Hongling¡¯s mind. A scene from the previous life emerged ¡ª Lu Ye pushing open the sealed door. He stood against the light, backlit and hard to see. But in that moment, in Yue Hongling¡¯s mind, that once-indistinct figure of her senior brother suddenly became clear. His body was covered in wounds. Nothing but wounds. There wasn¡¯t a single patch of unharmed skin. Agonizing pain constantly gnawed at his senses ¡ª not just physical pain, but also the pain rooted deep within his heart. Senior Brother was clever. With a single glance, he could see that it was a trap. A trap laid just for him. But he still went. Without hesitation. At that time, Senior Brother¡¯s strength was nowhere near what hers was now. And yet, even with all her current power, here she was, feeling the crushing weight of despair inside this same kind of trap. Senior Brother, how did you do it? A single tear, mixed with blood, slid down from the corner of Yue Hongling¡¯s eye. "Kill!" The dragon claw clenched into a fist, glowing with a bloody red light, and slammed straight into Yue Hongling¡¯s abdomen. "Boom!" Her body was sent flying, smashing hard into a stone wall, blood gushing from her mouth. Yin Sha Ghost let out a piercing shriek, his soul power transforming into a heavenly blade, slashing into Yue Hongling¡¯s spiritual sea, making her body convulse in agony. The demonic sword flashed with a dark gleam, bursting forth with terrifying speed, its blade of light aimed straight for Yue Hongling¡¯s heart. The sword light drew closer and closer. Duan Jianmo¡¯s heart pounded wildly ¡ª he was about to kill a supreme prodigy! "Splurt!" The sword light came to an abrupt halt. A blood-covered, yet still remarkably beautiful hand had gripped the demon sword barehanded. Yue Hongling¡¯s face twisted with fury. "You think you¡¯re worthy of killing me?" "Shattering Star Seal!" Duan Jianmo¡¯s expression changed wildly. He twisted the demon sword forcefully, trying to sever Yue Hongling¡¯s hand and stop her attack. "Splurt!" A severed hand fell to the ground. Duan Jianmo¡¯s... "Boom!" Duan Jianmo was blown to bits on the spot. "Die!" The Little Dragon King roared in fury, slamming a fist brimming with terrifying force into Yue Hongling¡¯s temple. Her body was knocked into the air, liquid spraying ¡ª it was unclear whether it was blood or sweat. Seeing Duan Jianmo¡¯s miserable end, Yin Sha Ghost no longer dared approach. He stayed at a distance, bombarding her with waves of soul attacks. That punch from the Little Dragon King was brutal. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes had lost their luster, her expression turning completely blank. She slumped against the stone wall, gently shaking her head. The Little Dragon King let out a deep, resonating dragon¡¯s roar. He opened his mouth, and a golden divine dragon spiraled out. Intent on killing Yue Hongling himself, he unleashed one of his deadliest techniques. The others didn''t intervene. Since the Little Dragon King wanted the kill, they let him have it. In the end, Yue Hongling just needed to die ¡ª didn¡¯t matter who delivered the final blow. The golden dragon expanded rapidly, coiling through the void before suddenly accelerating and crashing violently into Yue Hongling¡¯s body, erupting in a deafening blast. Golden light exploded outward. A bolt of heavenly lightning struck down as well, joining the dragon in delivering the most devastating attack. Yue Hongling lay face-down on the ground, her body charred black, smoke rising, the scent of roasted flesh filling the air. Her aura was now incredibly faint. She was finally going to die. The expression on the Little Dragon King¡¯s face turned strange. He strode toward Yue Hongling with heavy steps. "In your next life, don¡¯t believe in something as stupid as love again." He raised his hand, the dragon claw slamming down viciously toward Yue Hongling¡¯s back. But just then, the charred Yue Hongling suddenly twisted around. The dragon claw pierced straight through her stomach, yet she pulled herself in closer, forcing his claw deeper as their bodies closed the distance. "Die!" Her last strength, her final act of slaughter. The Little Dragon King watched as a sealing rune slammed toward his head. This... she could still do that? "Boom!" His head exploded like a watermelon. Dead. With the last of her strength, Yue Hongling killed the Little Dragon King ¡ª the strongest among the demon race up to this point. A wave of cold dread surged in the hearts of all the powerful beings from the various races. She... she... even in that state, after sustaining such devastating injuries, she still had enough power to strike back and kill the Little Dragon King? For a moment, the seven figures encircling Yue Hongling didn¡¯t dare to move forward. ¡°Senior Brother...¡± ¡°Senior Brother...¡± The sound of sobbing escaped from deep within Yue Hongling¡¯s throat. She was in pain. So much pain. Now that the battle had momentarily ceased, the excruciating pain engulfed her entire body, stabbing straight through to her soul. But even so, it wasn¡¯t the wounds that hurt the most. What hurt most was her heart. A pain that tore through her chest, that ripped her soul apart. Back then, how did her senior brother manage to escape? After clawing his way out of that abyss of despair, he must have had a thousand things he wanted to tell her. He would¡¯ve wanted to describe the dangers he¡¯d faced... to tell her the truth about Feng Wuxie... to explain that his suspicions had all been right... he must have¡ª But what did she do? She went mad. She forced every word her Senior Brother wanted to say back down his throat. She pushed him so hard, all he could manage to say in the end... were just three words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Pain. Unbearable pain. Yue Hongling sobbed in utter grief, her whole body trembling. If she had even an ounce of strength left, she would¡¯ve already broken into uncontrollable wails ¡ª but now, she didn¡¯t even have the energy to cry out loud. The many alien cultivators watching her were silent. Why was she crying? Was it because of Feng Wuxie? No. It couldn¡¯t be ¡ª not once during all this had Yue Hongling looked at Feng Wuxie. Then who was she crying for? Elsewhere... Inside the glowing screen, the current scene of Yue Hongling was playing. Lu Ye looked at her ¡ª and at last, a smile broke across his face. He felt like he¡¯d become even more twisted. Yue Hongling was sobbing so miserably, yet in that very moment, Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but feel a rush of joy. So now she knows how to cry? Didn¡¯t she already get the ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) love she¡¯d been dreaming about day and night? So what the hell is she crying for? "Ding ding ding..." The system buzzed excitedly in Lu Ye¡¯s mind, ringing like mad. It was thrilled too. Absolutely ecstatic. ... The alien cultivators all glanced up at the sky. Whatever. Who cared why she was crying. Enough of this ¡ª just kill her. "Boom!" Another bolt of heavenly lightning formed, searing white thunder crashing down from the heavens, targeting Yue Hongling mid-sob. This strike ¡ª Yue Hongling was sure to die! But just then, a firebird hidden among the demon crowd let out a helpless sigh as it watched the scene unfold. Its form twisted ¡ª the ordinary firebird transformed into a blazing Vermilion Bird, its flames rising sky-high. A torrent of fire surged upward, colliding with the heavenly lightning. Boom! Flames and lightning erupted together in a blinding explosion. A sharp cry of a vermilion bird echoed across the heavens and earth. The massive firebird split into six blazing clones and charged at the six alien warriors surrounding Yue Hongling. The intensity of the flames was terrifying beyond words. All six attackers cried out in shock, throwing out every defensive technique they had. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions roared without pause, a rain of fire scattering across the sky. A figure, fast as a falling star, streaked through the blaze ¡ª scooping Yue Hongling into his arms and rushing out of the formation at full speed. "I didn¡¯t want to get involved... but goddamn, your crying is just too damn ugly!" Watching this scene unfold, Lu Ye nearly smashed the glowing screen with a stone. Fuck! Yue Hongling survived ¡ª doesn¡¯t this mean she¡¯s going to start hounding him with apologies again? Is this never going to end?! "Trap the Vermilion Bird! Kill both of them together! Give it everything you¡¯ve got!" Chapter 47: The First Life Vermilion Bird. In her past life, she had been the Vermilion Bird Demon Empress. That title had always seemed strange to many. After all, in the Nine Heavens, who didn¡¯t know the Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign? His hatred for the demon race was infamous ¡ª he had slaughtered their kind endlessly, with nothing but loathing in his heart. And yet, the Vermilion Bird, a divine beast by nature, deliberately called herself the Demon Empress. It wasn¡¯t until Lu Ye faced his tribulation that people finally understood. The reason the Vermilion Bird Empress bore that name was simple ¡ª to spite the Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign. You hate demons? Then I¡¯ll crown myself Demon Empress. ... The Vermilion Bird had made her move, determined to break through the encirclement with Yue Hongling in tow. But the Eight Desolations Lock-Kill Formation was not so easily broken. In an instant, eight prodigies fell into formation, sealing off every possible escape route. "You¡¯ve got some nerve, turning your back on the demon race!" roared a creature covered in armored scales, resembling a bipedal pangolin. "Slaves of all creation ¡ª and you still dare call yourselves demon kind? Break!" Vermilion flames surged forth, an overwhelming wave of divine fire pouring ahead. Clutching Yue Hongling tightly, the Vermilion Bird swept her massive wings like blades of heaven, slashing at a demonic prodigy. With an X-shaped cross of blazing wings, that demonic cultivator was instantly cut into four clean pieces. "Divine Judgment Light!" A searing beam of divine radiance fell from the heavens, smashing down toward the Vermilion Bird. The Ancient God Prince let out a low growl. Light surged ahead of him, weaving into a vast and intricate divine spell. He punched forward, his fist merging with the divine art ¡ª and in the sky, a colossal fist took shape. Under that mighty fist, all life seemed no more than ants. The fist tore through the black clouds, surrounded by flickering white lightning, radiating a terrifying pressure. Even from far away, the descending heavenly fist could be seen. It truly felt like some god had struck down from the sea of clouds. The surrounding alien cultivators all scattered. The Vermilion Bird raised her head. As she gazed at the terrifying fist bearing down on her, a drop of her essence blood flowed out, merging into Yue Hongling¡¯s mouth. Then, spreading her wings protectively around her, she suddenly began to spin, transforming into the most dazzling vortex of flame and hurtling skyward to meet the descending blow. "Li¡ª!" Her shriek rang out across heaven and earth. Boom! The two forces collided, shaking the world to its core. Like a comet crashing into the planet. Yes ¡ª the Vermilion Bird had made her move! And then, the inevitable ¡ª she was surrounded. The Eight Desolations Lock-Kill Formation shifted. All the alien elites joined in, forming five layers of formation. Forty alien prodigies attacked simultaneously. Tiered offense. Coordinated assault. The Vermilion Bird¡¯s power was fearsome ¡ª easily on par with Yue Hongling. After all, both had returned from death as Emperors, bringing with them the supreme divine techniques and cultivation methods. Even though Yue Hongling had been slightly weakened after forming her Heavenly Pill, her experience and battle instincts made up the gap. There wasn¡¯t much difference between them. "A demon race with this kind of prodigy, and she¡¯s actually siding with the damn humans?" a demon cultivator cursed loudly, as if the whole world had suddenly become surreal. A fully uninjured Vermilion Bird ¡ª far too strong! Her wings turned into searing flame-blades, and her Vermilion Fire was terrifying in its intensity. With Yue Hongling guarded beneath her wings, the Vermilion Bird fought with all she had. If she could kill one, she¡¯d kill one ¡ª even if it meant being injured herself to do it, it was worth it. The faces of the surrounding alien prodigies grew increasingly grim. Too many had died. So many prodigies had already fallen trying to kill Yue Hongling. Now, to bring down another being just as powerful ¡ª and worse, from the demon race itself? Yes, a demon! They were actually trying to kill a fellow demon? What the hell were they even doing? As long as it wasn¡¯t a human ¡ª having such a powerful prodigy rise among the demon race was actually something the other alien races could accept. After all, their greatest enemy had always been the human race! The other demon prodigies, seeing the Vermilion Bird in action, no longer wanted to fight. She was one of their own. If she really ended up on the verge of death... wouldn¡¯t they have to intervene to save her? So what was the point of this fight, then? Even with many of the demon race now clearly holding back, the pressure on the Vermilion Bird remained immense. At this point, every other alien race had only one thought: the Vermilion Bird could live ¡ª but Yue Hongling had to die. Thanks to the drop of essence blood she had consumed from the Vermilion Bird, Yue Hongling¡¯s overwhelming life force had stabilized. Her wounds had stopped worsening ¡ª just barely enough to keep her alive. But watching the Vermilion Bird still unable to break through... Tears streamed from Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes. She understood now. She finally understood. She now knew how her Senior Brother had made it out alive. Because... he¡¯d used one of his lives. In a situation like this, with the power he¡¯d had back then, there was no way he could have escaped on his own. He must¡¯ve fought until he dropped, died, and then resurrected using his second life to slaughter his way out. Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign ¡ª it turned out the very first life he forged in his Nascent Soul realm... He used it on her, his most useless little junior sister. Why didn¡¯t he tell her? Why didn¡¯t he say anything? Yue Hongling recalled her hysteria when she learned of Feng Wuxie¡¯s death, and another wave of despair crushed her heart. How could he have told her? Faced with the person she¡¯d been at that time, even if he had said he died for her, what cruel words might she have thrown back at him? Feng Wuxie had been right. She was a despicable woman ¡ª a cold, selfish, ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) heartless woman. The battle still raged. But the intensity had lessened. Many demon prodigies were now trying to talk the Vermilion Bird down. "You''re carrying a human ¡ª one of the most powerful prodigies of the human race! She¡¯s our enemy! Why are you, a fellow demon, helping her?" "Put Yue Hongling down, and we¡¯ll act like none of this ever happened. But if you insist on this path, and the Demon Emperor finds out ¡ª you¡¯ll face his wrath!" "You don¡¯t even know her! Why are you risking everything to save her?" The Vermilion Bird said nothing. Then, seizing an opportunity, she tucked in her wings and turned into an incredibly dense mass of divine flame, hurling herself directly at her fellow demon cultivators. The demon prodigies felt their scalps tingle. In the end, they didn¡¯t dare stand their ground. They dodged. "Stop her!" The other alien races shouted in panic. But it was too late. The blazing fireball smashed through the demon line, enduring several powerful attacks head-on. And finally, the Vermilion Bird broke free from the bindings of the Eight Desolations Lock-Kill Formation. Her massive wings of flame unfurled. Scattered drops of her blood trailed in the air as she soared upward. Bursting through the clouds of lightning and thunder, she flew toward the distant skies. "Damn it! Damn it!" "After her!" "We were this close to killing Yue Hongling! Damn you, demon race ¡ª you better give us an explanation!" "So many powerful cultivators died and Yue Hongling still escaped ¡ª damn you demons!" "Are you conspiring with the humans?!" One by one, the enraged elites of the other races turned their wrath toward the remaining demon prodigies, eyes burning with fury. At this point, some of them even began to suspect it had all been a setup ¡ª a trap designed by the demons and humans to eliminate rival prodigies. The demon cultivators broke into cold sweats and rushed to explain. "We didn¡¯t plan any of this! Our Little Dragon King is dead! How could we be working with the humans?!" "We¡¯ll report everything to the Demon Emperor! That damn firebird will pay the price for what she¡¯s done!" Meanwhile, the Vermilion Bird carried Yue Hongling through the skies, free once more. As she flew, she heard Yue Hongling¡¯s faint whisper: "Tian... Tianling Pool... Tianling Pool..." The Vermilion Bird glanced toward the direction of the Heavenly Spirit Pool ¡ª then spread her wings and flew that way. The Heavenly Spirit Pool could help restore Yue Hongling. It was a good place. Chapter 48: The Vermilion Bird’s Hatred "Ding ding ding ¡ª Dog Host, they¡¯re here." Heavenly Spirit Pool, a place as picturesque as a painting. With that cry, the system abruptly shut off the glowing projection. It was excited. After all, watching drama from a distance through a projection couldn¡¯t compare to being there in person to enjoy the chaos. That was the real treat. "You¡¯re eating my drama now too?" Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "Ding! Yours is the juiciest, the sweetest!" Lu Ye: ... To meet her, or not to meet her ¡ª now that was the question. With Yue Hongling arriving, it would most likely be the same scene again: tears, sorrow, bitter regret, blaming herself for everything. Probably not much different from Chu Ling. Forget it. The Heavenly Spirit Pool really was a good place for cultivation. He didn¡¯t feel like relocating just yet. And as the system had said ¡ª the Great Dao was long and winding. It wasn¡¯t about nonstop cultivation. Sometimes, enjoying the changing scenery was a kind of cultivation. With that thought, Lu Ye closed his eyes. He was getting closer and closer to the Spirit Fusion Realm. The restrictions of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield would soon ease, and the second wave of prodigies under fifty would begin to arrive. After some more time, the battlefield would fully unlock. Then, all Heaven¡¯s Chosen under a hundred years old would descend. That would be when things truly erupted. And as for the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking¡ªwhen he punched his way in, where would he land? Not long after. A surge of intense heat approached fast from the horizon. The Vermilion Bird''s sharp gaze instantly locked onto Lu Ye¡¯s figure. Her heart trembled. It was him! A hundred conflicting emotions churned in her heart at once. She had first met Lu Ye when he saved her. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor had sent assassins after her, trying to obtain her Vermilion Blood. Lu Ye had saved her. She was gravely injured at the time, her strength reduced to less than one percent, and he had kept her by his side like a small pet. Later, she had escaped from his control. Though many demons continued to hunt her down, she always believed that the real problem was not the demon race as a whole ¡ª it was the ambition and greed of those so-called demon emperors. Most disgustingly, the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. Demons, too, had good and evil. If not for the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor leading them down a dark path, the demon race might never have become what it was. Later on, she had been saved by Lu Ye once again. By then, Lu Ye had already become a full-fledged enemy of the demon race ¡ª a direct challenger to the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. A cataclysmic war broke out between the demon race and humanity, with losses on both sides so staggering they defied belief. Then eventually, Lu Ye did kill the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. But the war didn¡¯t end. By that point, it could no longer even be called a war. It was a slaughter. Lu Ye claimed the Demon Emperor hadn¡¯t truly died ¡ª that he had split into countless demons, each one both itself and a fragment of the emperor. And so, he began to kill. Endlessly. Madly. To the point where all of heaven trembled in fear. Even the Vermilion Bird herself began to despair. She had believed Lu Ye. Believed he was right. That even if it was painful, even if it meant cutting out the rot with a poisoned blade, it was necessary to prevent a greater disaster. But the turning point came when she finally acquired the complete Myriad Spirits Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture. And discovered that it was all a lie. There was no such method to split the Demon Emperor into fragments. That whole theory... was a fabrication. That was the reason she hated Lu Ye. Because his words couldn¡¯t be trusted. And the truth she uncovered with her own eyes ¡ª that was the real reality. The Vermilion Bird stirred up a wave of searing heat and gently placed Yue Hongling down. Lu Ye¡¯s gaze remained calm as he looked at her. Yue Hongling was in a terrible state ¡ª her abdomen torn open, one arm missing, dozens upon dozens of wounds across her entire body. "Senior Brother... Senior Brother..." Yue Hongling slowly dragged herself forward, inch by inch, until her body collapsed into a kneeling position at the edge of the Heavenly Spirit Pool. "I was wrong... Hongling knows she was wrong." "It¡¯s all my fault!" Yue Hongling sobbed with deep sorrow, her forehead pressed to the ground at the edge of the bank, her body trembling uncontrollably. Upon hearing this, a faint smile crept onto Lu Ye¡¯s face. A twisted sense of pleasure rose in his chest. Lu Ye had thought it through clearly enough. In his previous life, he believed that having someone to protect, having love by his side¡ªthese were the things that motivated him to become the strongest. But after such a profound betrayal... Sure, he could kill all eight women. And then what? Alone, with nothing left to tie him down¡ªhe didn¡¯t know if he truly had the will to walk all the way to the summit, just to see what was at the top. It was entirely possible that, somewhere along the way, he¡¯d simply lose all interest. That... would be the real heart tribulation. But now? Now was better. He cultivated without rest¡ªfirst, to leave all those women behind; second, to watch how each of them ended up. With these two things as his fuel, his drive, Lu Ye was able to push forward and continue rising. Maybe, one day, he could finally let go¡ªmove past the betrayal, {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} start a new chapter of life. But for now, that was still impossible. "Senior Brother... can¡¯t you forgive me?" Yue Hongling begged, her voice soft and trembling. "I know you¡¯ve always loved me the most... just think of this as me being willful. I swear I won¡¯t do it again. I¡¯ll listen to everything you say. I¡¯ll believe in you." "Senior Brother, please, forgive me one last time... You always forgave me before, didn¡¯t you? Just one more time, okay?" "Senior Brother..." Her voice was pitiful, almost delicate. In her heart, she still hoped¡ªhoped that he might forgive her like he used to. Lu Ye had been planning to tease her a little longer, but suddenly, he felt utterly bored. So instead, he looked over at the Vermilion Bird. She instinctively took a step back. Then caught herself¡ªwhat was she backing away for? She returned to her original position. "What poison did you give me in our last life?" Lu Ye asked calmly. The Vermilion Bird froze. They were both reborn, and he was asking about the past? Was he trying to use old history to stir up emotions again, to manipulate her into falling for him? He could dream! "The poison I gave you was very venomous," she sneered. "Didn¡¯t you want to slaughter to your heart¡¯s content? You killed so many of my people in one breath, so I gave you the Slaughter Lotus Heart, let you kill all you wanted. How about it? Like it?" Slaughter Lotus Heart? Lu Ye¡¯s expression stiffened. Very good. One after another, they all turned out to be damn experts at playing dirty. The Slaughter Lotus Heart was the lotus core of the legendary Slaughter Lotus, the imperial weapon of the Asura God Emperor himself. It held the power to command all slaughter in the world. It wasn¡¯t even technically poison. But it did stimulate the desire to kill¡ªintensely so. Once it activated, it would push the heart¡¯s bloodlust to its peak¡ªeven beyond one¡¯s own ability to control it. Now that he had the answer he wanted... Lu Ye spoke plainly. "Get lost." "From now on, don¡¯t ever appear in front of me again. If you do that, I¡¯ll consider you forgiven." That was directed at Yue Hongling. "Senior Brother!" Lu Ye raised his head. A streak of sword qi flashed out instantly. The Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She yanked Yue Hongling aside just in time. The sword qi carved a deep scar into the ground. Had she not pulled her away, that single strike would¡¯ve killed Yue Hongling on the spot. "You¡¯re insane!" The Vermilion Bird stared at Lu Ye in disbelief. Yue Hongling was the little junior sister he had doted on the most! And yet... he had truly gone in for the kill! Chapter 49: Absolutely Impossible "Get out!" The Vermilion Bird watched as over a dozen sword auras crisscrossed toward her. She struck to block them, but in an instant, the sword energy slashed apart her Vermilion True Flame. Even though she retreated quickly, one streak of sword aura still nearly severed her wing. Lu Ye¡¯s cold, unyielding heart at this moment made the Vermilion Bird feel as though she didn¡¯t recognize him at all. How had Lu Ye become like this? In his past life, Lu Ye could be described as bright and cheerful, even carrying a bit of humor. Anyone who came into contact with him would be drawn in by his charm. Aside from being ruthless toward the demon and foreign races, he was utterly fair and just with his fellow humans. Toward the weak, he was even gentle¡ªtreating them as equals. But now, he wanted to kill Yue Hongling. He wanted to kill her. Seeing Lu Ye about to rise, the Vermilion Bird no longer dared to stay. The killing intent in his heart had already taken root. If she left Yue Hongling here, Yue Hongling would certainly die. The two figures vanished. Lu Ye did not pursue. His body, which hadn¡¯t fully risen yet, simply sank back into a cross-legged posture. Yue Hongling was handled as well. Lu Ye felt thoroughly at ease. That love he had longed for, that he had dreamed of¡ªhad ended like this. His closest martial brother didn¡¯t believe him, but instead chose to trust a demon he had barely known. For the sake of a demon who wanted him dead, Yue Hongling had tried to kill her own senior brother. Now, Yue Hongling should understand everything. Only by seeing the full truth could she fully grasp where she had erred¡ªand with that, suffer all the more. Lu Ye had vented the breath of hatred he had kept buried. From here on, if Yue Hongling lived, she would live in pain. If she died¡ªso be it. With his mind cleared, Lu Ye resumed his cultivation. This time, his speed increased even more than before. His cultivation had already reached the ninth level of Nascent Soul and was now pressing toward the threshold of Great Perfection. Breaking through to Spirit Severing would not be difficult for him. Still, caution was always necessary. Better to accumulate first! ...... The Vermilion Bird had taken Yue Hongling away, muttering ceaselessly, utterly dissatisfied with how Lu Ye had gone so far as to try to kill her. Her dissatisfaction might have stemmed from a deeper fear¡ªthat one day, she too might end up like Yue Hongling. It was too heartless. So heartless, it didn¡¯t feel like Lu Ye at all. "How could he try to kill you? Has he no feelings left at all? You were lovers in your past life¡ªeven if you aren¡¯t in this one, you¡¯re still his junior sister!" Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes were blank. "When I struck at him in our past life... did I ever once think, he was my lover? That he was my senior brother?" Yue Hongling muttered to herself. That one sentence left the Vermilion Bird momentarily speechless. "I never did understand this in my past life. What really happened back then? Tell me properly¡ªwas that Feng Wuxie really the one you loved? How could you fall for that kind of cowardly demon?" "I never met the bastard personally, but wasn¡¯t he the one with a sliver of phoenix blood? Back among the demon clans, he had wives and concubines everywhere¡ªscamming and deceiving constantly. Plenty of demon women lusted after that scrap of phoenix blood and wanted to bear his child, hoping to birth some kind of¡ª" "Ugh..." Seeing Yue Hongling staring at her silently, the Vermilion Bird immediately shut her mouth. "Why didn¡¯t you tell me in the past life?" "Who the hell knew which ¡®Feng Wuxie¡¯ you were talking about back then? And I wasn¡¯t involved in any of that battle, either. If I had been, I probably would¡¯ve died right then and there." "Lu Ye might have been bloodthirsty, but he was genuinely fierce. Back then the demon race, devil race, Buddhist sects, ghost race, divine race¡ªand even the spirit race¡ªall joined forces to besiege him. And he still slaughtered them into a full retreat." "The battlefield was littered with corpses!" Yue Hongling¡¯s heart hurt even more. Because back then, when she learned Feng Wuxie had died, all she could think about was hatred and heartbreak. She shut herself away for a long time. She never tried to understand the details of what had truly happened. If only she had learned a little... "What must I do... for Senior Brother to forgive me?" Yue Hongling was asking the Vermilion Bird¡ªbut also asking herself. The Vermilion Bird fell silent. Just from the battle between Lu Ye and the Ancient Heavenly Sovereign in their past life, it was clear¡ªhe had a real chance at attaining the Dao and becoming a Saint. But it was all destroyed by them. To ruin someone¡¯s path to the Dao¡ªsuch hatred is irreconcilable. And to do so in a way that directly sabotages one¡¯s chance at becoming a Saint... A Saint... such a being only appears once in a hundred thousand years. And they betrayed him. The Vermilion Bird couldn¡¯t help but shake her head. If such a thing had happened to her¡ªif, after being reborn, the first thing she didn¡¯t do was hunt down those traitors¡ªthen that would¡¯ve meant she had a truly saintly temper. Seeing her reaction, Yue Hongling suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, her expression growing ashen and bleak. The Vermilion Bird hurriedly stepped in to stabilize her injuries. "Chu Ling was wrong. I was wrong too. Hahahaha... laughably, utterly wrong." "Que¡¯er... is # N§àv§Ölight # there any chance you also misunderstood Senior Brother?" "Impossible!" The Vermilion Bird¡¯s reaction was explosive. "I already found the original Myriad Spirits Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture. It doesn¡¯t contain any of the cultivation methods he claimed. He¡¯s nothing but a butcher who slaughtered demonkind at will. There¡¯s no way I could be mistaken about him!" The Vermilion Bird¡¯s voice had risen sharply. Yue Hongling said nothing more. She fell silent. The Vermilion Bird forced herself to calm down and sighed lightly. "Forget it. Don¡¯t think so much. For now, just focus on healing your injuries. Only once you¡¯ve recovered will you have any chance of asking Lu Ye for forgiveness." she said. Yue Hongling nodded firmly. She began to mend her wounds. But this time, the damage was too severe. Recovering to her peak would clearly not be an easy matter. The Vermilion Bird raised her head and gazed at the sky. Yue Hongling¡¯s words echoed endlessly in her mind. Could I have also misunderstood Lu Ye? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! There¡¯s no way! ...... Elsewhere, the news of Yue Hongling fighting alone against over a hundred foreign prodigies, slaying more than half of them, and then being rescued by a demon race being¡ªspread like wildfire across the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. Everyone who heard the news stood frozen in place. Immeasurable Heavenly Sovereign... is something wrong with our ears? How could this be possible? How could this happen? Yue Hongling had said she had some personal matters to take care of¡ªand then charged straight into the heart of the foreign races¡¯ encampment, battling them head-on. And she emerged with such a shocking battle record? Truly worthy of being called the Human Race¡¯s new generation¡¯s number one War Goddess¡ªshe was fucking terrifying. "This is outrageous!" Feng Longxiang roared. "Gather! Everyone, gather now!" "Fuck this¡ªthe demon race, devil race, divine race, ghost race¡ªjust wonderful!" The human Heaven¡¯s Chosen erupted with fury, howling as they launched their retaliatory strikes against the foreign races. What the foreign races had done had truly pushed things too far. In an instant, the entire Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield plunged into even deeper chaos. Even among the Buddhist sects, upon hearing the news, they hesitated briefly¡ªuntil one of the Buddha¡¯s sons roared, "The foreign races have gone too far! Though we walk beside oil lamps and ancient Buddhas, we are still part of the human race! Fellow disciples!" "Here!" "Join the humans in purging the demons!" "Amitabha!" Amidst such upheaval, day after day passed. And finally, with a thunderous boom, the fourth through sixth levels of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield opened. Lu Ye opened his eyes. Chapter 50: Such an Impatient Person Wisps of morning mist drifted beneath the dawn light. An immense, formless pressure loomed overhead, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing, with the laws of the world pressed low to the earth. Above the third level of the ancient battlefield, the clouds scattered. The sky was high, the land vast¡ªmajestic beyond measure. The fourth, fifth, and sixth levels of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield opened. This time, all prodigies under the age of fifty could enter. Lu Ye rose to his feet. After sitting for so long, it didn¡¯t hurt to stretch his body a bit. Like now. He was going to kill a demon race cultivator. This demon¡¯s name was Tu Wuying. His cultivation path was somewhat unusual¡ªhe specialized in stealth and assassination. In the past life, the number of human Heaven¡¯s Chosen who died at Tu Wuying¡¯s hands was no less than a hundred. The Grand Dao Sect had suffered the worst casualties. Why? Because of Lu Ye. Tu Wuying¡¯s younger brother had died at Lu Ye¡¯s hands. Tu Wuying wanted revenge. It was understandable. Although, in this life, Lu Ye had not killed Tu Wuying¡¯s brother, so what? Lu Ye simply wanted to kill Tu Wuying. From his perspective, that too was perfectly justified. Now that the sixth level of the battlefield had opened, the advantage of the Heavenly Spirit Pool was no longer as significant. Killing someone, then heading to the Enlightenment Tree beneath the sixth level for cultivation¡ªthat was the best course. The Enlightenment Tree was one of the most precious treasures in the entire ancient battlefield. No one knew how long ago, a Heaven¡¯s Chosen who possessed an Enlightenment Tree ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) seed had died here, and the seed had germinated on its own and begun to grow. Gradually, it took form. And so, the Enlightenment Tree came into being. Countless people had tried to take the Enlightenment Tree away. After all, if one could bring it back to their sect, the sect would go mad with joy. One Enlightenment Tree was enough to elevate a sect to a terrifying level of power. But... they couldn¡¯t win. Beneath the Enlightenment Tree were many Heaven¡¯s Chosen who had once comprehended the Dao beneath it. The tree had inherited their imprints and could manifest divine abilities, recreating those Heaven¡¯s Chosen as if they returned from the dead¡ªlike a miniature version of the Eternal Tribulation. It was truly difficult to take it away. And the longer time passed, the harder it became. Lu Ye¡¯s figure vanished. On the fourth level of the battlefield, one figure after another appeared, exuding powerful auras. Their robes billowed in the wind, divine light flickering in their eyes. Strong cultivators from the other races also arrived immediately. "This batch of Heaven¡¯s Chosen has been unusually quiet this time. It¡¯s been seven days since they entered, and barely anyone has died. Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re coexisting with the foreign races?" someone muttered. "Coexist? The foreign races are always greedy and treacherous¡ªwhat kind of coexistence is that? If anything, I think the human side is doing poorly this time." "Better not disappoint us!" The reason for this sort of speculation was simple: outside the ancient battlefield, far too few soulstones of human prodigies had shattered. It was nothing like before, when only one out of ten survived after entering. The situation left everyone deeply uneasy. Because it could only mean one of two things: Either a top-tier human Heaven¡¯s Chosen had emerged and was suppressing all the foreign prodigies. Or¡ªthe humans had retreated into hiding, too afraid to fight. Everyone analyzed the situation. A few names could potentially dominate the foreign races¡ªLi Wubai, Feng Longxiang... but could they really be suppressing them this completely? While everyone was still guessing, a figure leisurely rose from the third-level space, stepped into the transmission passage, and appeared in the fourth level. Lu Ye¡¯s looks were indeed exceptional, but everyone just stared at him in confusion¡ªno one knew this young man¡¯s name. Until finally, a certain elder from the Grand Dao Sect suddenly remembered. "Lu Ye. You¡¯re Lu Ye, aren¡¯t you?" Upon hearing his name, Lu Ye finally glanced toward the nearby crowd¡ªthough he was still eager to go kill Tu Wuying... Forget it. These were people from his own sect. He should at least show some courtesy. ¡°Greetings, Senior Sister Ding.¡± Ding Qing was among the first group of disciples from the 92nd generation. By age, she should be around thirty years older than Lu Ye, though still under fifty. Each generation of disciples in the Grand Dao Sect was divided into three batches, spaced roughly thirty years apart. Thirty years¡ªenough time for a whole new generation of children to be born. After three such batches, the next full generation would begin. Lu Ye belonged to the second batch of the 92nd generation. Frankly, had he been born in the next batch, even Bai Qiulan could have counted as his senior sister. ¡°Senior Sister Ding,¡± Lu Ye greeted with a respectful bow. ¡°You still remember me?¡± Ding Yuqing asked, visibly surprised. ¡°Senior Sister Ding is unmatched in beauty... Does Senior Sister have any business with me?¡± He nearly fell back into the habit of being a praise-happy sycophant. But in this life, he couldn¡¯t go around flattering every woman he met and making their hearts flutter again. Ding Yuqing¡¯s face showed a trace of amusement. She assumed Lu Ye had gotten shy and hadn¡¯t finished what he wanted to say. This big sister¡¯s charm really is deadly, she thought. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I just wanted to ask about the situation on the lower three levels¡ªhow are things between our human race and the foreign races?¡± ¡°To answer Senior Sister¡¯s question,¡± Lu Ye said smoothly, ¡°on the human side, our sect¡¯s Yue Hongling displayed unrivaled strength and utterly suppressed the foreign races. The human side advanced like a hot knife through butter, seizing nearly the entire territory of the three levels. We are in absolute control.¡± The name ¡°Yue Hongling¡± left everyone dumbfounded. Ding Yuqing had heard of Lu Ye¡¯s name because he had taken first place in a sect-wide competition. But Yue Hongling? Who the hell was that? ¡°She¡¯s that strong? What about Li Wubai?¡± a Heaven¡¯s Chosen from the Supreme Sword Sect asked. ¡°Li Wubai, Feng Longxiang, and many other Heaven¡¯s Chosen have been fighting alongside Yue Hongling,¡± Lu Ye replied calmly. That shook every senior brother and sister present. For someone like Li Wubai to willingly fight under someone else''s banner¡ªYue Hongling must truly be formidable. ¡°I remember you won first place in the sect¡¯s internal competition. If Yue Hongling is that strong, then doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re even more terrifying?¡± Ding Yuqing asked curiously. Lu Ye immediately denied it. ¡°She let me win, that¡¯s all. Senior brothers, senior sisters, I have urgent matters. May I take my leave?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going into the fourth to sixth level zones? The danger here is far greater than in the lower levels. A single encounter with a foreign Heaven¡¯s Chosen could mean your death. Why don¡¯t you come with us?¡± Ding Yuqing offered kindly. ¡°No need. Farewell!¡± If he went now, he could still track Tu Wuying¡¯s whereabouts. If he waited too long, the trail might go cold. His figure disappeared in a flash. The others... ¡°Such an impulsive temperament¡ªhe¡¯s probably going to die,¡± said a Heaven¡¯s Chosen from the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. ¡°Probably definitely going to die. Everyone, I¡¯m off to seek my fortune too. If the foreign races rise up again, we can regroup and fight then.¡± ¡°Farewell, fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°Farewell!¡± That group quickly dispersed as well, each heading off in search of their own opportunities. Everyone usually explored solo at first. Later, when the battlefield atmosphere turned more hostile and the solitary treasures had mostly been claimed, that was when group operations and joint battles would begin. Lu Ye moved swiftly, slipping into stealth mode. Soon, following the flow of demonic energy, he located the transmission point used by the demon race. Thanks to the shorter distance, the human Heaven¡¯s Chosen had arrived first¡ªforeign Heaven¡¯s Chosen would take a little longer to enter. So Lu Ye waited. Before long, the demonic energy in the air began to thicken ominously. A stone sword appeared in Lu Ye¡¯s hand, and his eyes narrowed slightly. Chapter 51: The Enlightenment Tree "Trash! Utter trash!" From the demon race side, complaints and curses erupted nonstop. They had their own means of tracking the life signs of fellow demons¡ªand the results were horrifying. The deaths among their ranks were nothing short of catastrophic. The much-anticipated Duan Jianmo had already died long ago, and droves of other demon Heaven¡¯s Chosen had perished in batches. The scale of loss was truly chilling. But now¡ªfinally¡ªthe tide was about to turn for the demon race. Because this time, three of their most terrifying Heaven¡¯s Chosen had arrived at once. Tu Wuying, the master of shadow stealth and one-kill assassinations. Xing Ye, a powerhouse with apocalyptic might. And Ye An, the son of the Heavenly Demon Emperor himself. These three represented the pinnacle of demonic talent. Even if they couldn¡¯t dominate the entire battlefield, their presence alone was enough to make every major force uneasy. The demons'' morale soared. Their confidence exploded. Demonic qi surged, rolling into the sky like a black tide. The glory of the demon race was about to return. Ye An was the first to step through the teleportation portal, entering the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. His gaze swept across the land¡ªand the first thing he saw was Lu Ye, standing calmly with a sword in hand. He froze slightly. Human? Wait, what? What was this supposed to mean? Why was this human standing here, alone? What was he trying to do? Tu Wuying stepped through second. Just as Ye An was about to speak, a brilliant sword light suddenly ignited the space around them. In Ye An¡¯s eyes, the heavens and earth vanished. In that moment, only that single sword light existed in all creation. His body trembled ever so slightly. Every hair on his body stood on end. The hand gripping his weapon felt suddenly powerless, as if it no longer belonged to him. Fast! Precise! Deadly! A breeze gently swept across his face, ruffling Ye An¡¯s hair. Tu Wuying¡¯s figure split in half right before him. In his eyes, there was still confusion. Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing? Wait... You¡¯re not killing the Heavenly Demon Emperor¡¯s son¡ªyou¡¯re killing me? What grudge? What hatred? Have we even met? You waited here just to kill me? I only just arrived through the teleportation gate! Bro, who can understand this? I just ran into a total psycho who slaughtered me on sight. In the blink of an eye, Tu Wuying was dead. Lu Ye simply gave Ye An a calm glance¡ªand didn¡¯t attack him. Even though doing so would¡¯ve been quite easy. Lu Ye¡¯s figure flickered and vanished, already reappearing thousands of meters away. Huge beads of sweat streamed down Ye An¡¯s forehead. That one glance from Lu Ye... made him feel as though death had been right beside him. Close enough to touch. The third demon Heaven¡¯s Chosen appeared through the portal. Xing Ye still wore a casual, eager smile¡ªuntil the metallic scent of blood filled his nose. He looked over¡ªand froze as if struck by lightning. "Tu Wuying is dead?" Xing Ye exclaimed in disbelief. What kind of bullshit was this? He had been just a few seconds behind Tu Wuying. Five seconds at most¡ªand by the time he arrived, Tu Wuying was already sliced in two. Ye An stood dazed, his eyes vacant, clearly questioning the very nature of reality. "Ye An! How did Tu Wuying die? Don¡¯t tell me you killed him?" There was no one else present¡ªonly Ye An. So naturally, the assumption was that he had done it. But... why? What reason could Ye An possibly have for killing Tu Wuying? "A... a human." Ye An inhaled deeply, forcefully suppressing the fear and shock in his heart. He had been genuinely terrified. Had that sword turned toward him instead of Tu Wuying, he would¡¯ve died without question. Had there been a second strike after Tu Wuying fell, aimed at him¡ªhe would still have died without question. "A human!" Xing Ye cried out in alarm. "Where is he?" Ye An pointed in the direction Lu Ye had left, his voice dry and hoarse. "I think... I finally understand why the demon race is dying so miserably." One by one, demon race Heaven¡¯s Chosen arrived¡ªonly to be struck dumb the moment they set foot on the battlefield. What the hell¡ªhe killed Tu Wuying, and right in front of the Heavenly Demon Emperor¡¯s son? And in such a short ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) span of time? Some demons began glancing up at the teleportation vortex overhead. Maybe... just maybe... they should turn back now? This trip to the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield seemed a hell of a lot more brutal than any previous one. After killing Tu Wuying, Lu Ye felt an overwhelming sense of ease. In his past life, Tu Wuying had plagued him endlessly¡ªespecially with the endless string of senior brothers and sisters who died right before his eyes. Lu Ye had etched that bastard into his memory. Killing him once wasn¡¯t enough. Only killing him again made things feel right. From the fourth layer, Lu Ye surged all the way toward the sixth. He was fairly familiar with this territory. He circled around the trickier areas¡ªmany places here simply weren¡¯t worth exploring. The middle three layers held no treasures that Lu Ye needed. He would return during the final three-layer opening to claim a different treasure: the Immaculate Blood Sea Pearl. That was a key artifact for condensing, beyond his natal life, a second soul¡ªa third life, essentially. For now, he needed to stay beneath the Enlightenment Tree. He just hoped no one would disturb him. Otherwise, he¡¯d have to fight again¡ªand that was such a bother. In this life, he always treated people kindly... well, that didn¡¯t include demons, ghosts, gods, or devils. Up ahead, a verdant green tree came into view. Lu Ye stepped forward. A phantasmal figure suddenly appeared in front of him. Without waiting for it to speak, Lu Ye swung his sword. The illusion was instantly obliterated. The Enlightenment Tree swayed gently. Its jade-green leaves shimmered with specks of light as illusion after illusion began to materialize around it. "Three Thousand Dao Swords!" With one sword strike, three thousand sword cries rang out. Dozens of phantoms were all shattered on the spot. Lu Ye walked beneath the Enlightenment Tree and looked up. Enlightenment Tree... Wisps of light cascaded gently down toward him, and in that moment, Lu Ye¡¯s heart and mind fell into utter stillness. It was like a mirror-smooth lake without a ripple, wrapped by the heavens and earth¡ªutterly serene. "Begin enlightenment." Ding. Enlightenment activated. To comprehend the Dao beneath the Enlightenment Tree¡ªthis dual enlightenment made Lu Ye question for a second whether he was even human anymore. But just as that thought arose, it was instantly erased. Gone without a trace. Dao. Only the Dao. ...... All races flooded into the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. Those arriving now were far more powerful. The first batch had been of the younger generation, mostly fluctuating around the Nascent Soul level. The stronger ones might have reached the third or fourth layer of that realm at best. But this new wave¡ªeven the weakest among them were already at the sixth or seventh layer of the Nascent Soul stage. Some had even reached the threshold of Spirit Severing. Technically, within the First Heaven, the Dao Integration Realm was already considered the pinnacle of power. Those who had reached Spirit Severing were arguably no longer just "Heaven¡¯s Chosen"¡ªbut considering the nine-layered heavens, and how the First Heaven was merely a starting point, or even a form of protection for the weak, it wasn¡¯t too outrageous for Spirit Severing cultivators to still be considered Heaven¡¯s Chosen. In the Ninefold Heavens, one could ascend¡ªbut never descend. That rule had been established by the ancient Nine Heavens Saint Sovereign, who once grieved for the weak who had no place to stand in the world. So he created the Ninefold Heavens, with an iron law: ascendable, but never descendable. Of course, the Nine Heavens Saint Sovereign was long dead. Certain powerful factions now had their own methods to temporarily descend. The human race began to regroup. This new wave of human cultivators had just arrived, and when they saw that the lower three layers of the battlefield had been completely dominated by the human race¡ªthey were stunned. What the fuck? Were the new-generation brats really this fierce? Meanwhile, powerhouses from the other races could barely find signs of their own people. They were so pissed their noses were practically crooked. Alliance. They had to unite¡ªimmediately! The Buddhist faction also began calling for their disciples. Thankfully, though their performance had been mediocre, it hadn¡¯t been catastrophic. They breathed a sigh of relief. With that, the Buddhist disciples began calling for action. The Enlightenment Tree! The Buddhist sect had to seize the Enlightenment Tree first, then set up formations to fully protect it. Once they did, their cultivation in the Dharma would surely skyrocket! Chapter 52: Only the Dao Before the Dao Comprehension Tree. Dozens of monks rushed over in a hurry, only to see endless rays of divine light descending, enveloping the body of a single person. Silence. Tranquility. Man, Dao, and tree had become one. "That fast?" The leading Duzeng monk was visibly surprised. But it was fine¡ªthere was only one person. Duzeng scrutinized the figure carefully. So young, with rosy lips and white teeth, strikingly handsome. If he shaved his head and became a little sa?man?era, perhaps he too would possess a deep karmic affinity with Buddha. "Fellow Daoist, I sense this tree holds karmic destiny with my Buddhist sect..." "Senior Brother!" Unexpectedly, a Buddhist disciple suddenly spoke out, interrupting Duzeng''s words. "This person is very strong. Back at the Heavenly Spirit Pool, many of our Buddhist disciples perished at his hands," Duhui said urgently. Golden light burst from Duzeng¡¯s eyes. "You''re saying... he bears enmity toward our Buddhist sect?" "He does, but his strength is great. I fear that if we engage him, the cost will be steep." Duzeng suddenly laughed. A gentle, compassionate laugh, filled with mercy. "Junior Brother, you think he''s strong only because you do not know your Senior Brother¡¯s divine powers. Since he holds hatred for the Buddhist sect, then let us use the compassion of Buddhism to enlighten him. Just watch." He stepped forward, and golden light surged behind him. A towering vajra dharma body manifested, several zhang tall, its expression furious, emanating a terrifying aura capable of suppressing the heavens and the earth. "Sinner, come out and face me!" His roar shook the ground, sending stones and leaves flying, stirring up a storm as if a tidal wave had struck. Lu Ye dug at his ear, feeling as though even his earwax had been shaken loose. Buddhist sect. Buddhist sect. Again with the Buddhist sect! He opened his eyes, brimming with impatience. The Dao Comprehension Tree was indeed a treasured land, and many factions would come to compete over it. But if he had to slaughter every one of them that showed up, it would be endlessly troublesome. His figure moved. "Do not dare disturb my young lord¡¯s cultivation!" A crisp, fierce cry rang out. A massive sword light swept forth, stirring the winds and clouds, slashing toward the Buddhist disciples. Lu Ye remained completely undisturbed. In that moment, his body ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) moved like a specter, flashing through the Buddhist disciples like lightning. Golden light erupted one after another, the sound of metal clashing filled the air. Looking closely, it was as if more than a dozen indistinct silhouettes of Lu Ye were attacking all at once amidst the crowd. Some Buddhist disciples tried to block, only to see their spiritual weapons shattered; others couldn¡¯t even follow his speed, and by the time they reacted, a splash of crimson had already bloomed across their throats. In a single breath, a dozen figures moved simultaneously. In the next, all merged into one. Lu Ye returned to his original position beneath the Dao Comprehension Tree, once again sitting cross-legged. The demonic sword clashed with the dharma body. Cracks spiderwebbed across the dharma image. Its owner¡¯s eyes widened in fury, but within them surged astonishment and disbelief¡ªfaint traces of regret even flickering deep inside. "Pu pu pu..." Blood gushed violently. The Buddhist disciples who had moments earlier been alive and vigorous now knelt on the ground in near-identical postures, clutching their necks. The expressions on their faces shifted from confusion to agony. Some tried to staunch the bleeding, to control their wounds the moment they were struck. But within each gash lingered an incredibly potent sword energy that gave them no chance to recover. "Ah... Amitabha..." Duzeng let out a final Buddhist chant before his body collapsed with a boom. Chu Ling descended with her sword, landing on the ground and watching the scene unfold. Shocked, her expression shifted again and again. She turned, looking at Lu Ye with complicated eyes, and in that moment, the suspicion in her heart was utterly confirmed. Young Lord... the reason he no longer argues with them, no longer mocks or ridicules them... is truly because, in his eyes, they no longer mean anything at all. Too fast. Lu Ye''s cultivation speed had already far exceeded anything she could have predicted¡ªit had reached a terrifying level. He had absolutely no reason to get entangled with them anymore. Because in just a short time, Lu Ye could leave them so far behind that no matter how hard they tried, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to see his shadow. He had not the slightest intention of involving himself with them again. How long had it even been? Since his rebirth and return, it had barely been half a year, and already his strength had reached such an inconceivable level. Give him another two or three years, and he might very well ascend to the Second Heaven. They would lose the right to ever see him again. A crushing pain filled Chu Ling¡¯s heart. So this... this was the decision the Young Lord had made? From beginning to end, he never truly had any intense conflict with them. In the very beginning, yes, he had once harbored a murderous intent toward her. But now, when he looked at her, that gaze¡ªit was exactly the same as looking at a stranger. No... even less than that. He had completely ignored her. Chu Ling dropped to her knees, her voice pleading. "Young Lord!" Lu Ye closed his eyes. In his heart, not a single ripple stirred. Being unfaithful, having eight women¡ªthat was his mistake. And he had paid the price for that mistake. Back then, when he first crossed over, he hadn¡¯t been chasing after beauties. Kinship, friendship, love¡ªthose were the things he longed for, the things he desperately sought. But the road to the Dao... was paved with bones. Brothers perished, seniors who guided him fell to ruin. Once, he had already possessed it all. But in this life, he no longer desired it. He only wanted to ascend to the peak of the Dao¡ªa place he had never reached. To awaken with the power to command the world, to fall asleep in a beauty¡¯s arms¡ªthose were fleeting illusions. Only the Dao! Only the Dao! Pain and determination filled Chu Ling¡¯s eyes. Ever since the truth behind the Chu Sword Villa had come to light, she finally understood just how good Lu Ye had been to her back then. He used to smile and call her his little maid, but there had been an unmistakable tenderness in his voice. Who in this world would walk through blades and fire for a mere maid? Who would guard her path to emperorhood? Who else would constantly tease her, just to make her laugh¡ªand whenever she laughed, he would smile too, with the pure, childlike joy that could no longer be seen on his face now. Chu Ling clutched her chest, gasping for breath. It hurt too much. The pain was suffocating. She fixed her gaze on the young man enveloped in a million glowing feathers, her fists clenched tightly. "Young Lord, I¡¯ll stay with you no matter what. Wherever you go, I¡¯ll follow. I swear I¡¯ll catch up to you!" As she spoke, Chu Ling bowed her head and slammed it hard against the ground three times before rising and leaving. She had to become strong. No matter the cost, she had to become strong. She couldn¡¯t imagine a life where Lu Ye never appeared before her again. To lose the one person in the world who loved her the most¡ªhow could she possibly go on? She didn¡¯t have Lu Ye¡¯s single-minded pursuit of the Dao. She was crossing through her own trial of love, her own sea of regret. Lu Ye paid no attention to anything related to Chu Ling. He was thinking about something far more important. He had already reached the peak of the Nascent Break stage, but he still hadn¡¯t felt like he¡¯d hit a ceiling. Maybe... he could take this realm even further. Like pushing the Nascent Break stage to over ten layers or something. Keep pushing. Pushing is healthy! Chapter 53: Not Yet Over The fourth layer of the Ancient Battlefield space. Yue Hongling''s injuries were healing quickly. The eighty-one Fearless Divine Seals could be used offensively, defensively, for recovery, or even for explosive power boosts. However, a hand that had been completely severed¡ªwanting it to regrow wasn¡¯t something that could happen easily. But it didn¡¯t matter. The Vermilion Bird had already left her and disappeared to who knows where. She still had her own matters to handle. Her mood was extremely low. That once bright and strikingly beautiful face now drooped, drained of energy. There was no trace of the unrivaled, battle-hardened majesty she once carried. She was finished! Yue Hongling felt absolutely miserable. She had just looked back¡ªlooked at the past¡ªand all she could feel was that she had been a colossal dumbass. So stupid it was beyond saving, beyond belief. How long had she even known Feng Wuxie? And yet she had believed in that kind of yao clan bastard so deeply, so completely! She knew perfectly well what kind of person Senior Brother was¡ªhow good he had been to her. She knew that all too clearly. And yet, even knowing that, she still chose to believe in someone she thought was... her white moonlight... Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t help but let out a bitter, desolate laugh. A white moonlight that was black to the core, rotten to the core¡ªand even after becoming an empress, she still couldn¡¯t forget him. The better her Senior Brother treated her, the more she thought it was because he felt guilty¡ªso guilty that he had to be good to her. Hahaha... "Feng! Wuxie!" Those three words came out like a wind from the depths of hell¡ªicy enough to flay the flesh from bone. She was going to find Feng Wuxie. She was going to cut him into a thousand pieces and then go before Senior Brother to beg for forgiveness. As long as he was willing to forgive her¡ªshe¡¯d do anything. Even if it meant dying! Even if it meant death, she would not be afraid. Senior Brother was kind. As long as she apologized endlessly... No, that wouldn¡¯t be enough. Senior Brother had always liked her when she was playful and charming. A water mirror appeared in front of Yue Hongling. She looked at her reflection and forced a smile. No¡ªthat smile was wrong. She tried a different one. Still wrong. Where was her innocence? Where was that girlish charm? In that instant, Yue Hongling suddenly understood¡ªit had only been because she was immersed in happiness that such charm had existed at all. But now, there was no charm left to speak of. She waved her hand, dispersing the water screen. A sharp gleam lit up her eyes¡ªtinged faintly with blood-red. Feng Wuxie, just you wait! This old lady¡¯s going to kill you! Feng Wuxie was panicking. He truly hadn¡¯t expected the ambush to end up like this. So many prodigies¡ªso many figures that, in his eyes, were far out of reach¡ªhad failed to kill Yue Hongling? Seriously, what was wrong? Were they just ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) that useless, or what? Why were there yao clan members helping Yue Hongling? And that so-called Little Dragon King, that Duan Jianmo¡ªall those names sounded so damn impressive. But then what? They died like losers. Died miserable, pitiful deaths. It was impossible to imagine. How could a group of such "renowned" beings turn out to be so full of hot air¡ªnothing but hollow reputations? Feng Wuxie was practically dying from anger. He was dying of rage¡ªand so were all the ghosts and demons. The yao clan had become a target of all the factions. Why had there been betrayal within the yao clan? Yue Hongling had clearly been cornered into a dead end! Then suddenly, a yao clan member had appeared¡ªand not just any yao, but one powerful enough to directly rescue Yue Hongling. And what¡¯s more, the yao clan had actually claimed they didn¡¯t even know the firebird. The firebird¡¯s strength clearly surpassed that of the Little Dragon King, and yet the yao clan was saying they had no idea who she was? What kind of bullshit were they trying to feed them¡ªdid they think everyone here was a moron? If it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that, during this joint ambush, the yao clan had indeed suffered the greatest casualties and put in the most effort, all the other races would have suspected this entire thing had been a setup by the yao. That maybe the yao clan had colluded with the human race. Since there was no way to vent their rage on the yao clan itself, all that fury turned toward Feng Wuxie. The demon race wanted to grind Feng Wuxie¡¯s bones to dust on the spot. The ghost race was ready to rip out his soul and shred it. But the gods stopped them. ¡°Calm down. Feng Wuxie still has his uses,¡± said a god clan member named Shui Ye. ¡°What use could he possibly have? Yue Hongling¡¯s already seen right through him. You think she¡¯s still going to forgive him?¡± a demon roared in fury. ¡°He won¡¯t gain Yue Hongling¡¯s forgiveness,¡± Shui Ye replied calmly. ¡°But now, he¡¯s become the one she hates the most. I observed it very clearly¡ªYue Hongling seemed to have missed out on something extremely important because of him. And when she came over only to realize what kind of trash he truly was...¡± ¡°It was obvious Yue Hongling was in deep pain over whatever it was she missed.¡± ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, Yue Hongling now hates Feng Wuxie down to her very bones.¡± ¡°Exactly. Without a doubt, she hates him even more than we do. She probably dreams of eating his flesh and peeling off his skin. Which means... we can make use of that.¡± A cunning gleam flashed in Shui Ye¡¯s eyes. ¡°You mean...¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Just as love can be a trap, so too can hatred.¡± Feng Wuxie¡¯s heart surged with joy. That meant... he could live? But just as he felt hope bloom, Shui Ye gave him a cold, fleeting glance. ¡°Trash like this¡ªI find utterly contemptible. He can be kept alive. But the rest of your rage... feel free to let it all out.¡± The smile that had just started to appear on Feng Wuxie¡¯s face instantly froze. ¡°No...¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t do this...¡± A towering demon stepped forward and, without hesitation, tore off a chunk of Feng Wuxie¡¯s flesh and began to eat it. Blood spurted wildly. Agonized screams ripped through the air. All the surviving yao, demons, and ghosts took their boiling fury and unleashed it on Feng Wuxie¡¯s body. To them, his screams were like the sweetest music. Shui Ye showed a faint expression of pity as he released wisps of blue light to heal Feng Wuxie. ¡°Careful, don¡¯t kill him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tear off the arm, damn it! Arms are hard to reattach.¡± ¡°Stop stomping on his crotch, that could kill him from the pain!¡± The torment lasted a full hour. By the end, Feng Wuxie didn¡¯t even have the strength to scream anymore. He woke up from unconsciousness from the pain¡ªthen passed out again, still in agony. His body was covered in blood, not a patch of healthy skin left, not a single place untouched. Shui Ye continued treating him, and only with great effort managed to pull him back from the brink of death. ¡°I assume your tempers have cooled a bit,¡± Shui Ye said to the gathered cultivators. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be taking this man. If the opportunity arises, I¡¯ll contact you all again¡ªand we¡¯ll hunt Yue Hongling once more. Next time... she won¡¯t escape!¡± ... Some time later. Feng Wuxie¡¯s whole body was swollen, his skin puffed and taut, filled underneath with white fluid. The skin was so thin it matched a saying perfectly¡ªso delicate it could burst from a single breath. One careless move, and when a bit of skin tore open, the stabbing pain distorted Feng Wuxie¡¯s entire face. But he didn¡¯t dare move. If he did, more skin would break, and the pain would be even worse. Those who had tortured him may have vented their anger, but Shui Ye¡¯s fury hadn¡¯t subsided in the slightest. Now, Feng Wuxie had been dragged again by Shui Ye before a newly arrived group of god clan members. A new hunt... was about to begin. Chapter 54: Bone-Piercing Cold Outside the Ancient Battlefield. Bai Qiulan, Sun Ruowei, and the others had already arrived. All of them were under a hundred years old, just barely meeting the age limit to enter the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. They were right at the edge of that restriction. For example, the Sect Master of the Grand Dao Sect had already passed the hundred-year mark and could no longer enter. One could only sigh¡ªsuch was fate. "You¡¯re in the Unity Dao Realm and still entering the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield? Isn¡¯t that just bullying?" Sun Ruowei said with some exasperation. Bai Qiulan, still dressed in her flowing white robes, stood where the breeze accentuated her impossibly curvaceous figure. Countless gazes couldn¡¯t help but turn her way, again and again. "It¡¯s true I¡¯ve reached Unity Dao," she replied lightly, "but the Everlasting Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking isn¡¯t based on strength alone. Bone quality, combat ability, age¡ªmany factors are considered. My ranking may very well be lower than yours." She smiled faintly as she spoke. "Don¡¯t mock me," Sun Ruowei huffed. "I¡¯m still a good eighty thousand miles away from Unity Dao. We¡¯re practically the same age, remember?" As the two chatted, a refined and elegant young man approached. "Junior Sister Bai, long time no see." The newcomer was Xu Mozhi, an elder from the Mountain-River Pagoda Sect, skilled in artifact crafting. "This is a jade hairpin I forged recently¡ªit nourishes the face and calms the mind. I think it suits you perfectly. May I gift it to you?" Xu Mozhi wore a graceful smile. In his hand appeared a jade hairpin of exquisite craftsmanship, embedded with numerous formation patterns. It radiated potent spiritual light, clearly something that had cost Xu Mozhi an enormous amount of effort and energy. Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes¡ªdramatically. "Oh wow, truly, love makes people blind. I¡¯m a whole live person standing right here, and this guy doesn¡¯t even spare me a glance, let alone say a single word to me," she said sarcastically. Xu Mozhi looked slightly embarrassed¡ªhe really had gotten too excited. It had been over ten years since he last saw Bai Qiulan, and he never would have thought she hadn¡¯t faded with time. Instead, she had only become even more radiant and dazzling than before. Who could possibly resist that? "My apologies, Junior Sister. It¡¯s just... it¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen Junior Sister Bai that I lost myself a little." Sun Ruowei: ??? "Oh, how nice of you, Xu Mozhi. What do you mean by ¡®this junior sister¡¯? Huh? This? You seriously forgot what my name is?!" Xu Mozhi: ... Bai Qiulan remained calm. "Thank you for your kind intentions, Daoist Xu. However, you and I share no affection. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to accept your gift." "How could we not share affection? We once fought side by side, resisted the demon race together¡ª" "I ask you not to persist. Qiulan¡¯s heart is wholly devoted to the Dao. I have no other intentions. The more you insist, the more you¡¯ll only hurt yourself," Bai Qiulan replied firmly. Xu Mozhi¡¯s expression dimmed. "I don¡¯t harbor any other thoughts for you. It¡¯s just that this jade hairpin was made with painstaking care, and in my eyes, it matches you perfectly¡ªas if it were made for you. Even if there¡¯s no affection between us, I still hope you¡¯ll accept it, to give the hairpin its rightful owner." A faint furrow appeared between Bai Qiulan¡¯s brows. "I don¡¯t wish to speak words without compassion. Please take your leave, Daoist Xu, before we damage what civility remains between us." Xu Mozhi: ... "I think that hairpin suits me just fine. Why don¡¯t you give it to me instead?" Sun Ruowei said with a cheeky grin. Xu Mozhi shot her a glance and walked off, shoulders drooping. Sun Ruowei exploded. "What the hell was that?! What did that look even mean?! He¡ªhe¡ªhe¡ª!" Bai Qiulan reached out and pressed her palm onto Sun Ruowei¡¯s fluffy head. "Behave." Unexpectedly, Sun Ruowei jolted violently. She suddenly turned, eyes wide, staring at Bai Qiulan in disbelief. Bai Qiulan paused, confused. She looked behind her¡ªthere was nothing there. But then, Sun Ruowei grabbed Bai Qiulan¡¯s hand and held it in her own. "Why is your hand this cold?" Sun Ruowei blurted out. "Cold?" Bai Qiulan looked slightly dazed. She raised her other hand and touched it¡ªbut didn¡¯t feel anything cold. Sun Ruowei immediately grabbed that hand too. ¡°This one¡¯s just as freezing! Why is it like this? Your hand feels like pure ice¡ªdon¡¯t you feel it at all?¡± ¡°Your body¡ªwhat about your body?¡± Sun Ruowei¡¯s expression was full of panic, her eyes reddening. She pushed up Bai Qiulan¡¯s sleeve. Her skin was stunning¡ªsmooth and luminous, like the finest silk. But the more Sun Ruowei touched, the more shocked she became. Cold. Freezing. Bone-piercing cold. A chill that froze the soul. ¡°What the hell is going on with you? Are you hiding something from me? You¡¯re in the Unity Dao Realm¡ªhow can you not know that your body¡¯s turned this cold?!¡± Bai Qiulan frowned. She touched her own arm again, but still couldn¡¯t sense any chill. Was it the effect of the Chaotic Lunar Yin Divine Body? She didn¡¯t know for certain, but still, Bai Qiulan smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t make such a fuss. I just cultivated a special technique. It¡¯ll be fine in a little while.¡± ¡°For real?¡± Sun Ruowei asked, clearly not convinced. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Bai Qiulan, don¡¯t you dare lie to me. We¡¯re best sisters¡ªif you lie to me, I¡¯ll be seriously hurt!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. Why would I? It really is just a side effect from cultivating a powerful technique. If I hadn¡¯t practiced it, how else could I have broken into Unity Dao so fast? It¡¯s nothing¡ªjust temporary. I¡¯ll be fine soon.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s way too cold! I mean, it already feels that bad just touching with my hand. Here, let me try with my arm¡ª¡± She pressed her arm against Bai Qiulan¡¯s. In an instant, goosebumps erupted all across Sun Ruowei¡¯s arm. She immediately jerked away. ¡°The skin on your hands is thicker, so the sensation is bearable. ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) It¡¯s like touching a block of thousand-year profound ice. But the skin on your arms is thinner. Just a brush and it¡¯s unbearable.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure you¡¯re okay?¡± A faint smile appeared on Bai Qiulan¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m really okay. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Alright, but I¡¯m going to start touching you regularly¡ªjust in case anything changes, we¡¯ll catch it right away!¡± Bai Qiulan nodded gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Her gaze turned toward the direction of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. There was something strange in her eyes. Cold. As cold as thousand-year profound ice. In that moment, a trace of hesitation crept into her heart. She had thought about it before¡ªif, during her yin-yang dual cultivation with Lu Ye, he hadn¡¯t felt even the slightest comfort... Could it really be said that he had taken advantage of her? Each time, Lu Ye had been forced to endure that unbearable, extreme cold... That so-called betrayal of master and ancestors¡ªdid it even hold water anymore? Bai Qiulan... was truly lost. Chapter 55: True Heavenly Sovereign Fist ¡°We¡¯ve found Feng Wuxie!¡± Yue Hongling had mobilized the full power of the human race. It had taken considerable effort, but they had finally tracked down Feng Wuxie¡¯s whereabouts. Yue Hongling stared at the information in her hand, brows tightly furrowed. She let out a laugh¡ªof sheer exasperation. Still pulling this same trick, huh? She had acted like a dumbass once, and now everyone just assumed she was a permanent dumbass? ¡°This time it¡¯s the gods taking the lead?¡± Yue Hongling asked. ¡°According to the reports, yes¡ªit¡¯s the god clan leading things,¡± Luo Yuan replied. Yue Hongling sank into thought. ¡°Never mind them for now. If the gods are using Feng Wuxie to lure me back into the game, then the longer I stay out of it, the more they¡¯ll keep torturing him.¡± A shrewd gleam appeared in Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes. Luo Yuan hadn¡¯t yet spoken when Feng Longxiang suddenly gasped in admiration. ¡°Fairy Yue¡¯s strategy is truly astounding.¡± Luo Yuan: ??? Yue Hongling: ... ¡°Old Feng!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to give compliments, maybe just... give fewer of them.¡± Feng Longxiang¡¯s big eyes filled with puzzled innocence. What? Wasn¡¯t that a good compliment? That was exactly the kind of flattery his master loved to hear... Yue Hongling made her decision. Temporarily, she would let Feng Wuxie go¡ªshe¡¯d focus all her energy on cultivation. Time passed, moment by moment. Meanwhile, on the gods¡¯ side, it became clear that Yue Hongling wasn¡¯t taking the bait. One by one, their tempers began to fray. ¡°What the hell is going on? Wasn¡¯t Yue Hongling supposed to be brainless? We already leaked Feng Wuxie¡¯s location¡ªwhy hasn¡¯t she made a move?!¡± Shui Ye smiled faintly. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°If she really doesn¡¯t react, then that just proves Feng Wuxie means less than dirt to her. Let¡¯s just kill him and be done with it. Watching ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? him stroll around like nothing¡¯s wrong every day pisses me off.¡± ¡°Hahaha, now you¡¯re thinking clearly!¡± Shui Ye laughed loudly. ¡°Yue Hongling probably figured we¡¯d torture Feng Wuxie ourselves if she stayed out of it. Hell, even someone like you, who doesn¡¯t have much of a grudge against him, can¡¯t stand looking at his smug face¡ªdo you really think she can?¡± ¡°From this moment on, don¡¯t just not mistreat Feng Wuxie¡ªspoil him. Give him resources, let him cultivate, hand him pretty little bird demons. Let¡¯s see who breaks first!¡± Yue Hongling had indeed been watching Feng Wuxie¡¯s situation all along. And when she realized things weren¡¯t going as expected¡ªrage surged in her chest. Watching Feng Wuxie live such a comfortable life... it was even more unbearable than death. ¡°If you people are going to try to kill me, then don¡¯t blame me for declaring war on you!¡± To Yue Hongling, combat was the best kind of cultivation. She left alone. She didn¡¯t go to kill Feng Wuxie¡ªinstead, she began striking directly at the god clan. Any god clan member she encountered¡ªshe killed. After killing, she fled. The smell of gunpowder grew thicker by the day. Lu Ye, on the other hand, remained in secluded cultivation. In the distance, a group of Buddhist monks stood far away, looking at the twenty-odd corpses sprawled across the ground. Their faces were filled with fury. But the wounds on those monks made them deeply cautious. Every one of them had been killed with a single strike. Each and every one¡ªinstantly slain. Even Du Zeng, a half-step into the Void Refinement realm who had already begun to solidify his vajra dharma body, had been cut down with a single sword. That level of strength was truly horrifying. Yet the Dao Comprehension Tree was a treasure coveted by the Buddhist sect. Now that there was animosity between both sides, by all reason and principle, they had to fight for it. But the opponent¡¯s power... was unfathomable. If they launched a full assault, there was a real possibility the entire Buddhist force would be wiped out. ¡°Amitabha... This humble monk is willing to try alone. If I fall, then the Dao Comprehension Tree is not fated for us. But if I can hold my own, then perhaps the tree is meant for the Buddhist path,¡± said one monk. The others turned to look at Dushan, then all murmured in unison: ¡°Amitabha.¡± Dushan had incredible defenses, cultivating the Thirteen-Foot Golden Body. If even he couldn¡¯t hold up¡ªthen there was no point in continuing this fight. But the boy seated among the glowing light feathers... he looked so young, absurdly young. How could someone like that possess such incomprehensible strength? Dushan sat cross-legged. His robes rippled. His aura began to rise. From an already solid ninth level of Nascent Break¡ªhe now took another step forward. Void Refinement! Heaven and earth changed color. From the skies above, immeasurable golden light cascaded down. A torrent of spiritual energy howled toward Dushan. The thirteen-foot golden body manifested behind him, its shimmering golden form growing taller¡ªuntil it reached three zhang in height. The world was filled with golden brilliance. Dushan chanted a resounding Buddhist mantra, his palms pressed together. ¡°Amita?bha!¡± The golden body behind him, identical in form, also pressed its hands together and chanted the same mantra. One step forward. The golden body arrived outside the Dao Comprehension Tree. ¡°This humble monk Dushan humbly asks for guidance, fellow Daoist!¡± The golden body¡¯s voice rumbled like thunder. Buddhist light blazed forth, and its immense aura surged toward Lu Ye like a raging tide. Lu Ye opened his eyes and looked calmly at the three-zhang golden figure. ¡°Very well.¡± Void Refinement¡ªenough to make him take the fight seriously. Yet he didn¡¯t rise. He simply lifted one hand. In that instant, the entire Dao Comprehension Tree began to sway. If the Dao Comprehension Tree had a mouth, it would have screamed in astonishment. Dao! This was the Dao! The Dao Comprehension Tree helped others comprehend the Dao, and it itself gleaned insight through the Dao of others. But the Dao within Lu Ye¡¯s punch¡ªit couldn¡¯t understand it. Couldn¡¯t grasp it! That didn¡¯t stop the tree from trembling with excitement. It felt it. It had found it. He raised his hand. Curled it into a fist. Elbow bent. Heaven and earth joined forces! As Lu Ye punched forward, all the forces of the world seemed to find their purpose in that one strike. They converged on it like mad. If Lu Ye¡¯s own strength were vast enough, he could have drawn tenfold, a hundredfold, even ten thousand times his own power¡ªthrough Dao resonance, through the might of heaven and earth itself. The fist imprint tore through the air. Dushan¡¯s golden body stood solemn and awe-inspiring¡ªbut at that moment, it froze. Wait... seriously, bro? Was this necessary? Look at who I am, what level I¡¯m at, what kind of measly cultivator I am¡ª And you throw this punch at me? This punch shattered my Buddhist heart, shattered my Dao-seeking path. It¡¯s not that serious, really. I¡¯m just a minion. A small fry. You really didn¡¯t need to go this far. The golden body didn¡¯t even make a move to defend. It wasn¡¯t necessary¡ªreally, it wasn¡¯t. Dushan¡¯s final thoughts... were pure complaint. The last complaints of his life. Boom! The fist imprint struck. The golden body exploded. Dushan collapsed backward. His body echoed with a deep crash, and blood flowed from all seven of his orifices. The breath of life vanished in that instant. Silence fell over the world. Lu Ye exhaled lightly. Not bad. He was comprehending the Dao¡ªnot just for fun. As someone who had become a Heavenly Sovereign, his understanding of the Dao had already reached the absolute peak, second only to true saints. Now, he was exploring a question¡ªwhat did it mean to view the Dao in weakness, versus in strength? What was different? It truly was different. And yet... still the same. Look at that. Even in the Nascent Break realm, his Heavenly Sovereign Fist was starting to take form. Not a bad gain. The Buddhist monks looked at Dushan. Then they looked at Lu Ye. No time to mourn. Time to leave. Immediately. Whoever in the Buddhist sect dared provoke this man again¡ª They were inviting calamity upon Buddha himself. Chapter 56: What Have I Done Wrong? Ancient Battlefield. One blessed land after another had found a master. Some Heaven¡¯s Chosen cared nothing for the blessings¡ªonly for the chance to challenge others and cultivate through battle. Some Heaven¡¯s Chosen obtained fateful opportunities and soared like hidden dragons breaking free of the abyss. Fights broke out far too often¡ªeverywhere was war, everywhere was combat. Because she had rescued Yue Hongling, Vermilion Bird could no longer return to the demon clan and hide herself. She cultivated while closely observing the state of the demon clan. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor had attempted to collect the blood essence of Heaven¡¯s Chosen, but was now facing enormous resistance. As the saying went: ¡°The dream is fat and full, but reality is all bones.¡± Before the demon clan entered the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, they had truly treated the myriad clans like consumables. Snatching others¡¯ blood essence was as easy as reaching into a bag. But once inside¡ªit was a different story. Every step was difficult. You seriously still want my blood essence? Well, your demon core looks pretty damn shiny too, doesn¡¯t it? The demon race wasn¡¯t faring any better¡ªbringing in overwhelming killing intent... Only to get beaten down left and right the moment they entered. So much so that their very will to fight was close to collapsing. The human race, on the other hand, was managing just fine¡ªthanks to Yue Hongling¡¯s ferocity, and a mysterious female sword cultivator who appeared now and then like a streak of lightning¡ªboth were terrifyingly powerful. Among the vast sea of cultivators, there were countless who wished to rise to the top¡ªbut how many ever truly did? Yue Hongling was locked in a bitter war with the god clan. Her combat methods were diverse and relentless. As long as she didn¡¯t fall into a trap, she could single-handedly thrash the god clan until they were howling. The god clan had already begun to question whether Shui Ye¡¯s scheme had been wise or foolish. Shui Ye was full of grievance. His scheme¡ªthere was absolutely nothing wrong with it! It was a plan aimed squarely at the human race. But who the hell could¡¯ve predicted Yue Hongling¡¯s explosive growth? Even the second wave of elite god clan experts couldn¡¯t do a damn thing to her! Who was he supposed to complain to? They were totally freaking done. Truly, utterly done. The god clan made a decision¡ªto release Feng Wuxie. Let him fend for himself. Shui Ye stayed silent for a long time. But in the end, he agreed to the suggestion. They couldn¡¯t capture Yue Hongling. All their schemes had become meaningless. And now, because of Yue Hongling, the god clan¡¯s entire development was being severely constrained¡ªthey couldn¡¯t go on like this. ¡°No!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t leave!¡± When Feng Wuxie was informed that he was being released, his expression changed dramatically. ¡°You think you can just stay if you say you want to?¡± ¡°Break his legs and throw him out!¡± ¡°No, I can be bait! I can be bait! Yue Hongling is one of the most terrifying Heaven¡¯s Chosen of the human race¡ªif you don¡¯t kill her now, once she matures, she¡¯ll become a disaster for every race under the heavens!¡± ¡°You must strangle her in the cradle¡ªI can help you!¡± ¡°She hates me to the bone! As long as I live well, she¡¯ll definitely find a way to come and kill me. I am the bait!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Feng Wuxie¡¯s legs were ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) shattered. Expressionless, Shui Ye dragged Feng Wuxie away. He found a desolate mountain and tossed Feng Wuxie down. There were indeed no more traps here. This matter¡ªwas over. The god clan no longer needed to serve as the vanguard against the human race. ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t leave me here!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here¡ªsend me to the demon clan, to the devil clan, to anyone else, I don¡¯t care!¡± No matter how he wailed, Shui Ye didn¡¯t even look back once. Feng Wuxie was finished. His cultivation had plummeted to nearly nothing. Now with both legs broken, just surviving was already a miracle. With no help coming, Feng Wuxie finally erupted in curses. He couldn¡¯t understand¡ªwhat had he done wrong? Why did he deserve this kind of suffering? He came to the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield to grow stronger¡ªhe hadn¡¯t provoked anyone! It was the demon clan who came after him first! That ugly bastard Tianwu! Had he ever done anything wrong? Feng Wuxie completely collapsed. He broke down on the spot, wailing uncontrollably. A shadow fell over his body. A pair of crimson cloud-patterned boots entered his vision. She was here! She was here! Feng Wuxie was filled with infinite dread, but he still didn¡¯t want to die. Even an ant would struggle to survive¡ªhe just didn¡¯t want to die. There was nothing shameful about that. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault! They wanted to kill me¡ªI just didn¡¯t want to die! What did I do wrong?¡± ¡°I was just scared back then, I was really too scared. The demon clan had gone mad. They couldn¡¯t win against the human race, so they tried to fulfill the task the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor gave them, and started collecting blood essence. Even my trace of phoenix blood¡ªthey wanted that too.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to die! I just wanted to live! You tell me¡ªwhat was I supposed to do? What could I have done?¡± ¡°If you were in my place, could you really have done better than me?¡± At first, Feng Wuxie was simply begging, but the more he spoke, the more agitated he became. This couldn¡¯t be blamed on him. He¡¯d just been swept up by fate. He was a weakling. He had never had a single shred of autonomy in this matter. The wind gently stirred Yue Hongling¡¯s hair. She didn¡¯t look at Feng Wuxie. Her once-bright eyes were now filled with desolation. Feng Wuxie wasn¡¯t wrong. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t wrong either. All the fault... lay with her. In truth, it wasn¡¯t as if Lu Ye hadn¡¯t tried, over the long course of their past life, to talk to her about Feng Wuxie. But every time Lu Ye brought up Feng Wuxie, she would erupt into a hysterical frenzy. Later, she simply became indifferent. Lu Ye had thought she¡¯d come to terms with it. But in reality, she had only buried her hatred deeper in her heart. When she had stopped trusting Lu Ye, anything he said about Feng Wuxie had no chance of reaching her. Yue Hongling turned and walked away. She wouldn¡¯t kill him. To kill or not to kill¡ªnone of it meant anything to Yue Hongling anymore. Feng Wuxie was already dead to her heart. Feng Wuxie lifted his head, watching Yue Hongling¡¯s figure walking farther and farther away. He froze. What did that mean? ¡°Hey!¡± He didn¡¯t know where the courage came from, but Feng Wuxie actually opened his mouth and called out to Yue Hongling. Yue Hongling didn¡¯t pause for even a moment. She had already seen through everything. Feng Wuxie had nothing to do with her anymore. In her heart, she suddenly understood Lu Ye¡¯s state of mind. Was there hatred? Yes, there was. But it was a powerless kind of hatred. Hating others, hating oneself¡ªin the end, what did it matter? It was all just tasteless bitterness, a flavorless void. Feng Wuxie had actually wanted to ask¡ªwhat right did he have? What virtue or worth did he possess, that Yue Hongling had once fallen for him? But Yue Hongling¡¯s figure vanished quickly into the distance. And somehow, that question didn¡¯t seem worth asking anymore. ¡°I finally survived!¡± Feng Wuxie collapsed to his knees and let out a long, long, long exhale. He felt something strange in that moment¡ªas if everything he had experienced just now would someday become part of the wealth he drew upon on his path to growth. As long as he didn¡¯t die, then he could¡ª Hm? A pair of pale green embroidered shoes appeared in his field of vision. Green embroidered shoes? It wasn¡¯t Yue Hongling returning. But... he didn¡¯t recognize this woman wearing green shoes either, did he? Feng Wuxie stiffly lifted his head and looked forward. A woman in a flowing green dress, elegant and slender, stunningly beautiful, was standing before him. In her hand was a black-and-red sword, and she was looking down at him. That look in her eyes¡ªit gave him a very bad feeling. ¡°Miss...¡± Pfft! With one slash, nothing was left¡ªnot even bones. Chu Ling sheathed her sword. ¡°Master never said to spare you.¡± Chapter 57: Provoking in secret ¡°This is the current map of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, showing the distribution of blessed lands held by each race.¡± ¡°Humanity remains the strongest. Although it¡¯s clear that the other races are forming alliances, we have too many powerful cultivators to be intimidated. The non-human races are far from united.¡± ¡°According to this distribution map, humans occupy forty-five percent of the blessed lands. The Buddhist Sect holds fifteen percent, the god clan ten percent, demon clan ten percent, devil clan ten percent. The ghost clan holds a uniquely situated area¡ªonly the ghost and spirit clans can make use of it, and they share ten percent between them.¡± Inside the main war tent. Shangguan Wuchang wore a faint smile as ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) he explained the current state of the various factions to the assembled powerhouses. Shangguan Huanling, ever since entering, had distanced herself from the majority of the human cultivators. She had barely shown her face at all. Shangguan Wuchang didn¡¯t pay his younger sister any mind. He had originally planned to use this opportunity to kill Shangguan Huanling. But for some reason, over the past six months, she seemed to have become a completely different person¡ªtreating him with respect and affection. So, for now, Shangguan Wuchang had shelved that plan. The many experts looked over the distribution map, nodding one after another. That humanity had managed to seize forty-five percent of all blessed lands in one go¡ªthis was indeed an outrageous feat. But precisely because they held so many blessed lands, human cultivators were experiencing rapid growth in power, more than worthy of their title as Heaven¡¯s Chosen. ¡°What¡¯s this location here? Why is it blank?¡± a cultivator from the Yi Jie Sect asked, pointing at the map. Shangguan Wuchang had anticipated someone would ask about that spot. ¡°That area is surrounded by Buddhist sect territory. Strictly speaking, it¡¯s still under the influence of the human race, but the individual there is extremely strong.¡± ¡°According to our spies, the place is called the Dao Comprehension Tree¡ªsome heavenly treasure that helps cultivators comprehend the Dao. It¡¯s currently occupied by one person. That person is immensely powerful. There are corpses of Buddhist disciples lying outside the tree, but the Buddhist sect has made no move for revenge. That tells you everything.¡± The moment Shangguan Wuchang said this, the tent erupted in shocked voices. ¡°Is that true?¡± Everyone understood the temperament of Buddhist cultivators. They were their own breed. And because of their unique ideology¡ªthough most Buddhist disciples were of the human race¡ªthey were gradually no longer considered part of humanity proper. ¡°It¡¯s definitely true.¡± ¡°Judging by the robes, the person is a disciple of Grand Dao Sect.¡± Of course Shangguan Wuchang knew about Lu Ye. Before Shangguan Huanling had entered the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, she had specifically told him¡ªdon¡¯t provoke Lu Ye. She¡¯d even said that if she provoked him, she¡¯d get beaten to death. Now it seemed Lu Ye really was that formidable¡ªone man suppressing the entire Buddhist sect into silence. But cultivation wasn¡¯t all about fighting and killing. The Dao Comprehension Tree... he had his eye on it. How could such a treasure possibly be monopolized by just one person? ¡°He¡¯s from our sect?¡± Ding Yuqing of Grand Dao Sect blinked in surprise. ¡°Name is Lu Ye.¡± That name... Not only Ding Yuqing¡ªmany others recognized it too. They¡¯d run into him when they¡¯d first arrived. Back then, he¡¯d seemed like an impatient brat, and everyone figured someone with that temperament wouldn¡¯t last long in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. But now? The guy had run off alone to the Dao Comprehension Tree, slaughtered a bunch of Buddhist cultivators, and was still alive and well¡ªsingle-handedly occupying the tree. ¡°That really is a disciple of our Grand Dao Sect. Not bad. Truly not bad,¡± Ding Yuqing said with a smile forming on her face. ¡°Since the Dao Comprehension Tree is held by a human, can we count it among the human faction¡¯s blessed lands?¡± Shangguan Wuchang asked. Ding Yuqing¡¯s brows rose slightly. She wasn¡¯t an idiot. In just a moment, she understood what Shangguan Wuchang was implying. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. He¡¯s cultivating alone beneath the Dao Comprehension Tree, and he¡¯s never made use of the lands we¡¯ve claimed. There¡¯s no need for us to pressure him into handing over the tree,¡± Ding Yuqing replied. Shangguan Wuchang¡¯s expression remained gentle. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m asking him to give it up. The Dao Comprehension Tree isn¡¯t something only one person can use¡ªit can support multiple cultivators in comprehending the Dao. That way, he can continue his cultivation, and he can also make use of the other blessed lands humanity holds. Wouldn¡¯t that be a win-win?¡± At this moment, Ding Yuqing was unflinchingly assertive. ¡°There¡¯s no need for all these roundabout words. If you want to comprehend the Dao, you can go there yourself. You make it sound so pleasant, but if Lu Ye refuses to share the Dao Comprehension Tree, doesn¡¯t that turn the blame back on him?¡± ¡°So I say¡ªif there¡¯s something you want to do, go do it yourself. No need to drag others into it. It¡¯s not like everyone here¡¯s brain-dead. Who can¡¯t see through what you¡¯re really trying to say?¡± ¡°I also think the Dao Comprehension Tree should be shared,¡± someone else chimed in. ¡°I want to comprehend the Dao, but I don¡¯t want to create conflict with Grand Dao Sect. If he insists on keeping it to himself, should I fight him or not?¡± This time, it was a cultivator from the Yin-Yang Law Sect who spoke. ¡°There¡¯s some truth to that. The Dao Comprehension Tree is indeed a rare treasure, a tremendous opportunity. It makes sense that it should be shared by the human race to fully realize its value.¡± Another cultivator from the Yin-Yang Law Sect added his voice. ¡°I disagree. This is something that can be negotiated, but no one should be forced,¡± said a representative of the Mountain-River Pagoda Sect. Although the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty had long been at odds with the Supreme Empire, they too coveted the mystical powers of the Dao Comprehension Tree and expressed agreement with Shangguan Wuchang¡¯s stance. Some agreed. Others did not. ¡°We should at least go and ask. I also don¡¯t think the Dao Comprehension Tree should be hoarded by one person.¡± Just then, a young man who had remained silent up until now suddenly spoke. The moment he opened his mouth, everyone turned to look at him. Because of his strength¡ªand his identity. Gu Qingtian of the Eternal Sect. Even in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, the Eternal Sect had little interest in participation. Few of them had come. This was because the Eternal Sect had its own unique cultivation methods. The resources they received from above were more than sufficient for their needs. Still, they had sent people this time. The first batch¡ªthose under twenty¡ªhadn¡¯t come. The second batch¡ªunder sixty¡ªhad sent two. One man and one woman. The man was Gu Qingtian. The woman, Lu Qingyan. ¡°What if he refuses?¡± Ding Yuqing asked. Gu Qingtian gave a faint smile. ¡°Simple. I¡¯ll just beat him until he agrees.¡± Ding Yuqing instantly erupted in fury. ¡°You would use your seniority to bully the young?¡± Lu Qingyan also smiled faintly. ¡°This fellow cultivator occupies the Dao Comprehension Tree alone and has suppressed the entire Buddhist Sect into silence. If we were truly to clash with him, would it really count as bullying the young?¡± ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t like the sound of that¡ªthen allow me to rephrase.¡± Lu Qingyan¡¯s expression gradually turned cold. ¡°We are bullying the young. So what? What will your Grand Dao Sect do about it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be too busy getting your ass handed to you to care!¡± A sharp cry rang out from outside the tent. A crimson figure came hurtling in like a storm, slamming a technique seal toward Lu Qingyan. Lu Qingyan gave a cold snort. Light bloomed in front of her¡ªone leaf split into two, then four, then eight... Countless faint silver-white leaves formed a shimmering shield. Boom! The technique seal struck the shield with tremendous force. Lu Qingyan¡¯s expression changed slightly. Her body retreated rapidly, exiting the tent. ¡°What incredible strength!¡± Chapter 58: No Choice A fight broke out! The shield in front of Lu Qingyan hadn¡¯t shattered, but with a single palm strike, she activated it. Countless silver-white leaves transformed into a storm that swept toward Yue Hongling. Yue Hongling wasn¡¯t afraid in the slightest. She raised a hand and unleashed a Mountain-Crashing Seal, blasting the silver leaves into fragments. The leaves recoiled instantly, attacking Yue Hongling from all directions. Yue Hongling drew her hands apart and then brought them together. Her true essence surged forth, and an invisible force froze the leaves in place, suspending them in the air around her. Lu Qingyan¡¯s hands rapidly formed seals. The silver leaves began to glow more brightly and started trembling. ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t fight!¡± The cultivators in the war tent rushed out in alarm. Gu Qingtian furrowed his brow slightly and spoke up. ¡°Junior Sister.¡± ¡°Just a measly fourth-stage Core Infant cultivator, yet able to unleash this kind of power¡ªyou of Grand Dao Sect are truly impressive,¡± Lu Qingyan said, gesturing as all the silver-white leaves flew back into her sleeves and vanished. Yue Hongling glared coldly at her and spat out a threat. ¡°No one is allowed to disturb my shixiong¡¯s cultivation. If you want to interfere¡ªthen step over my corpse!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t even planning on going at first, but after hearing that, I have to go take a look now.¡± The two women were locked in direct confrontation. Yue Hongling¡¯s temper flared. ¡°No one try to stop us! Come on then, one-on-one!¡± ¡°One-on-one it is!¡± ¡°Hongling!¡± Ding Yuqing quickly stepped in to stop Yue Hongling. The attitude of the Eternal Sect was indeed infuriating, and Yue Hongling was strong¡ªbut she was still young. And when the young faced off against someone older and more seasoned, they were bound to be at a disadvantage. No matter how talented they were. ¡°In any case, you¡¯re not going!¡± Yue Hongling said stubbornly. ¡°Whether I go or not is my decision¡ªnot yours,¡± Lu Qingyan replied with a cheerful smile. ¡°With how you are, going after my shixiong... you¡¯re already walking the path of death!¡± ¡°Oh dear, how scary! Hearing that just makes me even more curious.¡± ¡°We just want to talk to him, that¡¯s all, Fairy Yue. No need to get so worked up. If this Lu... Lu Ye refuses, we¡¯re all of the human race¡ªwe can speak reasonably, can¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly. The Dao Comprehension Tree works about the same whether it¡¯s one person cultivating or a group. We¡¯re not infringing on his rights at all!¡± ¡°Infringing? On the contrary¡ªwe¡¯re helping him! He hasn¡¯t made a single move while we¡¯ve been fighting tooth and nail against the demons and monsters. Now we¡¯re offering to let him share in the hard-earned fruits of our battles. He¡¯s practically benefiting # N§àv§Ölight # for free!¡± ¡°Indeed, well said!¡± Shangguan Wuchang wore a smile on his face. Now this was starting to get interesting. Seeing the situation unfold, Yue Hongling looked at each of the shouting cultivators and slowly shook her head. Some people really were just begging to die¡ªshe couldn¡¯t stop them. By now, Shangguan Wuchang had comfortably tucked himself behind the crowd. Gu Qingtian stepped forward and began walking in the direction of the Dao Comprehension Tree. The other Heaven¡¯s Chosen of the human race followed closely behind. Ding Yuqing bit her lip and went as well. Right now, all of Grand Dao Sect¡¯s disciples were seething with fury. The disciples of the Supreme Sword Sect and Yi Jie Sect were also visibly displeased. Those three sects usually had close relations. The Mountain-River Pagoda Sect remained in a more rational and neutral position. With so many human powerhouses mobilizing, the other races quickly grew alert. Seeing that the human cultivators were headed straight for the Buddhist Sect¡¯s territory, they were momentarily confused. The Buddhist Sect immediately braced for war. What was going on? They hadn¡¯t clashed with the humans in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield yet. Why were so many sects suddenly charging at them? The monks were seriously spooked! But midway through the march, the human group suddenly shifted direction. It seemed they weren¡¯t heading toward the Buddhist Sect¡¯s territory after all. The Dao Comprehension Tree? That was the direction of the Dao Comprehension Tree. What were they planning? Lu Ye had remained immersed in comprehending the Great Dao. During his meditation, he could sense that the Dao Comprehension Tree¡ªwhether intentionally or unintentionally¡ªconstantly sent gentle, intimate thoughts toward him. He didn¡¯t bother to dwell on it. The Dao Comprehension Tree was still far too young. For now, it could aid him in the early stages, but at his cultivation speed, in less than five years, its assistance would become negligible. By the time the Dao Comprehension Tree reached maturity, he would have ascended to who-knows-what realm. Wind stirred. Lu Ye opened his eyes calmly. Judging from the sheer number of whooshing wind sounds, things here were about to get lively. Lively was good¡ªhis system liked lively. A group arrived and immediately spotted the monks sprawled out across the ground. The single-strike fatal wounds made many among them visibly flinch in surprise. ¡°You are Lu Ye?¡± Gu Qingtian asked. ¡°I am.¡± Lu Ye scanned the group and saw that no one he particularly disliked was among them. His mood improved slightly. ¡°We¡¯ve come to discuss something with you,¡± Gu Qingtian said. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Yue Hongling was standing far away from the area. With so many people present, she didn¡¯t dare to appear before Lu Ye at all, terrified that she would break down crying. Now, seeing how calmly Lu Ye treated complete strangers¡ªcompared to how he treated her¡ªYue Hongling¡¯s eyes immediately turned red. Such obvious disparity! She wanted to cry! ¡°I¡¯ve heard that cultivating under the Dao Comprehension Tree allows one to draw closer to the Great Dao, so we were hoping to train here for a while as well. Would you be willing?¡± Gu Qingtian asked. In truth, he could¡¯ve added one more sentence. If he had said, ¡°In exchange, you would also be welcome to cultivate in the other blessed lands we humans have claimed¡±¡ªit might have made things sound more agreeable. But Gu Qingtian deliberately didn¡¯t say that. So that was their purpose. Lu Ye understood instantly. He actually knew a bit about Gu Qingtian. He was an arrogant figure. In their previous life, the two had once sparred¡ªLu Ye had won, but only narrowly. After that, they hadn¡¯t had much interaction. ¡°Anything else?¡± Lu Ye asked. ¡°What else?¡± Gu Qingtian raised an eyebrow. Lu Ye smiled faintly. Things were starting to get interesting. ¡°I don¡¯t actually mind agreeing to that,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°But what I¡¯m really curious about is¡ªif I refuse, what exactly would you do?¡± Gu Qingtian smiled too. ¡°Apologies. But where I come from, refusal isn¡¯t an option.¡± Just like that, in the exchange of a few words, the air instantly turned explosive. Lu Ye looked past Gu Qingtian at the rest of the group. ¡°Who else here shares his view?¡± Silence. Gu Qingtian did seem a bit too overbearing. Why didn¡¯t he just say the rest of what he meant? ¡°If you¡¯re willing to let us cultivate under the Dao Comprehension Tree, then you can freely use the blessed lands humanity controls. Would that be a fair exchange?¡± a prince of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty asked. ¡°My question is this,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°This notion that I have no right to refuse¡ªwho here agrees with it?¡± Shangguan Wuchang glanced around. What the hell? Why was everyone so timid all of a sudden? He had been planning to quietly ride this one out, but now that nobody was speaking up... ¡°I agree!¡± ¡°I believe that as a member of the human race, you should contribute. The Dao Comprehension Tree should be shared by all human Heaven¡¯s Chosen!¡± Shangguan Wuchang declared. Once someone took the lead, others followed. ¡°That¡¯s right, I agree as well. You shouldn¡¯t refuse this!¡± ¡°I agree. If the human race were weak, then even your strength wouldn¡¯t be enough to claim the Dao Comprehension Tree for yourself. Therefore, it rightfully belongs¡ªat least in part¡ªto the human race!¡± Chapter 59: Overwhelming Moral coercion? Taking advantage of the chaos? A flock of sparrows stirred while the dove tried to nest? Lu Ye looked at these people and confirmed who his enemies were. He had no intention of turning against the human race. Fortunately, these dumb bastards didn¡¯t represent the whole of humanity. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡± Lu Ye stood up, taking a single step forward. His figure seemed to ignore all spatial distance¡ªwithin a blink, he appeared before Gu Qingtian. The stone sword in his hand erupted with a dazzling flash of sword light. A sharp, tearing screech rang out through the void. Gu Qingtian¡¯s face changed. A phantom green lotus bloomed above his head, releasing endless rays of what looked like chaotic energy that cascaded down to form a powerful defense. The sword light slammed into the lotus aura. Boom! Gu Qingtian was blasted backward, crashing through a small mountain, a trail of blood mist lingering behind him the entire way. Lu Ye¡¯s figure didn¡¯t pause for even a breath. He vanished in an instant once more. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sword light screamed through the air, shrill and ferocious¡ªa terrifying display of speed and power. Fast. Too fast. Some couldn¡¯t even defend themselves before being cut down, dying on the spot. One man, one sword¡ªthis was punishment for their offense. ¡°Lu Ye!¡± Ding Yuqing¡¯s face changed drastically. She cried out. He couldn¡¯t kill them all. Over something like this¡ªif Lu Ye slaughtered everyone here, once they returned to the Great Wilderness, there¡¯d be nowhere left for him to stand. Lu Ye didn¡¯t listen. His sword strikes only grew more intense, more terrifying. Typical sword qi¡ªor most sword qi¡ªwas known for its sharpness. But Lu Ye¡¯s sword qi was never just sharp. It was forceful and sharp. Each arc of sword qi felt like a heavenly seal, crashing down with the power to shatter the skies. Boom! Boom! Boom! Clouds of blood mist burst one after another. Shangguan Wuchang¡¯s expression shifted drastically. Before entering the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, he¡¯d once said ¡°Then I¡¯ll die¡±¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean he actually wanted to die. ¡°Protect me!¡± He roared. The powerhouses of the Supreme Empire rushed in front of Shangguan Wuchang, their artifacts glowing with radiant energy. Lu Ye, having already flung aside those who had spoken earlier, now stood before the cultivators of the Supreme Empire. ¡°Lu Ye! I bear the Supreme Imperial Seal¡ªif you kill me, the Supreme Empire will never stop hunting you down!¡± Shangguan Wuchang shouted. At those words, the cultivators of the Supreme Empire almost cursed him aloud. Why say that? You might as well just beg for your life. Lu Ye gave a faint smile. The stone sword pointed straight at the gathered Supreme Empire cultivators. His foot slammed into the earth. Boom! The ground trembled violently. Countless sword lights swirled around Lu Ye, forming into a piercing cone of force. ¡°Die.¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! Massive clouds of blood erupted as Lu Ye tore through the ranks of Supreme Empire cultivators¡ªimpaling Shangguan Wuchang along with them. Even in his final moments, Shangguan Wuchang¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief. Madman. This guy was a fucking madman! How dared he? Didn¡¯t he realize that the more he killed, the more freely he slaughtered here, the more certain it became that the moment he left the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield¡ªhe¡¯d face complete annihilation? With that final thought, Shangguan Wuchang¡¯s consciousness was utterly extinguished. A beam of light flew rapidly toward Lu Ye. Lu Ye reached out. The imprint of the Supreme Imperial Seal landed in his palm. With a casual twist of his hand, Dao clashed with Dao¡ªgrinding, shattering, dispersing into nothingness. And it wasn¡¯t over. Lu Ye¡¯s gaze turned toward the wounded figures all around him. Protecting the human race? In his past life, he had protected the human race. In this life, he could do the same. Love and sentiment should exist beneath heaven and earth¡ªnot vanish just because he himself had lost them. But this ¡°human race¡± did not include those who chose to stand in his way on his path. Lu Ye moved again. Then kill them all cleanly. Ding Yuqing could no longer stay composed¡ªshe stepped directly in front of Lu Ye. ¡°Lu Ye, you can¡¯t keep killing,¡± she said urgently. ¡°You still have to leave here. They¡¯ve already been taught a lesson¡ªif you keep killing, even Grand Dao Sect won¡¯t be able to protect you anymore.¡± They had instigated this first. Lu Ye¡¯s retaliation had been heavy-handed, yes, but still defensible. But now? They were already severely wounded. If he kept going, even Grand Dao Sect wouldn¡¯t know how to justify it anymore. ¡°Senior Brother Lu, please... that¡¯s enough.¡± Linghu Wushuang ran over too, trying to talk him down. ¡°She¡¯s right, Lu-shixiong. Calm down!¡± Xiao Huarong followed, joining in the effort. Lu Ye... He had originally intended to kill them all, but looking at the worry in the eyes of his Grand Dao Sect peers, he smiled lightly. There were still people who cared about him? Sigh... ¡°Just one more. The last one.¡± Ding Yuqing clenched her fist. Lu Ye¡¯s strength was terrifying¡ªso overwhelming it chilled her to the bone. There was only one phrase to describe this battle. Utter devastation. She knew that if Lu Ye truly wanted to act, there was no way she could stop him. The only reason he was holding back now¡ªwas as a favor to her. One more... ¡°You¡¯re not planning to kill...¡± Lu Ye nodded, giving her a gentle smile as he stepped past her. His target: Gu Qingtian. Gu Qingtian crawled out of the rubble, his face a mix of shock and rage. ¡°Fine, fine! You¡¯re truly powerful, I¡ª¡± His aura suddenly surged, breaking through the Core Infant realm and stepping into the Void Refinement stage in an instant. But that was all the time he had to speak. Lu Ye¡¯s sword descended vertically with one slash. This beam of sword light was hundreds of feet long, laced with wind and mist, crackling with lightning and thunder. Gu Qingtian roared in fury. ¡°Eternal Green Lotus, Heaven-Dominating Sky!¡± The illusion of a massive green lotus swelled, shielding the entire sky above him. The sword light crashed into the lotus. It shuddered violently. Veins bulged faintly beneath Lu Ye¡¯s arms as his force pressed downward. ¡°Break!¡± Boom! The green lotus exploded into powder. The colossal sword light crushed everything¡ªGu Qingtian included¡ªand carved a deep trench into the earth. The world fell silent. Lu Ye sheathed his stone sword and looked around at everyone present. ¡°This was done by me, Lu Ye alone. If anyone seeks revenge, come find me. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± ¡°And...¡± ¡°Never mind. Just get lost.¡± Lu Ye¡¯s figure disappeared, reappearing beneath the Dao Comprehension Tree. He closed his eyes once more. His face remained as calm as still water. The battle just now¡ªfierce as wildfire¡ªnow seemed like a mere illusion. All the cultivators present stood frozen, as if someone had nailed them in place. No one spoke for a long time. Ding Yuqing¡¯s scalp tingled. She looked around and said, ¡°Um... let¡¯s leave. Disturbing someone¡¯s cultivation is rude. Whatever we need to talk about, we can do it somewhere else.¡± Arguing or protesting here was out of the question. If Lu Ye got mad again and came out swinging, Ding Yuqing feared she wouldn¡¯t even have anyone left to ~N§àv§Ölight~ argue with. Li Wubai¡¯s eyes were filled with pure excitement¡ªhis whole body trembled. Strong. That sword intent just now... too strong! He couldn¡¯t suppress the fear in his heart¡ªbut the more he feared, the more exhilarated he became. One by one, people left, dragging corpses or helping the severely wounded. Lu Qingyan had wanted to take Gu Qingtian¡¯s body with her¡ªbut Gu Qingtian was already nothing but paste. She... Was suddenly very glad she hadn¡¯t said a word earlier. Chapter 60: It’s Not That I’m Weak ¡°What happened?!¡± Outside the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield¡ª Particularly among the powerhouses of the Supreme Empire, furious roars erupted. Just a moment ago, a whole swathe of their elites had died. Even their imperial prince, Shangguan Wuchang, had fallen. ¡°Who?! Who killed my Supreme Empire¡¯s people?!¡± His eyes were blood-red with rage, his killing intent boiling to the heavens. ¡°My Yin-Yang Law Sect disciples are dead too? Damn it! Could there have been another war?!¡± ¡°No, not a war. How could a war result in deaths this quickly? This was a slaughter!¡± ¡°Who the hell was it?!¡± ¡°No matter who it was¡ªmy Supreme Empire will never forgive him!¡± As the Supreme Empire¡¯s fury echoed, many listening around them couldn¡¯t help but frown. It had all happened too fast. What in the world had gone down inside the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield? So many Heaven¡¯s Chosen fallen in such a short time¡ªit was chilling. Bai Qiulan narrowed her eyes slightly. Something wasn¡¯t adding up. No one from the Supreme ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) Sword Sect, Yi Jie Sect, or Grand Dao Sect had died. Those three sects had always been closely aligned. Yet now, the Yin-Yang Law Sect had lost several. Mountain-River Pagoda Sect had two dead. And the Supreme Empire had lost a pile of cultivators. Why did this feel... like Lu Ye¡¯s doing? Within the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, probably only Lu Ye could unleash power this devastating. Hopefully, it wasn¡¯t Lu Ye. If he had clashed with those factions, there was a real chance those forces could be destroyed outright. Inside the battlefield¡ª Just earlier, a massive crowd had surged forward, full of energy and righteousness. Now that same crowd was slinking away, heads lowered in defeat. The power Lu Ye had displayed was an enormous blow to their morale. They were all Heaven¡¯s Chosen. On the path of cultivation, some walk ahead, some behind¡ªthat was to be expected. But now it felt like they¡¯d all started at the same line... and before they were even halfway through the race, Lu Ye had already crossed the finish line and taken the trophy. Lu Ye¡¯s very existence was like a towering mountain planted in their path. They could keep walking forward¡ªbut if they wanted to be true apex cultivators, Lu Ye was an obstacle they would have no choice but to face. Ding Yuqing was racking her brain for how she¡¯d explain any of this. ¡°My shixiong killed your shixiong?¡± Yue Hongling¡¯s voice suddenly rang out again. She appeared, fixing her eyes on Lu Qingyan. Lu Qingyan... ¡°Then I suppose it¡¯s my turn to kill you next.¡± Yue Hongling was practically itching for a fight. Lu Qingyan was undeniably strong¡ªperfect as her opponent. Lu Ye¡¯s meteoric growth had filled Yue Hongling with a powerful sense of urgency. ¡°Hongling...¡± Ding Yuqing¡¯s voice was already tired. Were these two siblings planning to tear open the sky? A Heaven¡¯s Chosen from the Yin-Yang Law Sect spoke up. ¡°My sect lost five senior and junior brothers. They didn¡¯t fall to monsters or demons¡ªbut died at the hands of our own people. This matter will not be brushed aside!¡± ¡°My Mountain-River Pagoda Sect will also demand an explanation from Grand Dao Sect!¡± Though not now. To demand accountability now would risk Lu Ye stepping out again. They¡¯d wait¡ªuntil the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield ended, or at least until the third layer opened. ¡°Did the humans just leave?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go see what¡¯s going on!¡± The other factions began stirring. Earlier, there had been so many humans that the other races had feared some kind of conspiracy and didn¡¯t dare approach. Now that the human forces had mostly withdrawn, they finally dared to show their faces. Though even now, they didn¡¯t dare get too close. From a distance, they peered over cautiously. Lu Ye still sat in his usual posture¡ªcalmly cross-legged beneath the Dao Comprehension Tree. The tree gently swayed above him, wisps of radiant light shimmering in the air. If one looked closely, they could still see traces of the recent battle¡ªscars upon the earth, bloodstains yet to fade. A fight had definitely happened. And the outcome was clear: Lu Ye had won. Among the demon clan, ghost clan, and god clan, confusion spread¡ªwhat the hell had happened? The humans had charged in with such overwhelming force, yet now they were slinking away with their heads down? The devil clan and the Buddhist Sect, on the other hand, let out long sighs of relief, feeling a strange comfort in their hearts. So it wasn¡¯t that they were too weak¡ªit was just that Lu Ye was too strong. ¡°That¡¯s him. The one who killed Tu Wuying with a single sword strike,¡± the Demon Emperor¡¯s son, Ye An, murmured darkly. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± The demon powerhouses gasped in shock. No wonder. No wonder the Dao Comprehension Tree was located right here. No wonder Ye An had warned them again and again¡ªnot to provoke the human beneath that tree. So it was trauma, then. ¡°Heaven¡¯s Chosen like that appearing among the human race... what should we even do now?¡± Everyone understood the terror of a true Heaven¡¯s Chosen prodigy. The rise of such a being would inevitably bring blood and fire. And since this Heaven¡¯s Chosen belonged to the human race, that blood and fire would, quite obviously, fall upon the other races. ¡°There¡¯s only one option now.¡± A ruthless glint flashed in Ye An¡¯s eyes. ¡°What option?¡± ¡°When the third layer of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield opens, and the true powerhouses of all races descend... we strike together and slay that bastard!¡± ¡°Won¡¯t the human experts defend him?¡± Ye An snorted coldly. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? He prefers to act alone. All we have to do is strike fast¡ªthe humans won¡¯t even have time to react.¡± ¡°You¡¯re brilliant, Young Lord!¡± Ye An took a long look at Lu Ye. If this man didn¡¯t die, then from this day forward, the foreign races might as well forget about sleeping soundly. He would begin contacting all the relevant parties immediately. They would wait¡ªuntil the final layer of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield opened. ... At that moment, Lu Ye was facing a bit of a dilemma. What realm was he even in now? Twelfth stage of Core Infant? Within his dantian, the miniature version of himself had already grown into a small giant. If he wanted to break through into Void Refinement, he could do it at any time. But he was worried about an unknown toxin that might manifest after the breakthrough. Once he advanced, a force that had yet to be eroded by time would erupt. His current plan was simple: wait until the third layer of the battlefield opened, retrieve the Immaculate Blood Sea Pearl, then deliver a good, solid punch to the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. That punch¡ªthe Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking was bound to love it. When the time came, a huge wave of power would surge into him, and Lu Ye could use that opportunity to break into the Void Refinement stage. Unfortunately, the final item needed to condense his third life did not exist within the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. That item was the Withered Man Wood. Once he gathered the Withered Man Wood, the Immaculate Blood Sea Pearl, and the Golden Sun Radiant Core, the third life would be complete. This life... he didn¡¯t intend to use it until the very end. Just like when he first reincarnated and tricked Bai Qiulan¡ªif it really came down to the final step of Dao Ascension, and all nine lives returned as one... perhaps he could become the strongest Sage the world had ever known. So many thoughts ran through his mind. He¡¯d already grasped most of what there was to comprehend. His own Dao was already quite mature and whole. Coming here to ¡°comprehend¡± had really just been an excuse to look at the path from another angle. And now, he¡¯d seen enough. Lu Ye stood up, about to vanish again. But a tree branch lightly rested on his shoulder. The Dao Comprehension Tree swayed gently. It was... making a request. It wanted Lu Ye to take it with him. Chapter 61: Shangguan Huanling "You''re going to follow me?" Lu Ye opened his mouth and asked. The Dao Comprehension Tree emitted a faint consciousness, expressing affirmation. "Pretty smart, I¡¯ll give you that. Fine, I¡¯ll take you with me." Lu Ye extended his hand. The Dao Comprehension Tree began to emit a hazy glow. The entire tree started to shrink, eventually becoming palm-sized, and landed in Lu Ye¡¯s hand. With one hand, Lu Ye formed a seal. A rune condensed and flew toward the Dao Comprehension Tree, merging into it. A faint connection formed between the man and the tree. The Dao Comprehension Tree merged into Lu Ye¡¯s skin. Cultivation was Lu Ye¡¯s primary path forward. Now that he had reached a stage where he couldn¡¯t progress further, it was time to continue searching for resources. The treasures in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield were generally not of high grade. However, some were extremely valuable even in their sapling stage. Once matured in the future, they would be worth a fortune. Lu Ye knew exactly what held the most value¡ªand where to find it. For example, on the fifth-level battlefield, there was a Fusang sapling. A single Fusang Fruit could drive countless powerful cultivators into a frenzy. If one pursued the Dao of Fusang, they could be counted among the strongest in the fire element. Wherever Lu Ye passed, those who recognized him quickly gave way. Those who didn¡¯t know him were casually slain by him. Tyrannical and overbearing¡ªthese four words now described Lu Ye perfectly. But soon, Lu Ye slightly furrowed his brow. He had noticed that many of the supreme treasures had already been taken in advance. If it had been just one or two, that would¡¯ve been normal. Everyone had their own fate and encounters. But for the majority of things that had caught Lu Ye¡¯s eye to already be gone? That was not normal. Who could it be? Until Lu Ye arrived [N O V E L I G H T] at Mount Wanzhong. This mountain resembled a giant bell. When the wind blew through it, the sound of Dao reverberated. In truth, this was a spiritual treasure. Because its master had perished, over time it had merged with the mountain itself. In this world, treasures were clearly categorized: magical tools, magic treasures, acquired spirit treasures, innate spirit treasures, acquired supreme treasures, innate supreme treasures... In the First Heaven, the sect-guarding treasures of most major sects were acquired spirit treasures. Innate spirit treasures were already incredibly rare and powerful. When Lu Ye arrived at Mount Wanzhong, the entire mountain was trembling. Large swathes of rock fell away, revealing the bronze-colored metallic luster beneath. A figure clad in black robes was forming hand seals, extracting the Dao Bell. Lu Ye looked at the figure in black robes. Didn¡¯t recognize them? Impossible! His palm gently swept across his eyes, and his pupils turned golden. Looking again¡ª Shangguan Huanling! Shangguan Huanling sensed a fluctuation of aura and turned her head. The moment she saw Lu Ye, her expression changed drastically. Lu Ye had already sent a slash of sword energy flying toward her. Stealing my treasure? Then you¡¯ve already chosen the path of death! The sword qi sliced through the air with a terrifying howl. Shangguan Huanling didn¡¯t dare to be careless in the slightest. No one knew better than the eight of them just how terrifying Lu Ye truly was. In an instant, Shangguan Huanling turned into a mist of blood. "Boom!" A crimson flash vanished with a speed comparable to teleportation. Lu Ye: ??? Well, well, well. Demonic Blood Transformation Escape. Didn¡¯t even dare take one hit from my sword... That decisiveness in using the Demonic Blood Transformation Escape left Lu Ye speechless. Who starts a fight and immediately uses such a self-harming technique that heavily damages one¡¯s essence, energy, and spirit? Now he understood why so many of the treasures he¡¯d been seeking had vanished¡ªthey had mostly been taken in advance by Shangguan Huanling. He didn¡¯t give chase¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t be able to catch her anyway unless he used the Demonic Blood Transformation Escape himself. Even if he used it, it¡¯d be hard to control the direction. But this Dao Bell, at least, should be his now. As the earth shook and mountains trembled, Lu Ye stowed the Dao Bell and continued his search. Inside a mountain cave. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s face was deathly pale, her aura severely depleted. She quickly pasted one concealment talisman after another at the entrance of the cave, then suppressed her own aura to the absolute limit before finally exhaling in relief. That bastard wasn¡¯t supposed to still be cultivating under the Dao Comprehension Tree¡ªwhy did he come out? This won¡¯t do. She couldn¡¯t keep collecting treasures like this anymore. If she ran into Lu Ye again, she might not make it out alive next time. Still, the harvest of treasures she¡¯d gathered was already quite substantial. Time to cultivate! Numerous treasures appeared, surrounding Shangguan Huanling. Threads of spiritual light began to flow out from those treasures, flooding into her body. This cultivation method was called the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. It could devour the origins of all things. The treasures she had obtained all had extraordinary potential. The higher the potential, the richer the origin energy, and the faster her cultivation advanced. In no time, Shangguan Huanling had already reached Nascent Break Sixth Layer. Nascent Break Seventh Layer! Nascent Break Eighth Layer! Nascent Break Ninth Layer! Then, Shangguan Huanling¡¯s hands shifted in seal technique, and her cultivation realm began to rapidly drop. Nascent Break Eighth Layer! Nascent Break Seventh Layer! Nascent Break Sixth Layer! Through the repeated rising and falling of her cultivation, her aura became increasingly solid and stable. When her cultivation session ended, her realm had firmly settled at Nascent Break Eighth Layer¡ªher advancement speed could only be described as astonishing. ¡°Hmph. Didn¡¯t I say it? Even without you, I can still become an emperor. I might even surpass my previous life!¡± Shangguan Huanling felt the powerful fluctuations of true essence within her body and couldn¡¯t help the slight upward curve of her lips. Maybe some of the others were already regretting betraying Lu Ye, but she definitely didn¡¯t. Even in her past life, she had always felt that Lu Ye¡¯s so-called help was nothing but a shackle. She clearly had the ability to reach immense strength on her own, yet Lu Ye stubbornly kept her bound at his side, never allowing her to break free. She had truly loved Lu Ye. But eventually, Lu Ye¡¯s love became suffocating. All treasures would be delivered right to her, without any effort. She no longer had to go through any hardship. But that kind of life was absolutely not what she wanted. This freedom now¡ªto roam and gallop across the world as she pleased¡ªwas the life she had always longed for. At last, she was free! Since her return in this life, these treasures turned out to be far easier to find than she had imagined. So, what credit did Lu Ye deserve? Why should he use that credit to keep her chained by his side? ... Lu Ye didn¡¯t run into Shangguan Huanling again. Between the fourth and sixth layers, many of the truly valuable treasures had indeed already been taken by her. Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture, huh? It really was a formidable true scripture. Once cultivated, one became like a Kunpeng, able to devour the essence of all things. Still, there were quite a few treasures Lu Ye managed to collect into his own stash. ¡°These bastards are being a little too well-behaved.¡± While gathering treasures, Lu Ye had encountered the God Clan, Demon Clan, and other foreign races more than once. Their behavior made Lu Ye feel a subtle sense of unease. It was too coordinated. Were they joining forces again? Lu Ye shook his head. Forget it¡ªit had nothing to do with him. Judging by the time, the final three layers of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield were about to open. It would be in just a day or two. In his previous life, on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, he had fought his way to thirty-third place. It wasn¡¯t because he was too weak¡ªbut because the names on that ranking were utterly outrageous. The top ten names were entirely cloaked in chaos, unreadable and unclear. Ranked eleventh was a man named Ye Wudi. Not many knew this name, but he had another title¡ªInvincible Sword Sovereign. Master of the Invincible Sword, a monster at the Heavenly Sovereign level. Ranked eleventh. Chapter 62: Nine Layers Fully Open "This time, no traitors, right?" At a high-level meeting, the God Clan leader, named Guang Wuyu, opened with a line dripping in sarcasm. It was obvious who he was referring to. The Tiger Clan¡¯s Husheng glared with wide eyes. "What do you mean by that?" Guang Wuyu smiled faintly. "What could I possibly mean? I¡¯m just worried that everything will be going according to plan, and then right at the critical moment, someone suddenly switches sides and helps the enemy escape. Wouldn¡¯t that be utterly disgraceful?" Husheng, upon hearing that, smashed the stone in front of him into powder with a single claw. "Who the fuck are you talking about?" "When you throw a rock and a dog barks, the one barking the loudest is probably the one who got hit." A monk in a kasaya didn¡¯t waste words. He stood up and prepared to leave. Ye An quickly stepped forward to stop him. "Du¡¯e, where are you going?" Du¡¯e¡¯s expression was calm. "The races gathered here harbor different intentions. This plan is bound to fail. So what would a poor monk stay for? Better to return and recite a few more scriptures¡ªmore useful that way." Du¡¯e spoke bluntly. "Different intentions? There¡¯s no such thing. Everyone¡¯s gathered here for one purpose¡ªto eliminate Lu Ye. Kill that bastard before the human race even has a chance to react." "Guang Wuyu, Husheng, can you two behave yourselves? Or do you think that just because Lu Ye hasn¡¯t yet clashed with you, he never will in the future?" "Once he¡¯s grown, and you run into him again, that¡¯s when you¡¯ll understand what it means to regret." "Are we joining forces or not? Say something, the both of you. If we¡¯re going to join forces, then no one should utter another word of nonsense. If not, then let¡¯s disband right now!" Ye An¡¯s voice was stern. The atmosphere in the cave was oppressive. The firelight flickered. Guang Wuyu and Husheng both fell silent. "Join forces." Guang Wuyu finally spoke. "Hmph!" Husheng let out a cold snort. Ye An roared, "What are you snorting for? Are you in or not?" Husheng¡¯s face was grim, his tiger claws clenching and relaxing. In the end, he nodded. "Join forces!" "Good. Then everyone, listen to me carefully." "The final three levels of the Ancient Battlefield of Heaven¡¯s Chosen are opening. When the elite of all races arrive, don¡¯t do anything else¡ªthe first priority is to gather every strong cultivator we can and surround and kill Lu Ye!" "This is the most important matter. Nothing is more important than this!" "Remember¡ªkill him with everything we¡¯ve got!" "Approach it as if it were the last battle before your race¡¯s extinction!" "All of you must use every means necessary to persuade your strongest warriors. Don¡¯t let a single link in the chain break!" ... Time passed, minute by minute. Suddenly, Lu Ye looked up. "Boom!" A thunderous roar erupted from the skies. Clouds swirled, winds surged, and the heavens stretched out even more vastly than before. Light twisted and shadows flickered. The world was split into layer after layer. The final three levels of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield had officially opened. The faint sense of shackles that had been binding everyone¡¯s bodies vanished entirely. One enormous vortex after another appeared in the sky above. These vortexes were especially massive. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes lit up, and his figure vanished. He charged straight toward the Cliff of the Sea of Blood. Almost all Heaven¡¯s Chosen¡ªbe they human or of foreign races¡ªrushed toward the seventh layer of space. Because the powerhouses arriving now were already extremely formidable, and even though the foreign races were farther from the battlefield... Once the human race¡¯s elites appeared... The top warriors of each race began appearing one after another. Formidable auras filled the air. Void Refinement Realm! Void Refinement Realm! The powerhouses entering this time¡ªno matter the race¡ªany one of them pulled out at random would already be at the Void Refinement level. If you hadn¡¯t reached Void Refinement before the age of a hundred, you didn¡¯t qualify to be called Heaven¡¯s Chosen. Ye An was the first to step forward. The Demon Clan cultivators, upon seeing Ye An, gave slight bows. This was the son of the Heavenly Demon Emperor¡ªthough still young, he was a peerless prodigy of the Demon Clan. Both his status and potential deserved respect. "Greetings, Prince Ye." At the head of the demon clan stood a figure clad in pitch-black armor. His entire body radiated oppressive killing intent. A pair of bull horns emitted waves of malevolent energy, and his towering, muscular frame was as imposing and unshakable as a mountain. "Xi Mie, I have something important to tell you." Xi Mie nodded. "Please speak, Prince Ye." "A peerless Heaven¡¯s Chosen has appeared among the human race. He bears the potential to become an ancestral emperor. If we don¡¯t eliminate him today, he¡¯ll become a great calamity in the future." "I¡¯ve already contacted the demon clan, ghost clan, god clan, the Buddhist sect, and the spirit clan. We¡¯re just waiting for your side. Join us to kill this man together!" "Will you listen to my command?" Ye An asked. Upon hearing this, Xi Mie¡¯s eyes surged with murderous intent. "Is he truly that powerful? What realm is he at now?" "Likely... Void Refinement." "Good. Please lead the way, Prince Ye. I will kill him!" "Not just you¡ªthe entire force of the demon clan must join this battle. We must not leave him a single breath of life!" Xi Mie nodded. "Understood!" That was the demon clan¡¯s side. Elsewhere, the same was happening. Husheng found the strongest from the yao clan this time¡ªhis name was Hua Qianshi. The Buddhist sect summoned Huijing, a higher-generation monk from the Du character lineage. The ghost clan gathered Yin Xiayi. The spirit clan found the Illusion King. The god clan called upon a Divine General. ... Bai Qiulan entered the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. "Master!" Yue Hongling immediately rushed up to her. Seeing that Yue Hongling was unharmed, Bai Qiulan let out a small breath of relief. "Where¡¯s your senior brother?" Bai Qiulan asked. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes were already turning red. "Master!" Her voice was already thick with sobs. Bai Qiulan¡¯s heart sank. What had happened? Yue Hongling threw herself into Bai Qiulan¡¯s arms¡ªonly to shiver from the freezing chill. "Master!" Yue Hongling looked up with teary, reddened eyes. "Why are you so cold? What happened to you?" "It¡¯s nothing. After breaking through, the Taiyin Divine Power hasn¡¯t fully stabilized. It will be fine in a while," Bai Qiulan replied. "And you? Why do you look so heartbroken?" Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. Tears like pearls fell in heavy drops. "Master, I misunderstood Senior Brother. I misunderstood him so badly!" Bai Qiulan: ... "Feng Wuxie¡ªit was a trap from the start. Senior Brother walked into it without hesitation, just for me. He gave up his life because of it!" "And I still hurt him, Master. I wronged him so deeply. I can never make up for what I did. I deserve to die, Master, wu wu wu..." Yue Hongling sobbed in anguish. Her weeping was heartbreaking. Bai Qiulan couldn¡¯t help but close her eyes. Another one. Another one who misunderstood. Why did it have to turn out this way? Everything they had done, in such a short span of time, had turned into irreversible mistakes. Sun Ruowei¡¯s ears were practically standing straight like antennae. She pretended not to care, but every single word ¡ï Novelight ¡ï Yue Hongling uttered¡ªshe heard it clearly and carefully dissected it in her mind. She recognized every character, but put together, why couldn¡¯t she make sense of it? Senior Brother¡ªreferring to Lu Ye. Feng Wuxie¡ªwho the heck was that? Lu Ye gave up his life? Doesn¡¯t everyone only have one life? Does that mean... Lu Ye died? Oh my god, no way, right? No, no, no¡ªif Lu Ye died, how could Yue Hongling still be asking for forgiveness? Then what is this? What? What? Huh?? "Strange. Why are all the various clans suddenly converging toward one location?" muttered a young elder from the Grand Dao Sect, holding a compass in hand. Chapter 63: The Storm is Coming The disciples of the Grand Dao Sect all looked over. In Feng Tianchi¡¯s hand was a compass. Threads of dim light swirled across its surface¡ªblack, green, white, gray, and so on. This was a compass used to trace and detect various energies. The lights on it represented demonic energy, yao energy, ghost energy, and other strange, specialized energies. "They¡¯re heading toward the eighth layer of space," Bai Qiulan said. "Are they just abandoning all the treasures and blessed grounds in the seventh layer?" Feng Tianchi was rather curious. Bai Qiulan began to ponder. If a single foreign race moved, it wouldn¡¯t mean much. But for so many of them to move at once¡ªthat was strange. "I¡¯ll go check it out!" Bai Qiulan decided on the spot. "I¡¯ll come too!" said Sun Ruowei. "And me!" Yue Hongling added. "Junior Brother Feng, contact the other sects and inform them of what¡¯s happening. Stay in constant communication. If anything happens, I¡¯ll notify you immediately¡ªthen you all must respond quickly." Feng Tianchi hesitated slightly. "Senior Sister Bai, why don¡¯t we all go together from the Grand Dao Sect?" "No need. I¡¯ve already reached the Unity Dao realm. Even if I can¡¯t defeat the combined forces of the foreign races, it won¡¯t be easy for them to keep me there either." "Besides, all the other disciples came to the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Battlefield to seek opportunities. Since we don¡¯t yet know what¡¯s really going on, you all should focus on that first." "Alright then... but Senior Sister, please be careful." Sun Ruowei¡¯s face remained expressionless. After all, wherever Bai Qiulan was, everyone¡¯s attention naturally gravitated toward her. She glanced down at her own chest. Hmph. Everyone here is a cultivator, and they still obsess over ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) things like ''beauty is justice'' or ''bigger is truth''? How vulgar! Dammit! "Let¡¯s go take a look." With a wave of Bai Qiulan¡¯s hand, the three of them stepped onto a white cloud and flew off in the direction where all the foreign races were converging. Feng Tianchi watched them go. Then he began contacting the other sects. Most of the other forces didn¡¯t think much of it. The human race was strong. Very strong. Even if the foreign races initiated a war and gained some advantage at first, once the human race reacted, whatever they gained would have to be paid back tenfold, hundredfold, even thousandfold. For most human powerhouses, gathering treasures was still the top priority. They needed to use every method possible to quickly raise their strength to the absolute peak, reach the Blood Sea Cliff, and carve their names onto the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. The Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking didn¡¯t just judge who could throw the strongest punch. Rankings were based on a complex set of criteria: cultivation realm, age, talent, Dao comprehension, and more. Some might be in the Core Formation realm and land a punch that ranked them 999th. Others might be in the Void Refinement realm and throw a punch that didn¡¯t register on the list at all. Of course, for the same age range, as long as one¡¯s growth wasn¡¯t forcibly accelerated, the stronger the person, the higher their chances of getting a better rank. Generations of Heaven¡¯s Chosen had already left their names on the Eternal Ranking. The competition was relentless, a never-ending cycle, to the point where now, if someone¡¯s name broke into the top 100, it would shock all of the First Heaven¡ªand even the Upper Heavens would take serious notice. So go ahead¡ªcompete! Compete as hard as you can! Lu Ye passed through the eighth layer and arrived at the ninth. His goal was clear¡ªthe Blood Sea Wugou Stone. What a joke. Reborn into this life¡ªif he still hesitated, if he still wavered¡ªwhat would be the point of reincarnation? Ahead lay the Blood Sea. It stretched on endlessly, yet it didn¡¯t reek of blood. Instead, it carried a strange, indescribable sweetness. Perhaps it was because this Blood Sea had been formed from the fresh blood of countless fallen Heaven¡¯s Chosen throughout time, seeping into the sea to create this place. But that blood couldn¡¯t be used. Because it contained terrifying obsessions¡ªcountless obsessions, growing stronger and stronger with the passage of time. Ever more intense. Even Lu Ye had no idea what kind of monster this sea might eventually give birth to. All he knew was that, even when he¡¯d reached the Heavenly Sovereign realm in his previous life, no living creature had yet emerged from the Blood Sea. He stepped forward. His foot landed on the surface of the sea, and he walked across it, heading toward the opposite shore. He remembered clearly¡ªthe Blood Sea Wugou Stone was located near the cliff where the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking stood. The sky was vast, the sea endless. The Blood Sea was as calm as a polished mirror. Lu Ye, dressed in a long robe of deep black, with his dark hair simply tied up, stepped across the surface¡ªeach step stirring ripples that bloomed like petals, breathtakingly beautiful. He looked up. In the direction of the sunrise, a colossal stone tablet, like a towering mountain, hovered above the Blood Sea. The stele was a grayish-brown color, the names upon it written as if drawn in cinnabar. This was not yet the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. The true Eternal Ranking was located at the very top of the stone stele. A supreme, transcendent aura radiated from that mysterious black section. Black stone, golden script. Each name represented an era. From where Lu Ye stood, he couldn¡¯t make out the names clearly yet, but he had already seen it in his previous life¡ªthere was no need to rush to study it again. In Lu Ye¡¯s eyes, this Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking was a chaotic supreme treasure, naturally born from the condensation of the Dao¡ªa unique creation of heaven and earth. Anyone who could leave their name upon it would receive the blessing of heaven and the Dao. It was time. Lu Ye came to a halt. His feet merged with the Blood Sea, and his body slowly began to sink, inch by inch. The surface of the sea returned to stillness. Not long after¡ª From the southeast, golden light burst forth. Sacred Buddhist radiance rolled out in waves. A group of monks appeared, truly like gods and buddhas from legend, riding in on auspicious clouds. From the east, raging demonic energy, laced with killing intent, surged in¡ªharrowing wails echoing nonstop. A single glance at that churning black mist made the scalp tingle, the soul tremble. From the northeast, monstrous fog spread. One terrifying beast after another emerged within it, their forms grotesque and feral. ... They were here. All of them were here! "Your Highness Tiger, the scent disappeared. I suspect he entered the Blood Sea!" A cunning-looking rat demon squeaked in a sharp voice. "Where exactly did the scent disappear?" "Right here!" The rat pointed to the exact spot where Lu Ye had vanished. "Good!" Husheng pulled out a black magic stone. The surface of the stone was covered in countless tiny holes¡ªlike a hunk of coal honeycombed with tunnels. "Lu Ye''s disappearance point has been locked. Proceed as planned. We of the Yao Clan will deploy the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Formation!" "Understood!" "The Buddhist Sect will deploy the Vajra Demon-Slaying Array¡ª" "Could you people seriously not pick a different name for once?" muttered someone from the demon clan, clearly irritated. "Amitabha. Begin setting up the Vajra Demon-Slaying Array." "The Ghost Clan will deploy the Heavenly Ghost Soul-Seizing Formation!" "Good!" "The Spirit Clan will deploy the Myriad Spirits Massacre Array!" "Good!" "The God Clan, prepare the Divine Aurora Annihilation!" "Understood!" All preparations were in place. One after another, figures began moving, centering their efforts on the location where Lu Ye had disappeared. From afar, Bai Qiulan and the other two stood watching the scene unfold. "What are they doing?" "Setting up formations." Sun Ruowei looked at Bai Qiulan in disbelief. "Do you take me for an idiot? I can clearly see they''re setting up formations! I meant¡ªwhy are they doing it?" Chapter 64: Bai Qiulan takes action "What are they setting up a formation for?" Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression had already turned grave. She and Yue Hongling looked at each other. The same thought rose in both their hearts. Lu Ye! Across the entire Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, only Lu Ye could provoke such a massive mobilization of foreign races, unite them, and compel them to expend this much to set up such a formation. "Master, strike now!" Yue Hongling spoke decisively. The great array hadn¡¯t been completed yet. So many powerful cultivators working together to construct such a formation¡ªonce it was finished, even senior brother would be in extreme danger. Although Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t want to maintain such an unorthodox connection with Lu Ye, he was still her disciple. "Attack!" Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t hesitate. She formed a series of seals with both hands. In the sky above, dark clouds surged as a terrifying cold wind swept across the heavens and earth. The temperature plummeted! In just moments, the sky darkened to a terrifying degree. The Blood Sea was special, so it did not freeze over, but its temperature dropped to the absolute limit. The foreign races, upon witnessing this, had a visible shift in their expressions. A Unity Dao realm cultivator! "Amitabha!" A Buddhist chant echoed out as a massive golden palm slammed down from the heavens toward the dark clouds above. The golden palm was etched with clear lines, radiating immense Buddhist light. As the palm neared, the golden light grew dimmer and dimmer, until countless layers of frost began to freeze it solid. Rain began to fall! From within the clouds, a single shard of ice appeared¡ªthen a second, a third, a fourth... An endless storm of ice crystals poured down like a vast river of stars, blanketing the sky and crashing toward the foreign races below. "Awoooo!" A wolf¡¯s howl echoed across heaven and earth. A white giant wolf opened its mouth wide, with the posture of devouring the sky. A massive stream of ice crystals was swallowed into its belly. Its body quickly became encased in frost, trembling violently from the cold. Dozens of massive shards of ice appeared, thin as a cicada¡¯s wing. A shrill, piercing whistle of slicing wind rang through the air. All kinds of divine abilities burst forth, smashing toward the shards of ice. The ice shards shattered¡ªbut upon shattering, they transformed into even finer particles of frost. Puff! Puff! Puff... The fine ice crystals attacked indiscriminately, inflicting heavy damage upon the foreign races. Bai Qiulan¡¯s hands moved even faster in forming seals. Five Unity Dao cultivators charged at her simultaneously. Her hand seals grew increasingly rapid. "Back off!" A blade of pitch-black light cleaved through the air. Yue Hongling immediately prepared to rush forward. "Hongling!" Bai Qiulan called out, jolting Yue Hongling back to her senses¡ªshe was only at the Nascent Breakthrough stage. Even if she had been an Emperor in her past life, she couldn¡¯t possibly fight Unity Dao cultivators in her current realm. Sun Ruowei made her move. Between her hands appeared an ancient zither. As a pleasant melody rang out, beams of light surged forward, all clashing with the blade of black light. "Bang! Bang! ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) Bang..." The pitch-black blade cleaved through everything in its path. "Go!" Bai Qiulan completed the final seal. In an instant, a vast mist of white swept down over the foreign races. The pitch-black blade was frozen solid. All the attacks released by the foreign Unity Dao cultivators were also frozen. The mist surged and rolled, never ceasing. "How can she be this strong?" All the foreign powerhouses were stunned. No, they were all Unity Dao. Unity Dao against Unity Dao¡ªfine. But how could she alone be suppressing all of them? No¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just suppressing Unity Dao. This woman was trying to crush all of them! "Amitabha!" The Buddhist sect made their move. A massive golden bell, vast beyond imagining, descended in one breath to envelop all the foreign races. Clang clang clang... Cracks began to appear all over the surface of the golden bell. The Ghost Clan made their move at this moment, bringing out a tattered-looking, utterly ruined umbrella. Boom! The golden bell shattered from the freezing force. The Ghost Clan¡¯s Unity Dao cultivator, Yin Xiayi, held the broken umbrella. With a flick, all the white mist surged toward it. But even in just that brief moment, at least several dozen foreign Heaven¡¯s Chosen were frozen into popsicles. "Returning this to you!" Yin Xiayi shouted as the broken umbrella folded inward and pointed directly at Bai Qiulan. The gathered mist transformed into a beam of light and shot toward her. Bai Qiulan formed hand seals again. A soft white light spread out, slowly eroding the beam. The beam quickly dissolved into more soft white light, which grew larger and brighter. By the time it reached Bai Qiulan, it had completely dissipated. Bai Qiulan brought her hands together, gathering all the white light between her palms. It condensed into a sphere. The sphere shot out abruptly, returning the attack. A massive elephant leapt into the air, moving to the front, wielding a huge black shield. The shield rapidly expanded, turning into something like a fortress wall, standing firm above the Blood Sea. "Assist me!" One Unity Dao cultivator after another appeared behind the giant shield. They pressed both hands to its back, pouring power into it. Boom! The shield trembled violently. Yet somehow, no one could tell what it was made of¡ªit didn¡¯t break. Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression changed. With a wave of her hand, hundreds and thousands of hair-thin silver needles flew out. Puff puff puff... The silver needles pierced the wall and shot into the bodies of the Unity Dao cultivators behind it. At that moment, every cultivator struck by the needles felt an overwhelming chill spreading through their body. Even their Nascent Souls had turned icy blue. What the hell kind of cold aura was this? It was far too terrifying! What was going on? Why did the human race keep producing such monsters? Why couldn¡¯t the foreign races have one of their own? Heavens above, how unfair you are! Oh boundless heavens, why are you so cruel to us? "Ignore us! Keep setting up the formation! I don¡¯t give a damn¡ªno matter how many Heaven¡¯s Chosen the humans have, so what? Are we foreign races just destined to be suppressed?" "I don¡¯t believe it!" "Every time the humans birth a Heaven¡¯s Chosen, we¡¯ll kill one! As long as our races don¡¯t perish, sooner or later, it¡¯ll be our turn!" "Keep building the array!" The giant elephant roared, its arms bulging with power. The massive shield surged forward like a moving mountain, charging toward Bai Qiulan¡¯s position with earth-shaking force. Bai Qiulan¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. She waved her hand, sending palm after massive palm of Lunar Divine Force slamming toward the shield. The great shield was collapsing¡ªbut it still continued pressing forward. Bai Qiulan¡¯s power of the Lunar Dao erupted in full force. In that instant, her long jet-black hair turned pure silver. To the outside, this battle might¡¯ve seemed pointless, but to Bai Qiulan¡ªit was anything but. "Lunar Chaos Light!" An overwhelming cold exploded in every direction. Sun Ruowei¡¯s eyelids twitched violently. She felt like even her soul was freezing and quickly dragged Yue Hongling away. The power of the Lunar Dao turned into the most dazzling light¡ªvast, magnificent, unstoppable¡ªrushing straight at the great shield. This time, the shield shattered. Behind it, four Unity Dao cultivators erupted with defensive light, but in the next second, their bodies turned into frozen statues, eyes frozen in expressions of sheer terror. Suddenly, a glint of light appeared in front of Bai Qiulan. A pitch-black dagger stabbed forth like lightning. There was no grand spectacle¡ªjust a return to pure, deadly simplicity. Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression shifted. Her Lunar Qi condensed into a shield. But the black dagger wasn¡¯t affected at all. Bai Qiulan reached out to block it¡ªher hand was pierced straight through. The shadow stiffened slightly as the dagger slashed off Bai Qiulan¡¯s arm, then followed with a horizontal cut. Bai Qiulan¡¯s body exploded with a burst of Lunar energy. The shadow was blasted away¡ªbut her neck had been cut a quarter of the way through. And it was at that exact moment¡ª Lu Ye found the Blood Sea Wugou Stone. Chapter 65: Refining the Void into Reality The battle raging above¡ªLu Ye could faintly sense parts of it. But once the Blood Sea turned cold, he instantly knew: it had to be Bai Qiulan who made her move. The Blood Sea was unique. Perhaps it was due to its thick, viscous nature, or the chaotic mixture of energies within the blood¡ªit left Lu Ye largely blind to what was happening above. Still, it didn¡¯t really matter. No need to see everything clearly. Having secured the Blood Sea Wugou Stone, Lu Ye began floating upward, intending to take a look at who Bai Qiulan was fighting¡ªperhaps there would be an opportunity to trip someone up. His body rose rapidly. The higher he went, the colder it became. Bai Qiulan had really gone all out! With such an intense concentration of Lunar Dao force, it was certain that more Chaos Yin Venom would be birthed soon. Perfect! He hoped Bai Qiulan would fight others more often. Fighting brings strength. If she dies, no one will save her. Tsk, that rhymed! His figure finally broke the surface¡ªand right at that moment, the Blood Sea abruptly turned solid, as though forged from divine iron. Brilliant lights burst forth in rapid succession, various colored lines crisscrossing. Foreign powerhouses each took their designated positions. First layer. Second layer. Third. Fourth... Lu Ye watched as one formation stacked upon another, layer after layer, each nested within the last. For a moment, an unusual expression flickered across his face¡ªconfusion. He genuinely felt dazed inside. What the hell... In his past life, he¡¯d been the temporary alliance leader of the human race, leading the charge against foreign clans¡ªthat they would hate him for that made sense. But this life¡ªwhat exactly had he done? Sure, he cultivated in the Heavenly Spirit Pool, and yeah, killed a few monks¡ªbut they came to cause trouble first. Yes, he killed a few more monks under the Dao Comprehension Tree¡ªbut again, they came looking for death. Oh, right¡ªhe also killed that guy Tu Wuying. Aside from that, all the others were small fry, nobodies. He hadn¡¯t done anything too high-profile, nor had he slain any supreme Heaven¡¯s Chosen. And the Ghost Clan, the God Clan, the Spirit Clan¡ª He swore on his system¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even met most of them! Lu Ye simply couldn¡¯t understand why this crowd had gathered in the Blood Sea, deploying formation after formation, all just to kill him. He remained silent for a moment. Finally, he reached a conclusion: This was bullying taken too far!!! Boom! They didn¡¯t even bother exchanging nonsense. One of the Divine Aurora beams from the God Clan surged forth, drawing upon the immense power of at least twenty God Clan cultivators. The terrifying beam of light shot straight toward Lu Ye. Even space itself wavered under the beam¡¯s impact. In an instant, Lu Ye drew his sword. The stone sword slashed upward. His feet sank deep into the iron-hard surface of the Blood Sea. The beam split in two, exploding past him on both sides. The destructive force made the true essence around his body tremble violently. ¡°Wuuuuu¡ª¡± A shrill, weeping howl echoed. Lu Ye¡¯s body shook faintly. He threw a punch toward the grotesque Heavenly Ghost. The ghost¡¯s shriek rose in pitch, growing even more ear-piercing. Boom! A tiger claw collided with the fist imprint. The claw shattered. The fist, now dimmer, still struck the Heavenly Ghost and knocked it into disarray. Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise! The Four Symbols manifested. Towering silhouettes surrounded Lu Ye on all sides. The Heavenly Ghost reappeared, now visibly dimmer. ¡°I told you¡ªhe must be killed!¡± Ye An roared. Holy shit¡ªwhat kind of terrifying existence was this? What cultivation realm was he even at? He smashed a tiger¡¯s claw with one punch and nearly obliterated the Heavenly Ghost? The ghost¡¯s soul attack had only made his body stiffen for a second. If a human like this isn¡¯t killed, the foreign races are doomed! ¡°Roar!¡± The Four Symbols charged at Lu Ye simultaneously. The Vajra Pestle radiated blinding Buddhist light, waiting for the right moment to strike. Lu Ye swept his sword in an arc¡ªsevering the Azure Dragon in two. But the dragon didn¡¯t seem to care¡ªit was a construct of energy, easily reformed. His figure darted through the chaos, sword light flying in every direction. The Four Symbols continued to shatter, re-form, and assault him endlessly. It was giving Lu Ye a headache. Each of their attacks carried the force of Unity Dao. Even Lu Ye had to use deflection techniques to endure¡ªif he took them head-on, he¡¯d be injured. His offensive power was fearsome. The sword light could cleave through anything. The True Heavenly Sovereign Fist was even more terrifying. The Vajra Pestle saw its opening. With a flicker, it rushed straight toward Lu Ye¡¯s face. Lu Ye didn¡¯t turn around¡ªhe slammed his elbow back. ¡°Dong!¡± A terrifying ¡ï Novelight ¡ï boom erupted. His body staggered slightly. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A shrill scream echoed again. Lu Ye felt as though his skull was about to split open. His tolerance for pain was immense¡ªhe remained conscious¡ªbut couldn¡¯t avoid stiffening for a moment. The Divine Aurora of the God Clan erupted again. ¡°Boom!¡± A heaven-piercing beam of light crashed directly onto Lu Ye¡¯s body. His fist had already clenched¡ªhe was a breath away from striking. ¡°Darling!¡± ¡°Senior brother!¡± Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling screamed at the same time. Sun Ruowei??? Her mouth fell open¡ªbut no sound came out. She even began doubting her own ears, or whether the battle was just too fierce and had rattled her brain. Did she just hear... what Bai Qiulan called him? Hus... husband? At that moment, Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t care whether she had used the wrong form of address. She unleashed an even more terrifying burst of power. One Unity Dao cultivator after another howled in anguish. The Divine Aurora beam struck Lu Ye head-on. In an instant, his body sustained devastating injuries. Breaking through from Nascent Breakthrough to clash with Unity Dao cultivators¡ªit really was too difficult. So be it. Within the overwhelming beam of light, Lu Ye¡¯s expression twisted into a savage grin. Then bring it on! His Nascent Soul, towering like a small giant, suddenly opened its eyes. In that instant, it transitioned from illusion to reality. It took a step forward. From illusory to tangible¡ªhis Nascent Soul became real, now able to exist in the world. As the Nascent Soul transformed, Lu Ye¡¯s refined true essence underwent a qualitative metamorphosis. Streams of true essence, once flowing like rivers, now surged forth as azure dragons. And at that exact moment¡ª A spinning, blood-red lotus seed emerged from the void into reality¡ªthen shattered in the next instant. Puh! Killing intent! A torrential tide of murderous energy surged out like the Milky Way in upheaval. Overwhelming slaughter aura burst forth like the collapse of stars. How many beings had Lu Ye slaughtered in his past life? Too many to count. Truly uncountable. The War of Demon Extermination. The War against the Yao. The War of the Great Thousand Realms. The Ancient War. The War in the River of Time. The Battle of the Nine Nether Realms. The War to Cleave the Eternal Era, to Shatter the False Heavens! Slaughtering gods and devils, pacifying the chaos! Hundreds of thousands of battles¡ªmillions¡ªhad forged Lu Ye¡¯s peerless heart of slaughter, and his soul of pure killing intent. ¡°Nine-Life Heavenly Sovereign¡± was the honorific given by the human race. ¡°World-Destroying Heavenly Sovereign¡± was the name foreign races spoke of in fear. His blood-red eyes opened within the Divine Aurora. And in that moment, all traces of human emotion vanished from his gaze. Even his soul had been overtaken by slaughter. The slaughter endured by a Heavenly Sovereign¡ªhow could a mere Void Refinement cultivator possibly contain it? Kill! Kill! Kill! Lu Ye raised his head within the Divine Aurora. Crimson killing aura surged around him in fiery waves. ¡°Boom!¡± He shot upward against the current of light¡ªone punch. The first layer of the Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Formation¡ªshattered. Over a dozen Yao cultivators were instantly turned to blood mist. Chapter 66: All Evacuate It¡¯s over! When Bai Qiulan saw that piercing blood-red glow, an overwhelming terror surged in her heart. The lotus seed of the Slaughter Lotus¡ªhad actually erupted at this moment. Retreat! Retreat! They had to withdraw from the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield¡ªimmediately. No one could stay behind. Anyone who did... would die! There would be no exceptions. The current Lu Ye had completely transformed into a monster that knew nothing but slaughter. He would unleash every method at his disposal to kill. ¡°Retreat!¡± Bai Qiulan formed a hand seal. Her Lunar divine power enveloped Yue Hongling and Sun Ruowei, and without looking back, she fled at full speed. At the same time, she pulled out her sound transmission stone. ¡°Junior Brother Feng, now¡¯s the time. Notify all disciples of the Grand Dao Sect to evacuate the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield¡ªretreat with the fastest speed possible!¡± ¡°Notify all human sects and factions. Tell them to immediately withdraw from the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. Retreat with utmost urgency¡ªabandon everything!¡± Feng Tianchi was shocked by Bai Qiulan¡¯s transmission. ¡°Senior sister, what on earth happened?¡± ¡°A supreme demonic force has awakened. Every living being remaining in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield will die. I am not exaggerating in the slightest¡ªthis is extremely serious. Do exactly as I say, immediately!¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t leave¡ªthey will die!¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no chance of survival!¡± ¡°They must retreat instantly, without delay!¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s voice was filled with sternness and urgency, and even a trace of deep fear. Sun Ruowei was completely stunned. Her expression, from dumbfounded shock at hearing the word ¡°husband,¡± to now just pure stupefaction¡ªher face seemed entirely frozen. Was this really necessary? Was it really that serious? No, come on¡ªjust because Lu Ye turned red, did Bai Qiulan have to be this afraid, this tense? Lu Ye might be strong, but how long had he even been cultivating? They only had one opportunity to enter the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. Many hadn¡¯t even attempted to leave their name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking yet. Who would want to leave now? ¡°Qiulan, aren¡¯t you overreacting... Lu Ye, he¡¯s just your disciple. He¡¯s strong, yes, but does that really warrant full evacuation?¡± ¡°Even if he¡¯s gone berserk and started killing, surely all those foreign races are enough for him to vent on?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ll explain once we¡¯re out!¡± ¡°Junior Brother Feng, did you hear me?¡± ¡°I did, I did! I¡¯ll contact the other sects right away!¡± Because Bai Qiulan¡¯s voice had been so severe, so urgent, Feng Tianchi figured the situation must be worse than he had imagined. He rushed to notify the other sects. ¡°What? You want us to retreat now?¡± Almost every sect reacted the same way¡ªtheir first thought was: how could they possibly retreat? They hadn¡¯t even tried to leave their name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking yet. If they succeeded, not only would their fame last forever, they would receive incredible rewards. Especially the Void Refinement and Unity Dao powerhouses¡ªsome had only arrived at the battlefield less than a day ago. They hadn¡¯t explored anything yet, hadn¡¯t claimed any benefits¡ªwhy would they leave now? Bai Qiulan had already rushed at full speed to Feng Tianchi¡¯s side. When Feng Tianchi saw her silver hair, he was startled. Bai Qiulan immediately took the sound transmission stone from him. ¡°This is Bai Qiulan speaking!¡± ¡°Now, I swear on my personal Dao¡ªwhat I am saying is absolutely true. I ask that all Heaven¡¯s Chosen and powerhouses from every sect, no matter how confident you are in yourselves, withdraw from the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield within fifteen minutes¡ªor you will die without question!¡± ¡°I am not joking. I am not lying.¡± ¡°Trust me!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t leave¡ªyou will die!¡± ... ¡°Junior Sister Bai, what exactly happened? Explain it clearly¡ªwhy would staying here mean death? Even if a demonic powerhouse has awakened, how strong can a devil be in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield? We may not necessarily be powerless against it, right?¡± ¡°Exactly, even if we can¡¯t fight it alone, can¡¯t we defeat it if we join forces?¡± ¡°No¡ªyou¡¯re not its match. Even if everyone joined forces, it would still end in death!¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s voice trembled with emotion. ¡°Everyone, believe me! Leave the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield¡ªimmediately!¡± No further voices came from the sound transmission stone. Everyone fell silent. Some suspected Bai Qiulan had lost her mind... but she was Unity Dao. If something could drive a Unity Dao cultivator to this level of panic¡ªit had to be a monstrous horror beyond imagination. ¡°Alright. All disciples of the Supreme Sword Sect, withdraw!¡± ¡°Yes, senior brother!¡± ¡°Calamity Sect¡ªall disciples... all disciples, evacuate!¡± ¡°Senior brother, I want to stay. I want to try for the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking.¡± ¡°You... sigh... then be extremely careful!¡± ¡°Central State Imperial Dynasty¡ªevery cultivator retreat!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Big Sister Bai, let me ask just one thing... is it him?¡± Shangguan Huanling¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°It is!¡± ¡°Alright. I understand. Supreme Imperial Dynasty¡ªall cultivators, withdraw!¡± ¡°And who the hell are you, to order the cultivators of the Supreme Imperial Dynasty?¡± A man¡¯s voice snapped with disdain. ¡°The Supreme Imperial Dynasty will not retreat. I want to see what kind of so-called devil could terrify this bunch of cowardly cultivators!¡± ¡°Nine Li Celestial Dynasty will withdraw. If anyone wants to stay, they may.¡± ¡°Yin-Yang Dharma Sect¡ªany who wish to leave may do so. However, I don¡¯t believe anyone can break through our Yin-Yang Universe Formation! I¡¯m not leaving!¡± ¡°Mountain-River Pagoda Sect... forget it, Mountain-River Pagoda Sect will withdraw!¡± Most of the human sects trusted the judgment of Bai Qiulan, a Unity Dao cultivator. If a Unity Dao was panicking to this degree, it was enough proof of the terror to come. ¡°Also¡ªinform all human rogue cultivators to retreat as well, if possible!¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s figure vanished. Then her voice echoed loudly across the world. ¡°A supreme devil has awakened and will slaughter ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) all living beings. Anyone who remains will die without exception! I am Bai Qiulan of the Grand Dao Sect¡ªanyone who hears my voice, evacuate the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield immediately!¡± That voice resounded through every layer of the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. This was all Bai Qiulan could do. Whoever she could save, she would. If she could reduce the amount of slaughter Lu Ye would commit, even slightly¡ªthen she had to. Above the Blood Sea¡ª Boom! The Four Symbols Heaven-Suppressing Formation was completely destroyed. The Yao cultivators at the core of the array were reduced to a mist of blood. In the next second, that blood mist was drawn toward Lu Ye¡¯s mouth¡ªand he swallowed it in a single gulp. His body shuddered slightly. Extreme ecstasy surged through his mind. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The Heavenly Ghost shrieked again. Lu Ye cleaved through a thousand beams of light with a single sword, then reached out and seized the Heavenly Ghost¡¯s head. Boom! The Heavenly Ghost¡¯s skull was crushed in his grip. Lu Ye opened his mouth wide and shoved the creature straight in. One sword light after another began to appear. One. Ten. A hundred. A thousand. Ten thousand. Each one stained a deep, blood-red. From between his clenched teeth came a single word. ¡°Die!¡± Chapter 67: Massacre ¡°Formation core!¡± Sword qi turned into a blood-colored storm, erupting with a sharp explosive sound as it all surged toward the weakest point of the formation¡¯s core. So-called Vajra Demon-Slaying Array, so-called Myriad Spirits Massacre Array¡ªjust by name alone they sounded impressive, but in Lu Ye¡¯s eyes, they were full of holes, not worth a damn. ¡°Boom boom boom!¡± Plumes of blood mist exploded at the core. The vajra pestle came smashing down in fury. Countless silk-like threads wove together and surged toward him. Lu Ye struck out with a single punch¡ªfist met vajra pestle. For a brief moment, they clashed evenly, until Lu Ye stood perfectly still while the vajra pestle was ground down inch by inch into fine powder. A group of Unity Dao cultivators watching this felt their scalps go numb. ¡°Amitabha! Amitabha!¡± Especially the disciples of the Buddhist Sect¡ªnone knew better than them just how incomparably hard that vajra pestle was. With this thing, they''d crushed the skulls of countless experts. And now, it had been smashed to dust by a single punch. ¡°I don¡¯t believe he¡¯s that strong!¡± The Divine General wielded a long spear, clad in white armor with a red cape, his bearing imposing. His eyes carried disbelief, and an intense unwillingness to accept it. The Divine Aurora of the God Clan surged toward Lu Ye once again. The Divine General transformed into blinding white light, a massive phantom emerging behind him, striking in unison with him as he thrust his spear with all his might. ¡°Proud Heaven Strike!¡± Coiling around the spear was a divine dragon. This was his ultimate killing move¡ªthe strongest strike of a Unity Dao cultivator. He refused to believe that after withstanding the Divine Aurora, Lu Ye could still block this supreme attack. Unity Dao, Unity Dao¡ªit meant the union of strength and Dao. His Dao was the Dao of invincibility! Lu Ye¡¯s face revealed a smile¡ªtwisted, with a strange glint. Casually, he swung his sword and cleaved through the Divine Aurora. Then, facing that heaven-shaking spear, he extended his palm. Clenched! ¡°Crash!¡± The Divine General¡¯s advancing figure halted abruptly. Lu Ye didn¡¯t budge a single inch, his blood-red eyes locked on the Divine ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? General, that cruel, terrifying smile still on his lips. ¡°You? You dare walk the path of invincibility?¡± The killing aura in Lu Ye¡¯s eyes shot straight into the Divine General¡¯s soul. In that instant, the Divine General saw mountains of corpses, seas of blood, gods and buddhas weeping in their fall, and billions of living beings wailing in despair like ants before annihilation. And when he looked closely at those billions of beings¡ª He was struck with absolute horror: every single one of those seemingly insignificant ant-like beings possessed power equal to his own. His eyes lost focus, filled with blankness and utter terror. ¡°These... were all walking the path of invincibility.¡± Lu Ye lightly pulled back with his palm, and the Divine General¡¯s body was yanked toward him. His right leg lifted. Vast and violent power roared forward¡ª A direct knee strike. The Divine General¡¯s body exploded on the spot, dissolving into a dense blood mist. A pure white Nascent Soul flew out, trying to escape, only to be caught by Lu Ye. He opened his mouth and swallowed it whole. ¡°Crunch, crunch, crunch...¡± Fresh blood dripped from the corner of Lu Ye¡¯s mouth as he looked up at the swarm of figures above. ¡°All of you¡ªmust die!¡± ¡°Ahhhh!¡± He slashed his sword¡ªtens of thousands of sword lights erupted in an explosion. The formation was destroyed like rotting wood, and along with it, wave after wave of foreign clans turned into blood mist. Wails and screams filled the air. ¡°Demon!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a demon!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, please, don¡¯t kill me!¡± Even the foreign Unity Dao cultivators felt their scalps tingling. Run! Terror was carved deeply into their souls. Even the Divine General had been killed so easily¡ªhow could they possibly be a match for this demon? The Buddhist Sect were the first to flee. This devil¡¯s might overshadowed all, the Buddhist light had dimmed¡ªfor now, they would conserve their strength, and when the light shone bright once more, they would return to subdue this demon. That was the righteous path. But just as the crowd scattered and fled a hundred li away, their figures suddenly vanished, and when they reappeared, they were once again not far from Lu Ye. ¡°All the foreign races?!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a formation!!!¡± Ye An¡¯s expression changed drastically. Why was there another formation out here on the perimeter? Who the hell laid down this trapping formation? Who?! In the void, a young man in a cloak stood silently. His lips were red, his teeth white¡ªbut with the cloak on, no one noticed his presence. The cloak was like an invisibility robe. If Lu Ye in his current state saw him, he would definitely slash at him with a sword. If Lu Ye in a calm and lucid state saw him, he would surely be shocked¡ªthis boy was... Li Huaiyu! He didn¡¯t belong to any of the Five Great Sects, nor the Three Great Dynasties, nor the Eternal Teaching. He came from somewhere even more mysterious. He didn¡¯t have much interest in cultivation itself, but he had a peculiar obsession with formations. Unfortunately, he was dull-witted, causing his master to hate his lack of ambition and mourn his wasted potential, and so he¡¯d been thrown into the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield to temper himself. His comprehension of formations was indeed painful¡ªhe needed several minutes just to break through one¡ªbut he¡¯d come here intending to rescue Lu Ye. After all, Lu Ye had helped him once before. But what he found was... there was no need to rescue him. So strong! So terrifying! Even more terrifying than his senior brother! Based on Li Huaiyu¡¯s own insight, barring any surprises, Lu Ye should be able to slaughter this entire group. It was just... in case someone escaped¡ª So, Li Huaiyu laid down a trapping formation. ¡°Hahaha...¡± Watching this, Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but burst into mad laughter. He glanced once at Li Huaiyu. Li Huaiyu shivered all over, an overwhelming wave of fear surging like a tidal wave and drowning him. H-he¡ª He could actually see him? Impossible! This cloak was an innate spirit treasure, given to him by his master to protect his life! ¡°Kill!¡± A flash of sword light. Monks began spewing blood on the spot. The Hui-generation monks roared in fury, trying to form a battle formation¡ªbut the next instant, the crowd exploded, limbs flying. ¡°Amitabha, Amitabha...¡± Buddhist chants rang out across heaven and earth, tinged with sobbing. It sounded more like a death wail. Even Amitabha couldn¡¯t save them¡ªat this moment, even the Buddhas were weeping. ¡°Damn it! Damn it! Break the formation!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t! What the hell is this array?! Let us out! Who the hell laid this down?! Let us out!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die! I still have a boundless future ahead! I still have the Grand Dao waiting for me! I don¡¯t want to die!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! He didn¡¯t even provoke us, why did we team up to kill him?! Damn demon! Damn demon!¡± A genius from the ghost clan howled in despair. They¡¯d clearly¡ªclearly had no prior contact with Lu Ye. So why the hell had they lost their minds and decided to come along with the others? Wails! Blood! Collapse! Li Huaiyu witnessed the most brutal scene in the world¡ªa massacre without suspense, a struggle that only brought pain. He panicked. Lu Ye¡¯s blood-red eyes had only glanced at him once, but that glance was seared deep into his soul, leaving his whole body weak and trembling. No¡ªhe had to run! Once Lu Ye finished killing everyone inside, he¡¯d be next. Li Huaiyu¡¯s figure quickly vanished. Once he returned to the sect, he would absolutely warn his senior brother¡ªif they ever encountered this Lu Ye, they must never provoke him. Husheng watched the slaughter unfold. The look in his eyes began to change¡ªwithin his pupils, it was as if billions of layered pupils were beginning to manifest. ¡°A person like this actually appeared on the First Heaven?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s figure appeared before Husheng. Blood-red eyes met those countless layered pupils. ¡°Come here.¡± Lu Ye rasped. A strange smile curved Husheng¡¯s lips. ¡°Alright.¡± His head was smashed to pieces by a single punch. Chapter 68: Good advice is hard to persuade Corpses, blood, severed limbs... All melted into the Blood Sea. Lu Ye¡¯s true consciousness stood apart like a spectator, watching his own body act as the ultimate weapon of slaughter, unleashing massacre without restraint. ¡°That gaze just now... Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor!¡± Lu Ye recognized it. As one of the enemies that had caused him the most trouble in his previous life, that look was all too familiar. Perhaps Lu Ye¡¯s consciousness was also gradually growing excited along with the carnage. Ever since his rebirth, he had been immersed in cultivation, almost forgetting the wild and glorious days of his past life. So then¡ªcome! Come and fight for the Dao with me! With the last foreign race slaughtered¡ª The world fell silent. But the killing intent only boiled more fiercely. The Slaughter Lotus Seed multiplied Lu Ye¡¯s bloodlust tenfold, a hundredfold¡ªit wasn¡¯t enough to kill just this much. Far from enough! His figure vanished. With a single punch, he shattered the outer formation. ¡°Hm? Formation path from the Heaven Pavilion?¡± So the Heaven Pavilion had sent someone too. Blood-red killing aura churned like leaping flames. Lu Ye¡¯s figure shot through the sky, his speed creating sonic booms. His divine sense spread in all directions. Come! Just one living being¡ªlet me kill one more! Hurry!!! Demon Realm. On the white bone altar, several soul stones had already cracked partially. As soon as Tu Wuying entered, his soul stone shattered, startling all the demon powerhouses. Because it broke too quickly. He had just stepped into the teleportation vortex, his clothing practically still fluttering within the Demon Realm¡ªand then he was already dead. But after that, no more demons died, which allowed the Demon Emperor to finally let out a breath of relief. Tu Wuying¡¯s death must¡¯ve been a coincidence. Just bad luck. Indeed, luck played a crucial role in cultivation. Tu Wuying¡¯s talent was terrifying¡ªif he hadn¡¯t died, he definitely would have become someone that even the strongest of the heavens would one day fear. What a pity he died. Crack! Seven soul stones shattered simultaneously. The Demon Realm powerhouses immediately turned to look, their faces turning grave. Thankfully, they were all just ordinary demons. Crack! Crack! Crack! The next second, more soul stones began to break¡ªone after another, nonstop, the pace terrifying. ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± A demon powerhouse cried out in alarm. Then even the soul stones of Unity Dao demons shattered. The entire Demon Realm plunged into a deathly silence. The demon prodigies¡ªcompletely annihilated! ¡°ROAR!¡± The Demon Emperor let out a heaven-shaking roar of fury. The complete annihilation of so many demon realm prodigies¡ªwhat did it mean? It meant that decades or even a century from now, other races would have strong new generations rise up, becoming the backbone of the First Heaven once the old generation ascended to the Second. But the Demon Realm¡ª Would have none. An entire generation of future powerhouses had been wiped out. It created a /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ complete fracture in the Demon Realm¡¯s future strength. ¡°What on earth happened? Who wiped out the demon prodigies?!¡± ¡°Contact the other races immediately¡ªno, contact the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. He must know what happened!¡± Not only the Demon Realm. The Spirit Realm, the God Realm, the Buddhist Realm, the Ghost Realm¡ªall those independent minor worlds that had been driven out of the Great Wilderness¡ªeach began experiencing similar events. Only the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor understood what had happened. Because within the bodies of far too many yao clans, he had left behind something¡ªtoo many of them appeared to be independent individuals, when in fact, they could be taken over by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor at any moment. Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. Eighth Layer, fifteen minutes earlier. Shangguan Huanling had received Bai Qiulan¡¯s voice transmission and urgently questioned her about Lu Ye. Though Bai Qiulan had only referred to him with a single ¡°he,¡± both she and the others knew clearly¡ªthis ¡°he¡± meant Lu Ye. And so Shangguan Huanling immediately agreed that all people from the Supreme Empire must leave. But apparently, she didn¡¯t have much authority within the Supreme Empire. ¡°Royal Brother, we must leave immediately! I know Bai Qiulan very well¡ªif she says it¡¯s dangerous, then it absolutely is. If we stay in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Battlefield and that demon arrives, we¡¯ll all die!¡± Shangguan Huanling said urgently. Shangguan Tianyin raised his eyebrows. ¡°Oh? You know this demon?¡± ¡°And how come I don¡¯t remember you knowing Bai Qiulan?¡± Bai Qiulan was different from them¡ªshe was several decades older, and the Supreme Empire had little contact with the Grand Dao Sect. How could Shangguan Huanling have met Bai Qiulan? ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to explain that, Royal Brother. This is truly urgent¡ªhave everyone from the Supreme Empire withdraw immediately, or we¡¯ll all die!¡± ¡°I know this demon! He¡¯s terrifying beyond belief!¡± Shangguan Tianyin turned a deaf ear. ¡°Then tell me¡ªwhat¡¯s this demon¡¯s name? I¡¯m quite familiar with the top human cultivators and elites from the foreign races. I don¡¯t believe there exists anyone in this world who alone could wipe out all the experts of the Supreme Empire.¡± Shangguan Huanling... Even if she said Lu Ye¡¯s name, he had barely made any name for himself before this. Shangguan Tianyin wouldn¡¯t believe that someone like Lu Ye could slaughter everyone in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Battlefield. ¡°What would I gain by lying to you?¡± Shangguan Huanling sighed. Shangguan Tianyin smiled lightly. ¡°Sister, the road of cultivation is filled with danger. If we retreat at every sign of it, how can we ever hope to attain the Supreme?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t understand even that, then your cultivation path won¡¯t go far.¡± Shangguan Huanling burned with fury inside. In her past life, she had been an Emperor Realm cultivator¡ªdid this Shangguan Tianyin, who had died young, really think he had the right to lecture her on cultivation? ¡°I¡¯ll say it one last time¡ªanyone who wants to live, come with me!¡± With that, she turned and left. Laughter echoed behind her. Shangguan Huanling? Let her go if she wants! ¡°This younger sister of mine is a bit timid¡ªit¡¯s fine. No one had high hopes for her anyway. For a woman, being timid is acceptable.¡± ¡°But if Bai Qiulan from the Grand Dao Sect is so anxious, then it seems there might be some danger after all. Very well¡ªset up a defensive formation, we¡¯ll prepare for the worst.¡± ¡°Second Prince is wise!¡± A fiery ambition burned in Shangguan Tianyin¡¯s eyes. Let them leave! All of them! Once everyone left, the entire Heaven¡¯s Chosen Battlefield would be his. At that point, his prestige within the Supreme Empire might even surpass that of the Crown Prince. Becoming heir apparent wouldn¡¯t be impossible. Seventh Layer Space. The Yin-Yang Law Sect¡¯s group remained behind as well, busy setting up a formation. Luo Yuan, as the sect¡¯s saintess, felt conflicted. Yue Hongling had sent her a personal message, urging her to leave at once. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. Besides, the Yin-Yang Law Sect elders had been repeatedly assuring her they had no fear of any demon. In the end, she decided to stay. Many people were leaving. But some clung to false hope. Others believed they had nothing to fear. The retreat proceeded in waves. In just a quarter of an hour, the entire Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield grew much quieter. Chapter 69: What Was An Thinking? Nine Dragon Valley! A large group of people suddenly burst out, leaving the various sect powerhouses waiting outside the teleportation vortex completely dumbfounded. Was the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield... already over? So many people were coming out¡ªan entire mass of them, from every sect. Wait, hadn¡¯t the final three layers of the battlefield only just opened less than a day ago? And it was already over? ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you all coming out?¡± A senior elder of Jie Sect grabbed one of his disciples and demanded. ¡°Greetings, Elder.¡± ¡°We came out on the advice of Bai Qiulan from the Grand Dao Sect. She said that a supreme demon had appeared inside the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, and that he would kill all of us. Her tone was very firm and urgent. We followed her advice and chose to withdraw.¡± ¡°What supreme demon?¡± ¡°Did you even try the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know what demon she was talking about¡ªand we didn¡¯t even get the chance to try the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking!¡± ¡°Absurd!¡± The Jie Sect elder¡¯s expression changed drastically. He roared in fury. ¡°You quit the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield just because of one warning? Do you not realize how precious this battlefield is for you? What an incredible opportunity it is?¡± His voice rumbled like thunder, shaking the ears of everyone nearby. ¡°On the path of cultivation, have you not encountered demons before? If you run away every time a demon shows up, then what the hell are you even cultivating for? Why don¡¯t you go home and grow crops?! You¡¯ll never run into a demon in the fields!¡± ¡°Shameful! Absolutely shameful! Why the hell are we called Jie Sect? Do you even know where our name comes from?¡± ¡°We¡¯re the ones who transcend tribulations! We fear neither great tribulations nor calamities! We¡¯ve survived countless dangers, and now you¡¯re telling me you turned tail and ran without even seeing this so-called demon?!¡± ¡°Grand Dao Sect! You owe my Jie Sect a damn explanation for this!¡± And it wasn¡¯t just Jie Sect. The other sects, upon hearing the news, were equally dumbfounded. All this just because Bai Qiulan said a supreme demon might appear¡ªand so many people withdrew? Seriously, since when did cultivators become so cowardly? ¡°Are there still people who haven¡¯t come out? Don¡¯t let them out!¡± ¡°Do whatever it takes to keep them inside!¡± ¡°This is infuriating! Absolutely infuriating!¡± Because the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield existed in a separate dimension, it was quite difficult to communicate across that space. Normal transmission stones couldn¡¯t reach that far. Thankfully, the Mountain River Pagoda Sect had a Heaven¡¯s Chosen carrying a special treasure¡ª A Winged Communication Scroll. ¡°I¡¯ll notify them!¡± A Mountain River Pagoda Sect elder spoke urgently. Meanwhile, more and more people kept pouring out from the battlefield. With each one, the various sects felt a deep, gut-wrenching pain. What a waste! Such a golden opportunity¡ªjust thrown away like that! The Mountain River Pagoda Sect elder took out one half of the Winged Communication Scroll and began writing on it. The characters on the scroll turned into golden light and vanished¡ªwhile the matching scroll within the battlefield would display the exact same writing. ¡°Why is there no reply yet?¡± The elder was almost beside himself with anxiety. Buzz... Golden light appeared¡ªMountain River Pagoda Sect¡¯s disciples from inside had replied. They would stop exiting the battlefield. ¡°Fellow Daoist Cheng, let me borrow that Winged Scroll¡ªjust for a moment!¡± ¡°Please help me notify our Jie Sect disciples. They are absolutely forbidden from leaving the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Battlefield! Demons? Who cares! Fight them! This isn¡¯t a suggestion¡ªit¡¯s a direct order! They are not to leave!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist Cheng, help notify my Supreme Sword Sect as well...¡± Even the Supreme Sword Sect wasn¡¯t willing to have their disciples withdraw now. Sword Dao always emphasized pressing forward without fear. How could they possibly turn and run? ¡°Fellow Daoist Langya, think twice! From what we know of Junior Sister Bai, she is not someone who speaks without reason. If she claims a peerless demon has appeared, then it must be an irresistible force. Please reconsider, Fellow Daoist Langya!¡± The people of the Grand Dao Sect spoke up. They were the ones who knew Bai Qiulan best, and there was no way they believed she was trying to deliberately frighten others. She must have truly believed that staying in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield meant certain death¡ªonly then would she urge everyone to withdraw. Langya Sword hesitated. His face was full of conflict; this was a difficult decision to make. ¡°If you won¡¯t listen to me, then Fellow Daoist Cheng, please ask the people of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty to stop exiting as well. Opportunities in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield are far too rare¡ªwe absolutely can¡¯t give them up so lightly!¡± Cheng Liang didn¡¯t hesitate either¡ªhe helped contact Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. The more people who stayed inside, the higher the chances of survival when facing the demon. He didn¡¯t believe it. Just how strong could one demon be? As time passed, second by second¡ª More and more people poured out. The disciples of the Supreme Sword Sect and Grand Dao Sect had almost all exited. The cultivators of the Jiuzhou Dynasty followed suit. Other sects did the same, leaving one group after another. Eventually, loose cultivators exited in droves too. They were more inclined to trust the judgment of Grand Dao Sect¡¯s experts. However, about one-third still remained inside¡ªmost of them high-level cultivators. The Yin-Yang Law Sect had almost all stayed behind. Chu Ling had run out alone. When Bai Qiulan, Yue Hongling, and Sun Ruowei came out afterward, Bai Qiulan immediately counted how many people had left. Her expression changed. ¡°Why are there still so many people who haven¡¯t come out?¡± Bai Qiulan asked anxiously. ¡°Bai Qiulan, what exactly are you planning? You clearly know the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield is an unimaginable opportunity for everyone, yet you urged them to give it up!¡± The Yin-Yang Law Sect was the first to lash out, shouting harshly. ¡°That¡¯s right, Bai Qiulan, today you must give us an explanation!¡± ¡°Damn it! So many Heaven¡¯s Chosen missed out on their chance because of you. You¡ªyou¡ªyou... Grand Dao Sect, you owe us an ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) explanation!¡± Bai Qiulan took a deep breath. ¡°Then I¡¯ll say it again. A temporarily demonized cultivator has appeared in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. His power is monstrous. Killing Unity Dao cultivators is as easy for him as slaughtering chickens and dogs. He is currently in a state of endless killing intent. Any living being he encounters will be killed. I swear on my own Dao¡ªevery word I¡¯ve said is true. Get everyone out of there now!¡± To swear on one¡¯s Dao¡ª That was an incredibly serious oath. Many people¡¯s expressions changed slightly. Killing Unity Dao cultivators as easily as slaughtering chickens? And Bai Qiulan had sworn on her Dao? ¡°Fear-mongering! Tell me¡ªwho is this so-called demon?¡± barked a Yin-Yang Law Sect elder. Bai Qiulan... ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know his name.¡± ¡°Hahaha! You don¡¯t even know his name? And if he¡¯s as powerful as you say¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t even finish his sentence¡ª When suddenly, from the direction of the Supreme Empire, a mournful cry rang out. ¡°Second Prince!¡± All eyes turned toward the Supreme Empire¡¯s camp¡ª And what they saw made their scalps go numb. The soul stones were shattering. Crack... crack... crack... With almost no pause between them, the soul stones broke one after another, frantically, one by one. Each shattering stone meant the death of a cultivator. Chapter 70: Death Ray Eighth Layer of the Ancient Battlefield. While Shangguan Tianyin and the others were setting up their formation, Lu Ye''s figure, wreathed in rolling blood-red killing aura, came hurtling through the void like a storm. ¡°The demon¡¯s here¡ªit¡¯s actually just one person?¡± The Supreme Empire was still on high alert at this moment. After all, it had been Bai Qiulan who issued the warning. Her name in the Grand Dao Sect was far from empty. But Shangguan Tianyin had always assumed the so-called demon would be from a foreign race. He hadn''t expected the demon to be... a human. Looking at the young face wreathed in that blood-colored aura, Shangguan Tianyin paused for a moment¡ªthen burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha! Bai Qiulan, oh Bai Qiulan¡ªI knew women are timid by nature. Just look at this no-name youth, sure, the aura around him is a bit intimidating, but that was enough to scare all those women senseless? Absolutely laughable!¡± The others from the Supreme Empire also relaxed slightly. Thank the heavens... ¡°Hey, you there, demon! I order you to leave at once! Otherwise don¡¯t blame the Supreme Empire for upholding justice and slaying evil!¡± Shangguan Tianyin shouted loudly. Lu Ye lowered his head. The stone sword in his hand slowly rose. And in that moment¡ªthe sky turned blood-red. Truly, in the blink of an eye, clouds transformed into blood clouds. All the spiritual energy between heaven and earth began to surge toward him madly. A massive beam of blood-red sword light erupted, growing instantly to several thousand zhang in length. What did that mean? That one sword¡ªcould cleave a city in half with a single strike. Below, the expressions of the Supreme Empire¡¯s cultivators froze in place. Some people¡¯s sword light may appear large, but it¡¯s all for show¡ªit shatters on contact. But for others, the larger the sword light, the more terrifying the power. And now, looking at the blood-dyed sky, at that blood-red sword radiating an aura that shook heaven and earth, made ghosts and gods weep¡ª Clearly, this was the latter. The cultivators of the Supreme Empire were instantly filled with dread. Could the formation they had set up really withstand that sword? The sword fell. A howling gale surged, crashing forward like a collapsing mountain. Boom! Dust blasted into the sky, and with the following shockwave, two towering waves of smoke, dozens of meters high, rippled outward in both directions. That sword landed squarely on the defensive formation. All the formation cores exploded on impact¡ªthey simply couldn¡¯t withstand such force. The grand array shattered. The sword light also dispersed. Lu Ye¡¯s figure descended upon the earth and began walking toward the Supreme Empire¡¯s people. The experts of the Supreme Empire were utterly petrified. Seeing Lu Ye approach, one person mustered his courage, roared, and charged toward him. Pfft! One punch¡ªhe turned into blood mist. Lu Ye moved faster, sword qi howling. Clouds of blood mist exploded. Unstoppable¡ªobliterating all in his path! ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯m Shangguan Tianyin! I¡¯m from the Supreme Empire¡ª¡± Pfft! A flash of sword light cut Shangguan Tianyin cleanly in two. Lu Ye didn¡¯t even bother to glance at him. He continued his slaughter. If a Nascent Soul tried to flee¡ªhe caught it and devoured it. /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ If it was cut in half directly, there was nothing more to say. In the blink of an eye, the world turned quiet once more. The stone sword, stained with blood, remained clutched in Lu Ye¡¯s hand. It didn¡¯t even dare to hum in response. This master was terrifying right now. It feared that if it let out a joyful sword cry, Lu Ye would snap it in half without hesitation. The system didn¡¯t make a sound either. It was afraid that if it dared speak, the completely berserk Lu Ye might smash his own head just to find whatever was making the noise. ¡°Loot the battlefield! Loot the battlefield! Loot the battlefield!¡± Lu Ye¡¯s conscious mind kept shouting, trying to influence his body. Fighting was important¡ªbut cleaning up the battlefield was just as important! But after the slaughter ended, Lu Ye didn¡¯t even glance at the scattered corpses. His figure vanished in an instant. Searching. Seventh Layer. Boom! Lu Ye''s feet slammed hard into the ground. He began to run¡ªthen to sprint. The cultivators of the Yin-Yang Law Sect sensed something was wrong, their expressions subtly shifting. They activated their formation at once¡ªyin and yang spun like a Taiji diagram, unfurling before him in defense. Lu Ye''s speed grew faster and faster, his momentum more terrifying with every step. The very heavens and earth fused with him, surging at his back. A single punch! The Taiji diagram rotated rapidly, crashing toward Lu Ye. Boom! The yin-yang diagram was directly punched through. Screams and wails burst out from behind it. Blood drenched the earth. Luo Yuan stared blankly as her sect''s Unity Dao expert was blown into blood mist by a single punch from this young figure. She froze in place. In that moment, she recalled Yue Hongling¡¯s warning. ¡°Luo Yuan, you must leave the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield. Whether your Yin-Yang Law Sect companions leave or not, if you want to survive, then leave at all costs. If you don¡¯t go, you¡¯ll definitely die. Remember¡ªdefinitely die!¡± She hadn¡¯t believed it. And now, as expected¡ªcertain death. A bitter smile appeared on Luo Yuan¡¯s face. Then it shifted into delicate, tearful vulnerability. She reached up and tore a portion of her robes. Not all the way. She knew very well¡ªjust enough to hint, to reveal the illusion of helpless beauty. That was the most powerful kind of allure. The overwhelming scent of blood rushed into her small, upright nose. Shadows fell across her body. Tears welled in Luo Yuan¡¯s eyes. She timidly looked up. A fist¡ªlarger than her own face¡ªwas growing rapidly in her vision. Boom! Her head exploded. Blood poured out in streams. Nine Dragon Valley. The Yin-Yang Law Sect erupted with cries of shock and anguish. Panic spread! The Supreme Empire and the Yin-Yang Law Sect¡ªboth wiped out too fast. From the first strike to total annihilation, barely a few minutes had passed. What did that mean? It meant their opponent wasn¡¯t even on the same level as them. This wasn¡¯t a battle¡ªit was a one-sided, cathartic massacre. ¡°Quick! Get everyone from our sect out¡ªnow!¡± The elder from Mountain River Pagoda Sect was panicking. Deeply panicking. The Winged Scroll began rapidly recording messages. The prince from Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty rushed over. ¡°Fellow Daoist Cheng! Please, notify our Jiuli cultivators¡ªhave them withdraw!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist Cheng! Our Jie Sect disciples¡ªget them out!¡± Panic! Just ten minutes ago, they were firmly refusing to let their disciples leave. Now, after watching the Supreme Empire and Yin-Yang Law Sect get wiped out¡ªthey were truly, completely panicked. Message after message flew out via the Winged Scroll. A soul stone from the Supreme Sword Sect shattered. It belonged to a sword cultivator who had refused to leave. Soon after, the first Mountain River Pagoda Sect disciple¡¯s soul stone shattered. Crack crack crack... Shatter! Shatter! Shatter! Someone transported out¡ªeyes filled with terror. Half a corpse was transmitted out, blood spraying everywhere, no sign of life. Soul stones shattered in quick succession. Someone came out of the vortex screaming in panic. ¡°No! Stop killing! Stop killing!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a demon! A demon!¡± ¡°Let me out¡ªplease let me out!¡± Wails, screams, groans¡ª The rate of soul stone destruction suddenly accelerated, as if the demon inside could sense people escaping and was speeding up the slaughter. At last, no one else escaped through the teleportation vortex. The vortex spun quietly, unstained by a speck of dust. Peaceful. Serene. But in the eyes of everyone watching, it had already become the gaping maw of a devil, devouring all life. Chapter 71: Parasitic Sky Demon Ancient Battlefield of Heaven¡¯s Chosen, First Layer. Lu Ye was drenched in blood¡ªof course, it was someone else¡¯s blood. Corpses were scattered across the ground in a mess of limbs and shattered remains. Lu Ye¡¯s hand gripped half a corpse, dragging it out of the vortex. His blood-red eyes stared into that vortex. Was there... someone on the other side? Lu Ye¡¯s primary consciousness tensed slightly, but honestly, it wasn¡¯t that serious if he went out. In the end, it was just fight, fight, fight, kill, kill, kill. While slaughtering people, he refined their Nascent Souls. He wouldn¡¯t have any issues with insufficient true essence either. Lu Ye walked toward the vortex. As long as there were living beings, he could go. His overwhelming thirst for blood constantly drove his soul forward. Just as he was about to enter the vortex, Lu Ye suddenly paused. He turned his gaze in another direction. The red light in his eyes flared violently. "Boom!" Lu Ye shot into the sky, flying northwest. Because there¡ªhe sensed the presence of many living beings. Many, many! At the vortex exit of the Demon Realm. Vermilion Bird hid her aura with all her strength. She had a powerful secret art with excellent concealment properties¡ªotherwise, there was no way she could¡¯ve stayed under the eyes of the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor back when she was weak without having her Vermilion bloodline discovered. She just hoped Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t be able to sense her either. If so, she might still have the chance to imprint her name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. Of course, even if he did find her, it wouldn¡¯t matter. She was right at the exit¡ªif Lu Ye arrived, she would leave immediately. He was too terrifying! Vermilion Bird couldn¡¯t help but feel awe. You could question anything about Lu Ye¡ªbut never his strength. In their past life, he¡¯d still had his struggles. But in this life, he was utterly invincible. Forget people of the same realm¡ªthey didn¡¯t even deserve to be called his opponents. Even if Lu Ye were a whole great realm lower, no one could defeat him. At that moment, a little demon creature suddenly crawled out of the entry vortex. The creature looked like it had only lived ten or twenty years at most. As for strength, merely at the Core Formation stage. Vermilion Bird blinked in surprise. What was a little demon like this doing in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield? The young demon stared blankly at Vermilion Bird too. It scrutinized her closely but didn¡¯t notice anything special. "Hey, what are you doing coming to the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Battlefield now? It¡¯s incredibly dangerous here! Hurry and leave!" Vermilion Bird¡¯s philosophy was simple: just as there were good and bad humans, there were good and bad demons. Lu Ye had once used the name of the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor to massacre countless weak demons¡ªhe was a villain! But the little demon didn¡¯t react to her at all. Instead, it opened its mouth and let out a loud roar. Vermilion Bird was startled and immediately lunged forward to cover its mouth. She had made a mistake. Demons weren¡¯t just good or bad¡ªthere were also dumb and utterly stupid ones. But then, a second young demon came through the vortex. Vermilion Bird: ??? Then a third, a fourth, a fifth... One after another, young demons¡ªsome still very juvenile¡ªpoured through the teleportation vortex like an erupting demon tide. Vermilion Bird: ??? "What are you doing? Who {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} told you to come here? Go back! There¡¯s a god of slaughter here! You¡¯ll die if you stay!" More and more demons continued to arrive. The moment they entered, they began howling at the top of their lungs. They were clearly trying to attract Lu Ye. Some were even infants. Vermilion Bird was on the verge of going mad. She no longer cared about exposing herself. She raised both hands and unleashed her demon power, forming a powerful shield in an attempt to block the teleportation vortex. What the hell was happening? Why were they coming here to die? And in the very moment Vermilion Bird released her demon energy¡ªall the little demons turned their heads and looked at her. Their eyes lit up with hunger and greed. Vermilion Bird! It was Vermilion Bird! "Don¡¯t come in! Go back! If you enter, you¡¯ll die!" Vermilion Bird shouted at them furiously. At that moment, a young wolf crept up behind Vermilion Bird and suddenly opened its jaws, biting down hard on her neck. But it was far too weak. Even with the advantage of a sneak attack, it couldn¡¯t break through Vermilion Bird¡¯s defenses. Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief. This young wolf... was attacking her? With a gentle tremor of her body, the little wolf was sent flying. Why? Why? ¡°Ding!¡± A dagger plunged into Vermilion Bird¡¯s body with fierce, desperate force, trying with everything it had to wound her. A group of little demons swarmed her, using weapons, teeth, and claws. ¡°Pfft!¡± Vermilion Bird bled. A strange aura surged from the wound and rapidly entered her body. With a sharp, shrill cry, Vermilion Bird unleashed a shockwave that sent all the juvenile demons flying. At the edge of the vortex, the young demons wore vicious, twisted expressions as they glared at her. Their eyes were so terrifying, even Vermilion Bird felt a deep chill run down her spine. Then the young demons surged forward again, utterly unafraid of death. Realizing they couldn¡¯t hurt her, they began resorting to humiliation. They spat at her, hurled insults at her. Some even threw their own filth at her. Vermilion Bird¡¯s expression went numb. Those young demons¡ªthere was such malice in their eyes, a kind of malice they shouldn¡¯t have possessed. It was the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. It was the Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture of All Spirits! In that moment, Vermilion Bird¡¯s mind buzzed with chaos. She withdrew her power and stared at the countless juvenile demons pouring into the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield like zombies. They had stopped pretending. Almost every single one of them wore the same expression. They were all fragments of the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. Lu Ye... everything Lu Ye had said was true. He hadn¡¯t lied to her in his past life. Those demons he¡¯d slaughtered¡ªevery last one¡ªhad already been part of the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. Even the weakest remaining demon, if parasitized by him, could bring his resurrection. He hadn¡¯t lied to her! But... didn¡¯t the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor cultivate the Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture of All Spirits? That technique didn¡¯t contain anything like this! This kind of terrifying ability... it would take a truly monstrous cultivation method to pull off... She was wrong! She had been completely wrong! Vermilion Bird stared at the expectant, twisted faces of the approaching young demons. In that moment, her tears fell like rain. One of the young demons stepped before her, its eyes domineering and savage as it examined her. ¡°What technique did you cultivate? How can you do something like this?¡± Vermilion Bird shouted, her voice cracking with panic. ¡°You seem to know quite a lot about this emperor,¡± the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor spoke. ¡°The Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture of All Spirits doesn¡¯t even have this kind of divine power! What did you really cultivate?!¡± The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor paused. ¡°Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture of All Spirits? That¡¯s a good name. Hahaha, I didn¡¯t even know my True Parasite Heaven Demon Art had a name like that. Hahaha...¡± The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor laughed madly. Vermilion Bird froze. True Parasite Heaven Demon Art? True Parasite Heaven Demon Art?! He was the Parasite Heaven Demon!!! He was the Parasite Heaven Demon who had been battling Lu Ye in the Seventh Heaven! Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture of All Spirits¡ªit had all been a lie! A trap set by the Parasite Heaven Demon targeting her... and targeting Lu Ye! The Parasite Heaven Demon was the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor was the Parasite Heaven Demon. He never needed to collect the blood of all spirits to increase his strength. Instead, he parasitized the owners of that blood and used them to aid his cultivation. In that moment, blood-red light filled the sky. Lu Ye... had arrived! Chapter 72: Once Upon a Time Living beings. Lu Ye¡¯s blood-red eyes swept over the countless weak demons. Though these demon creatures were feeble, they were young¡ªtheir vitality like the rising sun. To snuff them out, to sever that surging upward momentum, brought an even greater thrill to the act of slaughter. All the weak little demons turned their eyes toward Lu Ye. Excitement lit up their faces. So it was true¡ªamong humans, there were monsters, and some were even more monstrous than demons themselves. Come on, kill me! Lu Ye didn¡¯t say a single word of nonsense. He swung his sword in a horizontal arc. Pshhh¡ªpshhh¡ªpshhh... Blood sprayed, staining the earth crimson. The stench of it billowed upward into the heavens. One after another, the young demons were sliced in two by the sword aura. Their faces still held those eerie, twisted smiles. Even in death, streams of blood-red mist surged toward Lu Ye. He didn¡¯t care. He just kept killing. The young demons continued pouring into the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield in an unending tide. But they came too slowly¡ªnot nearly enough for Lu Ye to kill to his heart¡¯s content. He turned his blood-red gaze to a filthy, disgraceful firebird nearby¡ªtoo filthy to even look at. He raised a fist. "Boom!" The firebird exploded into pieces. Feathers filled the air in a storm of red and gold. ¡°Hm?¡± Lu Ye let out a faint sound of surprise. He struck again, and in that moment, the heavens seemed to lend him strength. Fierce winds roared out from the void. Vermilion Bird¡¯s body was shattered by the blow, her soul consumed by endless regret. But in her heart, she felt... relief. Let me die. Just let me die. Lu Ye had saved her twice. She owed him two lives. Her memories rushed back all at once. ¡°Vermilion Bird? One of the Four Divine Beasts? How come you¡¯re such a tiny thing?¡± ¡°People who know will recognize you as Vermilion Bird. People who don¡¯t might think you¡¯re just some little chick.¡± ¡°Hey there, little chick. We meet again!¡± ¡°Ugh, look at you, all covered in soot. Come here, I¡¯ll wash you off!¡± ¡°Cough cough cough! You little thing, how dare you repay kindness with betrayal? I helped you bathe and you dragged me into the water?!¡± ¡°Little birdie, we meet again. What¡¯s wrong with your demon clan? Why do they keep trying to kill you? Come on, you¡¯re Vermilion Bird for god¡¯s sake! If they know what you are and still don¡¯t treat you like their god, they¡¯re blind idiots. Yet they still hunt you?¡± ¡°Stick with me. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll be dead before long.¡± ¡°This Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor really is terrifying. But don¡¯t be afraid, little bird¡ªwatch me deal with him!¡± ... Lu Ye had once fought the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor in the most brutal battle of the First Heaven. The deeper the fight went, the more silent Lu Ye became. Until the very end. ¡°Lu Ye, you killed so many demons?¡± ¡°I had no choice. If I didn¡¯t kill them, they would¡¯ve killed me.¡± Back then, Lu Ye¡¯s eyes had been full of exhaustion... and killing intent. ¡°But those demons were so weak. How could they possibly kill you?¡± ¡°Weak demons? Do you know that the weak demon behind you¡ªthat little thing¡ªwas the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never lied to you.¡± ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Vermilion Bird had believed him. But there were too many... far too many dead. Even the helpless younglings, barely old enough to open their eyes, were slaughtered by Lu Ye. Tragic. Yet all she saw was the tragedy of the demon clan. She never looked into Lu Ye¡¯s eyes... and saw the pain there. To massacre the weak¡ªfor Lu Ye, that too was a torment beyond words. But he had no choice. If he didn¡¯t kill them, then everything he had done would have been for nothing. All the demons he had slain before¡ªthose deaths would be meaningless. In the end, Vermilion Bird threw herself in front of one of the infant beasts, staking her life to block Lu Ye¡¯s path. It was a newborn, barely a few days old¡ªits eyes hadn¡¯t even fully opened! A beast like that¡ªhow could it possibly be part of the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor? ¡°Step aside!¡± Lu Ye¡¯s face was dark with murderous intent, so thick it couldn¡¯t be dispersed. He pointed his stone sword at her. ¡°If you want to kill it, then kill me too! It¡¯s just been born!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± Vermilion Bird couldn¡¯t even imagine what kind of twisted, vicious expression that infant beast might have shown¡ªwhen she couldn¡¯t see it, hidden behind her back. What she hadn¡¯t told Lu Ye was that she had secretly hidden one young demon away. It was a firebird that looked very much like her, still missing patches of feathers. She wanted to see for herself¡ªwhether or not it really was the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. Later, because she kept interfering, Lu Ye finally knocked her unconscious. When she woke up, half the demon world had been slaughtered by Lu Ye. Especially the young ones. Afterward, Lu Ye tried to explain it to her. And in her heart, she knew Lu Ye had been right. But she just couldn¡¯t accept it at the time. She was waiting. Waiting for that firebird to grow. The firebird lived for a long time under her protection. It lived for a long time. And then, by sheer accident, it died. All the way until its death, it never once showed any signs of being the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. Later, even though she still couldn¡¯t accept the truth, as she watched the broken demon world slowly recover its vitality, she finally began to let go. But now, thinking back, she suddenly realized¡ª The time when she was raising that firebird under her protection... that was exactly when Lu Ye had suffered the most. From the Second Heaven to the Fourth Heaven, it was like the entire world was against him. He had even provoked the Eternal Faith Sect. Looking back now, there were too many coincidences. Too many things that didn¡¯t make sense. Until¡ªuntil she found a demonic scripture in the Demon Clan¡¯s ancestral court in the Seventh Heaven. Blood-Dissolving Demon Scripture of All Spirits... Hahaha. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor she believed had cultivated that technique¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even known the name of it. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor was the Parasite Heaven Demon. She thought she had saved a firebird. Little did she know, she had saved the most terrifying existence to ever threaten the demon clan¡ªthe one that would bring their complete extinction. She couldn¡¯t die! She absolutely could not die. If she died, then maybe in this life, Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t have to go kill the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. Because this life¡¯s Lu Ye... was too strong. He didn¡¯t need enemies. He just needed to cultivate with all his strength, and he could leave all his foes far behind. But she would kill the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. She wanted to feel for herself what kind of agony Lu Ye had endured when he killed that thing. After she had experienced the pain Lu Ye once bore, she would return to # N§àv§Ölight # him¡ªand let him kill her with his own hands! ¡°Baptism by fire!¡± A shrill cry of a phoenix echoed through the world. Blazing gold and crimson flames erupted, soaring dozens of meters into the air. A massive Vermilion Bird emerged from the fire, revealing her true form¡ªthe supreme presence of one of the Four Heavenly Spirits, one of the Four Symbols of the Mortal Realm. Suddenly, blood-red chains wrapped tightly around Lu Ye¡¯s body. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor had made his move. That was a parasitic vessel he had his eye on. He couldn¡¯t let Lu Ye destroy it so easily. Ordinary vessels didn¡¯t matter¡ªhe could afford to lose as many of them as necessary. But someone like Vermilion Bird, though incredibly difficult to parasitize, was far too valuable to abandon as long as there was a sliver of hope. What if it worked? But he underestimated Lu Ye. The blood-red chains couldn¡¯t restrain him in the slightest. Lu Ye punched out. The chains shattered instantly. ¡°Boom!¡± Vermilion Bird¡¯s true flames were extinguished by that single punch. A faint glimmer of red light streaked into the teleportation vortex and vanished. A new wave of young demons surged forward. Chapter 73: A Mountain of Corpses and a Sea of ??Blood Kill, kill, kill! These weak little demons¡ªtruthfully, they couldn¡¯t even satisfy Lu Ye¡¯s bloodlust. But it didn¡¯t matter. He wasn¡¯t picky. As long as any living being dared to enter, he dared to kill. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor used Lu Ye¡¯s slaughter as a way to affix his parasitic power onto Lu Ye¡¯s body. He normally didn¡¯t parasitize humans. After all, the technique he cultivated was a demon scripture¡ªonly by parasitizing demons could he achieve perfect integration. But Lu Ye... Lu Ye¡¯s potential was simply too tempting. In his eyes, Lu Ye was the flower of the Great Dao, the fruit of the Path, a human embodiment of the Dao itself. If he could successfully parasitize Lu Ye, the Demon Emperor was even willing to abandon his own true body. So what was a parasitic vessel? Let Lu Ye kill¡ªkill to his heart¡¯s content. The more Lu Ye slaughtered, the more power the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor could harness. He refused to believe it¡ªhe, a demon emperor, couldn¡¯t outmatch a mere Void Refinement cultivator? As time passed¡ª The corpses of demon beasts piled ever higher. The blood below had already formed a river, and bodies stacked into mountains. The nauseating stench of blood filled the air. But Lu Ye was thoroughly enjoying it. This environment... was perfect. Like a fish in water. The Slaughter Lotus Seed continued to fan the flames of his bloodthirsty intent. Lu Ye¡¯s primary consciousness observed this scene with no emotional fluctuation at all. Honestly, this wasn¡¯t even as nauseating and painful as when he¡¯d been forced to personally kill all those demon cubs before. He was never someone who reveled in killing. Back when he exterminated the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor completely, it had nearly driven him sick with disgust. Those tiny, helpless infant beasts... Completely defenseless, still suckling and mewling. But what else could he do? Once a slaughter began¡ªit wasn¡¯t something one could stop just because they wanted to. It was too painful. And Vermilion Bird had kept trying to persuade him the whole time. Did she ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) really think he didn¡¯t know he shouldn¡¯t be killing the weak? Her words only made it worse for him. His worldview, his values¡ªinstilled in him since childhood¡ªhad always told him never to harm the weak, never to be cruel. But reality... Reality screamed in his face that if he didn¡¯t kill, far more would die in the future. Back then, Lu Ye hadn¡¯t yet reached the point where his Dao heart was like iron. He still felt sorrow. Still felt revulsion at the slaughter. But after that massacre, Lu Ye¡¯s heart grew colder and harder. Slaughter... was just slaughter, nothing more. At least back then, those cubs had known how to fake innocence¡ªpretending to be pitiful and helpless. But now, every young beast that came through the vortex wore a vicious expression. Every single one was already a parasitic host for the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor. How many had come through now? A hundred thousand? Judging by the mountain of corpses before him, that was probably about right. But... why was it slowing down? Lu Ye¡¯s primary consciousness sensed something wrong. He could already feel this body¡ªconsumed by killing intent¡ªgrowing impatient. The flow of demons into the battlefield was too slow. If this body, now ruled by slaughter, rushed into the vortex and charged into the Demon Realm to continue the massacre, that wouldn¡¯t be surprising at all. Charging into the demon realm wasn¡¯t the problem. The problem... was that he hadn¡¯t left his name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking yet! Watching his body butcher its way through this battlefield with such joy, Lu Ye had nearly forgotten¡ªplacing his name on the monument was one of the reasons he entered the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield in the first place. His blood-red eyes locked onto the vortex. With a pure and shockingly simple logic, his physical body now understood¡ªthere were still many living beings beyond the vortex. So it began to move. Was he really going out? Lu Ye felt a little helpless. Fine, whatever¡ªif he had to leave, then so be it. This kind of thing couldn¡¯t be forced anyway. But what Lu Ye didn¡¯t expect was that while he was willing to leave, the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor absolutely wasn¡¯t. That body¡ªwas something the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor had set his sights on with utmost obsession. He hadn¡¯t yet left his name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. How could the Demon Emperor tolerate this body walking away? So, more demon beasts were thrown into the battlefield. This time, many were under a hundred years old, already showing signs of aging, and their cultivation was extremely weak. They were no longer restricting it to beasts under twenty years old¡ªthis greatly expanded the available options. Previously, the focus had been on infant beasts because they hadn¡¯t yet received significant investment. If they died, the demon race could regenerate¡ªlow sunk cost. But now, seeing that Lu Ye actually intended to leave, the Demon Emperor couldn¡¯t be bothered with such cost-efficiency calculations. Send them all in! Let them all die! And so, a new wave of demonic explosion began. Lu Ye stopped walking, face now serious, and continued slashing with his stone sword¡ªkilling with evident joy. ... Nine Dragon Valley! The disciples who had escaped the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield were finally calming down after being comforted. Their panic and terror began to settle. But it was only a momentary calm. The psychological trauma left by what they had witnessed inside... no one could say how long it would haunt them. How many nights it would come clawing back in dreams, tearing them awake in screams. Cultivators were still human. And every human had their limits. Seeing their disciples finally regain some composure, the sects¡ªwho had all suffered heavy losses¡ªcouldn¡¯t help but feel bitter sorrow. A total collapse. Sects like the Yin-Yang Law Sect and the Supreme Empire¡ªnearly their entire young generation had been wiped out. In the future, other sects would have fresh waves of strong disciples. Just the difference in numbers could tip the balance and drive a once-great sect into irreversible decline. ¡°Mo Zhi, look at me. Do you remember¡ªwho was it that killed your senior brothers?¡± An elder from the Mountain River Pagoda Sect asked as he looked at Xu Mozhi. It was unimaginable¡ªhow a Void Refinement cultivator could be reduced to this state of soul-shattering terror. Xu Mozhi¡¯s eyes were hollow. In his mind, again and again, he saw his senior brother at the Combined Dao Realm summon the Heaven Net Shield¡ªonly for it and his body to be shattered in a single punch. His flesh had been pulverized into pulp. Everyone had died. Everyone had been obliterated. He devoured Nascent Souls¡ªone bite at a time. The Nascent Souls bled as they were eaten. ¡°Urgh...¡± Xu Mozhi retched again. The pride and elegance he¡¯d displayed before Bai Qiulan¡ªthe appearance of a refined gentleman¡ªhad completely vanished. The people of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect could only sigh. They had to switch to someone else. Finally, a disciple who had only caught a partial glimpse¡ªfleeing in the midst of panic and wailing, early enough to avoid being fully broken¡ªwas able to speak. He had seen Lu Ye¡¯s face. He took out a brush and paper and began to sketch. The killing aura¡ªthat was the first thing he drew, like flames blazing from the body. With his continuous descriptions, the image of a youth with terrifying murderous intent gradually emerged on the paper. He looked like one of those legendary storybook beauties¡ªstrikingly handsome¡ªbut his expression was so cold, so terrifying, that just seeing him could make children cry and infants fall silent. ¡°Are you sure this is the man?¡± The disciple nodded vigorously. ¡°Are his eyes... really that big?¡± The elder stared at the drawing, eyes narrowing. The eyes drawn were the size of fists¡ªway too exaggerated in proportion. The disciple nodded even harder. ¡°I saw him with my own eyes! That¡¯s exactly how he looked!¡± Chapter 74: If Brother Was Here While the disciple of Mountain River Pagoda Sect was frantically sketching the portrait, Bai Qiulan was already quietly transmitting a message through voice transmission. "Elder Sun, please quietly shatter the soul stone of my disciple Lu Ye. Make sure no one notices." Sun Li? Although confused, Sun Li still did as asked. ¡°Who is this fiend? Does anyone recognize him?¡± Elder You Tianyou of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect enlarged the drawn image proportionally, tracing it with energy threads of all kinds to bring it vividly to life. The youth in the image appeared tall and broad, with eyes absurdly large and blazing with blood-red flame. A storm of killing intent swirled around him, making him look like the reincarnation of a god of slaughter. Everyone turned their eyes toward the projection of the youth suspended in the sky. This person... Unfamiliar! Over on the Grand Dao Sect¡¯s side, Yue Hongling stared at the projected image in stunned silence. This... was Senior Brother? Yue Hongling strained to find even the slightest resemblance to Lu Ye in that sketch. ... Nothing. She really couldn¡¯t see it. Who the hell had drawn Senior Brother like that? Everyone stared at the image and couldn¡¯t help but shake their heads. Judging by the build, he seemed more like someone from the Jie Sect. ¡°Central Province Dynasty, do you recognize this person?¡± The Central Province Dynasty was still inwardly relieved. Fortunately, they¡¯d maintained a good relationship with the Grand Dao Sect and had listened to Bai Qiulan¡¯s warning. Though no one from their sect had managed to leave their name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) Chosen Ranking, at least they had survived. Compared to the devastation other forces had suffered, it was practically a miracle. ¡°We don¡¯t recognize him, never seen this person.¡± ¡°What about the Grand Dao Sect?¡± ¡°Do you know this fiend?¡± You Tianyou hadn¡¯t been aiming at the Central Province Dynasty to begin with¡ªhis real target was always the Grand Dao Sect. The members of the Grand Dao Sect were also curious about who this person could be. They examined the image again and again, thought about it repeatedly. But in the end, they still shook their heads. ¡°Apologies, we don¡¯t know him.¡± You Tianyou¡¯s gaze turned toward Bai Qiulan. ¡°Daoist Bai, you must recognize him, don¡¯t you?¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression remained calm. She looked at the image and spoke without even a trace of a lie. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize him.¡± ¡°You dare swear to that?¡± ¡°Swear your ass. Who the hell do you think you are, to demand my master swear an oath?¡± Yue Hongling¡¯s temper exploded instantly. You Tianyou was briefly stunned. ¡°Insolent! I¡¯m speaking to your master¡ªwhen did a junior like you earn the right to interrupt?¡± His voice roared out like crashing waves, loud enough to deafen. If a weaker cultivator had been nearby, just that single shout would¡¯ve made them piss themselves in terror. To use such force against a young woman¡ªcruel and despicable. ¡°Daoist You, don¡¯t you think that was too much?¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s eyes turned icy cold in an instant. The power of the Taiyin Divine Force spread around her. ¡°Too much? Hardly. I¡¯m simply teaching her what it means to respect her elders.¡± Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with rage. ¡°An old sack of bones like you has the nerve to call yourself a senior? You¡¯ve reached this cultivation realm purely by living long enough. If I had your years, you wouldn¡¯t even be qualified to carry my shoes!¡± That one line made every older cultivator present¡ªespecially those at the Combined Dao Realm¡ªlook distinctly uncomfortable. ¡°Hongling! Watch your words!¡± Bai Qiulan snapped at her immediately. Then she turned to You Tianyou. ¡°Elder You, you are indeed a senior. You shouldn¡¯t lower yourself to arguing with juniors. It¡¯s beneath your dignity.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about dignity today. Our Mountain River Pagoda Sect lost so many disciples. I led them here¡ªif I don¡¯t avenge them, what face do I have to return with?¡± ¡°Bai Qiulan, you clearly know who this fiend is. He¡¯s committed monstrous crimes¡ªwhy won¡¯t you say his name?¡± With You Tianyou taking the lead, other sects that had suffered heavy casualties stepped forward as well¡ªbefore anyone realized it, they had subconsciously formed a loose encirclement around the Grand Dao Sect. The Grand Dao Sect¡¯s powerhouses immediately raised their auras in response. "Junior Bai already said she doesn¡¯t recognize him. Why must you press the issue so aggressively?" "Indeed. Daoist You, do you truly think our Grand Dao Sect fears you?" The people from the Supreme Sword Sect didn¡¯t waste a word. They stepped up beside the Grand Dao Sect, their sword intent already howling through the air. "Picking on the few with the many? Then let me be clear¡ªthe Supreme Sword Sect isn¡¯t here just to spectate!" The Central Province Dynasty hesitated for a moment, then likewise stepped forward to support the Grand Dao Sect. In the blink of an eye, sects across the realm had split into two camps, a clear divide forming. Tension filled the air¡ªone spark, and everything would erupt. "I¡¯m not an unreasonable man," You Tianyou said loudly. "Daoist Bai once swore upon her own Dao to save someone¡¯s life¡ªsuch nobility I truly admire. It was our own ignorance that caused the deaths of our disciples. We cannot blame anyone for that. But now, if Daoist Bai has the courage to swear upon her Dao to save someone, why won¡¯t she swear she doesn¡¯t know this fiend?" "Cut the crap. If you want to fight, just say so," barked Langya Jian from the Supreme Sword Sect. "We¡¯re all in the Combined Dao Realm¡ªwhat right do you have to demand others prove their innocence with a Dao oath? If you think Daoist Bai knows him, then show some proof!" "Hmph! Her refusal to swear means she does know him! Anyway, I¡¯ll have no face to return to my sect after losing so many disciples. I might as well challenge your sect¡¯s techniques before I die!" "Come on, then! Just make one move and see if I don¡¯t hack you into pieces!" The situation teetered on the edge. A single misstep, and a full-blown battle would break out. Bai Qiulan let out a quiet sigh. She truly couldn¡¯t stand to see the sects of the Great Wilderness descend into civil war. That would only bring endless bloodshed. "Everyone, please calm down." "Since Daoist You insists on a Dao oath to prove my innocence, then I shall give it. All sects stand as one¡ªthis conflict is unnecessary." "Master!" Yue Hongling panicked and shouted. This was outright humiliation. Everyone knew the burden of proof was on the accuser, not the accused. And now they wanted her master to swear an oath based on nothing? Bai Qiulan motioned for Yue Hongling to be silent. "I, Bai Qiulan, swear upon my own Dao¡ªI do not recognize the person shown in this image. If I lie, let my Dao be severed." The oath was made. Yue Hongling broke down in tears on the spot. A deep, unbearable injustice overwhelmed her heart. Why? Why did they have the power to force her master to swear upon her Dao? And it was only because this projection didn¡¯t look like Senior Brother. What if it had looked like him? What then? If Senior Brother were here... If Senior Brother were here, who would dare do this? Forget forcing her master¡ªwhen You Tianyou opened his mouth, Lu Ye would¡¯ve already charged in with his sword raised. Fuck whoever it was. Fight if you want to fight. Even if the heavens collapsed, Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t care. The only thing he ever cared about¡ªwere the people beside him. Senior Brother... Senior Brother... After swearing her oath, Bai Qiulan let out another sigh deep in her heart. She felt stifled too. If only Lu Ye were here... "That bastard dares insult my master? I swear I¡¯ll wipe out his entire sect!" She wouldn¡¯t even have time to stop him. Who the hell would be swearing oaths with Lu Ye around? Bai Qiulan had sworn. You Tianyou hadn¡¯t expected she would actually do it. He froze, the rest of his words stuck in his throat. "Fine then. He can¡¯t stay in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield forever. When he comes out¡ªwe¡¯ll know who he is." Those who¡¯d been mentally traumatized at first didn¡¯t dare look at the image at all. But under their elders¡¯ encouragement, they forced themselves to glance at it... And froze. Huh? Not scary! "That¡¯s not him¡ªnot even close! His eyes weren¡¯t that round. They were narrow, with red tail flames spreading from the corners..." "No, no, his figure was slim¡ªdefinitely not this broad-shouldered bull of a man." "Even his clothes weren¡¯t like this..." The crowd... Chapter 75: The Fragrance of Gossip Is Irresistible No one had expected such an outrageous blunder. The disciple from Mountain River Pagoda Sect had drawn the face of the ¡°slaughter demon¡± with utter confidence¡ªonly for it to turn out to be completely wrong. You Tianyou was livid. He gave the disciple two vicious slaps across the face, swelling it up on the spot. "You didn¡¯t even see clearly¡ªwhy the hell were you drawing anything?!" The disciple was wronged beyond words. He had only hesitated for a moment, and Elder You had insisted that he had seen it. He himself had also felt sure he had seen it¡ªthe image he drew did look like what he remembered... Now, all the survivors who¡¯d escaped with their lives began to work together, carefully and collaboratively describing the true appearance of the killer. After half an hour of cross-referencing¡ª Finally, a new figure was projected into the air. When they saw this image, silence fell. It was simply... too absurd. Even those within the Grand Dao Sect stared at the projection, utterly baffled. "Good, good... it seems that unless we fight, none of you will be satisfied!" "You''re telling me this is a youth¡ªjust eighteen years old this year¡ªwho hasn¡¯t even been in our sect for a full year? And you believe he could do all that?" An elder of the Grand Dao Sect roared in fury. "Since ancient times, has anyone ever cultivated for barely half a year and slaughtered Combined Dao cultivators with such ease? Can you name a single person?!" "You¡¯re not trying to find the truth¡ªyou¡¯re just looking for an excuse to gang up on the Grand Dao Sect. Come on, then¡ªfight!" The other sects were silent. Lu Ye¡ªsuch an obscure little disciple¡ªhad barely drawn any attention before this. The only thing anyone remembered about him was how, before the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield opened, he¡¯d calmly meditated without the slightest ripple. Then, when the battlefield opened, he was the first to soar into the sky. That was it... Beyond that, no one remembered anything else about him. You Tianyou took a deep breath and looked at Bai Qiulan again. But this time, Bai Qiulan had unleashed her full aura. Her hands formed seals, and a terrifying Taiyin Divine Sword had begun condensing in the clouds above. The temperature of the world was plummeting at an alarming rate. You Tianyou... This time, if he dared force her to swear again, there would be war. Earlier, his pressure had stemmed from the belief that Bai Qiulan wasn¡¯t someone who would risk plunging the world into chaos. But now, she had made her stance abundantly clear. "This person is a disciple of the Grand Dao Sect. Might I ask¡ªhas his soul stone shattered?" You Tianyou asked. Bai Qiulan looked toward Sun Li. Sun Li had long since silently destroyed Lu Ye¡¯s soul stone. "It shattered." He gestured toward the empty soul stone in front of him. Shattered? You Tianyou didn¡¯t believe it. He immediately began cross-referencing the ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) soul stone¡¯s aura against the sect¡¯s members. The final result left his face black with frustration. It really had shattered... "It seems... a demonic entity has taken over Lu Ye¡¯s body. That¡¯s the only explanation for such carnage." "Then we wait. When he emerges from the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield¡ªwhether human, ghost, demon, or monster¡ªwe strike him down immediately!" "I propose we form a formation!" "I second that!" "The opponent seems to have some mastery over formations as well¡ªwe¡¯ll need an extremely powerful one!" "Agreed. With one heart and one will, we shall slay this demon!" "Not just us¡ªwe must contact our sects and summon even stronger cultivators!" ... Sun Li¡¯s scalp tingled. He was the overseeing elder for this operation, a powerhouse at the Sixth Heaven of Combined Dao. Back when Bai Qiulan had suddenly asked him to destroy Lu Ye¡¯s soul stone, he hadn¡¯t understood. But now... everything made sense. The one carrying out this massacre within the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield... Was a disciple of his Grand Dao Sect. And not just any disciple¡ªhe was from the newest batch of the ninety-second generation. No, seriously¡ªSun Li knew who Lu Ye was. First place in the sect''s internal Genius Tournament. But that was only the tournament for newcomers. Newcomers! Meaning Lu Ye couldn''t be more than twenty years old. A disciple like that? Let alone touching the Combined Dao Realm¡ªeven encountering someone at the Void Refinement Realm and surviving would¡¯ve been bragging rights for the next fifty years. But now? He¡¯d killed a Combined Dao cultivator? He¡¯d killed a group of Combined Dao cultivators? Sun Ruowei was the only person¡ªaside from Lu Ye¡¯s few deceased soulmates¡ªwho had some idea of what was actually going on. Since leaving the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, her expression had stayed exactly the same. Not a flicker of change. It was stiff. Utterly, unbelievably stiff. Everyone assumed she¡¯d been traumatized by the massacre¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t all that strange, honestly. Even Combined Dao cultivators had come out questioning their own existence. And Sun Ruowei was terrified. But it wasn¡¯t just fear of the slaughter. Right now, her mind was spinning with an avalanche of information. Every single piece of it required a huge amount of time to process. This was a case of too much gossip¡ªtoo juicy, too mind-shattering¡ªit had broken her. The first bombshell: Bai Qiulan had called Lu Ye husband!!! She had heard it. Clearly. Vividly. The exact words: husband. With tenderness¡ªreal tenderness¡ªthat Sun Ruowei had never seen from Bai Qiulan in over sixty years of knowing her. The second nuclear-grade revelation: not only did Bai Qiulan call her disciple Lu Ye husband, her other disciple Yue Hongling was also crazily fixated on Lu Ye. Tally it up¡ªChu Ling, Yue Hongling, Bai Qiulan. Three women were already in love with Lu Ye. Holy fuck, Infinite Celestial Venerable! Chaos! Pure chaos! This alone had shattered Sun Ruowei¡¯s entire worldview¡ªbut somehow, instead of fear, all she felt was thrilled. An uncontrollable, irrational excitement was bubbling up inside her. The third and final megaton explosion: Lu Ye was strong. Not just strong¡ªterrifyingly strong. The kind that could scare people to death. Why was he so strong? The curiosity ate at her soul. Even if Bai Qiulan killed her to shut her up, Sun Ruowei had to figure it out. If she didn¡¯t unravel these three gossipy bombs, she was sure her Dao path would crumble. Oh my god! There was such juicy gossip right under her nose¡ªhow could she not eat it up?! She was going to feast on it! ... Meanwhile, Lu Ye was still killing. The mountain of corpses had grown hundreds of meters high. Streams of blood ran down its sides. Lu Ye stood atop that pile of demonic corpses, eyes glowing red as more demons charged at him. But his eyes¡ªwere no longer quite as red as before. The effects of the Slaughter Lotus Seed were fading. His bloodlust had been vented. The flow of incoming demons had slowed dramatically. This time, Lu Ye didn¡¯t act impatiently. He simply waited, standing still, letting the demons throw themselves at him. And when the last demon was split in half, its corpse crashing down upon the mountain of the dead¡ª Lu Ye stopped. The wind blew, but couldn¡¯t lift his blood-soaked clothes. His hair had turned entirely crimson, soaked in gore. At this moment, within the entire Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield¡ª Only one living being remained. From the ninth layer, all the way down to the first. He had wiped it all clean. Good or evil, grateful or vengeful¡ªall of it vanished into nothing. Only one remained in this world. The stone sword vanished. Streams of red light gathered, forming Lu Ye¡¯s image¡ªflashing rapidly across his body. The battle for the Dao had begun. Chapter 76: Fighting for the Way What is *Fighting for the Way*? It is a method far more terrifying than soul-snatching. Soul-snatching is to devour the soul and seize the physical body. But body and soul are hard to unify, hard to become one. Whereas *Fighting for the Way*, the struggle of Dao, begins with the Dao¡ªcausing a clash between Great Daos within the soul, grinding against each other until ultimately, beneath the Dao, the two merge into one, forming the most optimal state. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor had immense confidence in his own Dao. There are countless Daos in this world¡ªhe was one with the heavens and earth. Five Elements, Nine Heavens¡ªhe was everywhere. He did not believe that a mere youth, no matter how fearsome his combat prowess, could have walked far down the path of the Dao. He had sacrificed so much power to pull Lu Ye into the Dao world most suitable for him, to utterly crush and devour him. First Dao! The Dao of All Living Beings! All living beings are me¡ªI am all living beings! Enter the Dao! In an instant, both Lu Ye¡¯s and the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor¡¯s consciousness blurred, and a vast, towering shadow appeared above Lu Ye¡¯s head. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor was prepared to give Lu Ye a shocking experience¡ªwhen Lu Ye saw that endless multitude of living beings, all of them were him, and he was all of them¡ªwhat state would that throw Lu Ye into? He would doubt himself, doubt his Dao. He would be unable to believe that someone¡¯s Dao could be so powerful. Holding on to that belief, the Dao world forged by the intertwining ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) of their Daos began to take shape. The shadow in the sky finally began to reveal its form. What was it? It was the starry sky. One after another, colossal stars hovered in the boundless cosmos. They appeared motionless¡ªbut in truth, the universe was simply too vast for their movements to be perceived. Each star was terrifyingly massive. Each one surrounded by rings of brilliant colors, delivering a soul-shaking visual impact beyond words. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor was stunned. He stared at those enormous stars, at that endless sea of stars. Where were his billions of living beings? No¡ªseriously, where were his billions of living beings? His Dao was meant to evolve countless beings, not countless stars! At this moment, the Dao Comprehension Tree on Lu Ye¡¯s arm was trembling violently, every leaf quivering in excitement. He, he, he... He had chosen the right master! It had thought it had clung to a powerful leg, but looking at this vast galaxy of stars¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a leg, this was a towering World Tree reaching the heavens! Then, the manifested vision of the Dao transformed again! The boundless stars suddenly contracted and shrank¡ªcountless stars spiraled together into a dazzling vortex. A galaxy! An even more stunning sight unfolded. With the first galaxy came a second, a third, a fourth... One by one, galaxies formed¡ªnot like necklaces¡ªno, they were the most beautiful necklaces, draped across the infinite cosmos. Billions of galaxies converged into a sight of unparalleled grandeur. A sight that anyone who witnessed it would remember for a lifetime, struck with eternal awe. "How can this be?" "How could you possibly possess such a Dao?" "I don¡¯t believe it!" In just an instant, the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor let out a terrified, furious roar. He couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªhe thought he was hallucinating. His Dao was unstable, chaotic, collapsing. His belief had shattered. His once steadfast heart, devoted to seeking the Dao, was now riddled with holes, on the verge of collapse. "I refuse! No¡ªthis is an illusion!" "My Dao is deathless, indestructible, eternal and everlasting!" The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor abruptly switched Daos. One had to admit¡ªhe was indeed peerless. From surviving the First Heaven, to perfecting his cultivation by the Seventh, and transforming into a parasitic heavenly demon¡ªhis brilliance was undeniable. Lu Ye¡¯s cultivation speed in his past life may not have been unmatched in all of history, but it was still rare across the ages. And yet the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor could contend with Lu Ye¡ªthat alone proved his overwhelming strength. The galaxy illusion faded. Lu Ye sat cross-legged atop a mountain of corpses, chaotic shadows roiling above him. Suddenly, the mist of chaos dispersed, and a brand-new scene began to unfurl slowly within it. "Boom!" A clap of thunder exploded across the heavens and earth. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor wanted to clash with Lu Ye in a life-and-death struggle of undying Daos. With his endless incarnations, killing him was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. He was confident! But the very next moment¡ª A mouth appeared within the illusion, so massive it defied all description. The owner of that mouth was hidden in darkness. Only the gaping maw could be seen, lightly inhaling. In that instant, everything turned to chaos, to dust, to haze. Living beings, mineral veins, divine metals, ancient medicines... In the end¡ªeven sun, moon, stars, Dao, the fabric of the universe¡ªeverything turned into flowing light, all sucked into that enormous mouth. Everything was being destroyed. Everything was vanishing. This was just one of many scenes that would later be recorded as part of the Great Dark Calamity. Faced with a vision like this¡ªwho would still dare call themselves undying and indestructible? The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor was on the verge of madness. One could see violent red fluctuations rippling around Lu Ye¡¯s body. He was afraid. He was in shock. He could not believe what he was witnessing! This was the absolute suppression of realm and perception. The vision shifted again. This time, the illusion transformed into an endless sea of tribulation clouds within the cosmos. The pressure of this heavenly tribulation alone turned the void into raw chaos. Golden divine lightning of the Nine Heavens danced through the black clouds. Just one thin strand of that lightning could destroy an entire star. This¡ªthis was the scene from Lu Ye¡¯s tribulation to ascend to Emperorhood. Beneath such thunderous calamity, who would still dare proclaim themselves immortal? The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor? Even a matured parasitic heavenly demon wouldn¡¯t dare! "Ahhhhhh¡ª" The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor let out a blood-curdling scream. His Dao collapsed in a thunderous crash. He had poured in so many resources to come here for a Dao struggle¡ªonly to end up shattering his own Dao heart. Demon Realm. Myriad Spirits Demon Palace. Suddenly, a terrified scream tore through the palace. The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor''s body smashed through the palace halls and crashed violently onto the ground. "No!" "No!" He seemed completely insane. Suddenly falling to his knees, he began to kowtow madly toward the front. Each strike of his head sent soil and stone flying, the earth trembling with every impact. "I was wrong! I was wrong!" "Spare me! Spare me!" "Hahaha¡ªfake! It¡¯s all fake! Everything¡¯s fake!" "Ahhhhhh¡ª" The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor fell into a state of utter torment. One moment weeping, the next laughing; one moment begging for mercy, the next screaming in rage. "Boom!" Suddenly, in front of countless terrified demon beasts, the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor self-detonated. He self-detonated! The Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor exploded! What in the world had just happened? The demon race was driven mad. No¡ªwhat had the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor just experienced? What sort of terrifying ordeal had driven him to such madness, to the point of exploding himself? Lu Ye opened his eyes. This time, the red hue in his eyes had significantly faded. Though a few streaks remained, they were now completely suppressed by his conscious will. This time, it seemed unlikely that the Myriad Spirits Demon Emperor would ever recover from this blow. Of course, if he did manage to overcome it, perhaps¡ªjust perhaps¡ªhe might qualify to be Lu Ye¡¯s opponent in this lifetime. Barely. "Finally under control. Wasted a lot of materials, damn wastrel." Lu Ye muttered to himself. Forming seals with both hands, he ignited flames that began burning atop the corpses. His gaze turned toward the Ninth Layer battlefield. As though piercing through layers upon layers of space, he looked upon the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking hanging above the Blood Sea¡¯s stone tablet. It was time¡ªto challenge the rankings. Chapter 77: Top of the Rankings! The burning mountain of corpses and sea of blood finally condensed into a spinning, glistening pill. The pill exuded an overwhelming aroma, its entire body blood-red¡ªjust looking at it, one could tell it was a supreme tonic. Lu Ye, now dominated by slaughter, didn¡¯t bother looting corpses. What did that have to do with him? Hadn¡¯t he obtained divine flame just for the sake of pill refinement and forging? Now this blood-flesh great pill was perfectly suited to his taste. Without the slightest hesitation, he swallowed it in one gulp. Mmm¡ªdelicious! Honestly, refining pills wasn¡¯t all that different from roasting meat. After all, it was all flesh. The blood-flesh great pill swiftly melted into scorching energy, flowing into every limb and part of Lu Ye¡¯s body. His physical strength was rising. Though only slightly¡ªa minor benefit, hardly worth mentioning. Time to challenge the rankings, time to challenge the rankings! In his past life, he had only ranked thirty-third. Let¡¯s see if in this life, he could make it to number one. Though Lu Ye figured that¡¯d be a stretch. The top ten were all Saints¡ªeven the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking didn¡¯t dare reveal their names, lest great karmic consequences follow. Lu Ye was powerful, sure¡ªbut in his last life, he ultimately hadn¡¯t become a Saint. ...Alright, maybe he was being modest. With how monstrous he was now, never mind taking first place¡ªhe even suspected he could punch right through the entire Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. A reborn Heavenly Lord, fully committed to the Dao, and with a system on top of that. Lu Ye¡¯s figure turned into a stream of light, darting toward the Ninth Layer battlefield. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at the Blood Sea. The stone stele stood tall and imposing above the sea of blood. It was grand, magnificent¡ªevery name etched on its surface was legendary across the Nine Heavens. Lu Ye hovered in midair, standing before the stele. Looking at those names, his gaze carried a faint hint of remembrance. Among them¡ªat least half¡ªwere people Lu Ye actually knew. They were scattered across the Nine Heavens, each having become a leader in their respective domains. Some had already attained the Dao and become Emperors. Others had become Lords, had gained dominion. Lu Ye held his breath, his aura settling like a still lake. His Dao. His technique. His power. His past and present lives. His unwavering pursuit of the Way. His fist¡ªrose. Behind Lu Ye, the clouds surged and winds howled. The light of heaven flickered between brilliance and darkness. The entire Ninth Layer battlefield was swept up in a fierce wind. Lu Ye¡¯s black hair whipped wildly in the gusts. His whole body radiated boundless divine light. On this Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking¡ª There were some who were reincarnations of Emperors, some reborn from Heavenly Lords. Some were born with innate Dao embryos, others with Chaos God Bodies. But none of that mattered anymore. This punch¡ªwas for the sake of a clear heart and an enduring Dao! His eyes snapped open! ¡°Heavenly Sovereign Fist!¡± A single punch! Winds howled. The Dao trembled. The divine light swirling around his body all converged upon that one punch. With the force of heaven¡¯s collapse¡ªit slammed fiercely into the stele. ¡°Boom!¡± A thunderous roar erupted, shaking the entire Ancient Battlefield of Heaven¡¯s Chosen. No¡ªnot just that¡ªthe entire First Heaven, whether the Demon Realm, the Buddhist Realm, the Demon Beast Realm, or any of ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) the countless great and small worlds¡ªall heard this deafening boom. The sound was like a morning bell, an evening drum. In that instant, all minds became clear and tranquil. After unleashing the punch, Lu Ye¡¯s body was pushed backward. It was visible now¡ªhis fist had not struck the physical stele directly, but rather a layer of energy covering its surface. At this moment, that energy surged violently¡ªstrands of streaming light gathered at the bottom of the stele. The flowing light converged at the very base of the stone stele¡ª Forming a mass of radiance. In the next second, the light began rapidly flickering across the names etched on the stele. Rumble rumble rumble... Dust and sand crumbled from the stone stele as the light raced across its surface. Tiny cracks began spreading rapidly over the monument. It cracked! Lu Ye was still lightly shaking out his arm¡ªyes, the punch was powerful, but the rebound force had nearly shattered his arm. Watching the darting beam of light, Lu Ye was filled with anticipation. With barely a pause, the flickering light had already surged into the top hundred. And it was still climbing¡ªaggressively. Top fifty! Lu Ye didn¡¯t blink. Last time, he¡¯d made it to thirty-third place and had already received incredibly generous rewards¡ªhis cultivation realm had leapt by four small levels in one go. What¡¯s more, under the resonance of the Dao itself, the incomplete version of the Nine-Life Undying Sutra had been forcibly pushed closer to a full edition. The incomplete version, at most, allowed cultivation of three extra lives. But with that Dao resonance, it had evolved to the point where it could now cultivate four. Which is why Dao resonance truly was an extraordinary opportunity. The light kept rising. One by one, those familiar names¡ªrenowned throughout the Nine Heavens¡ªwere overtaken by the glowing brilliance. Thirty-second place! At that moment, Lu Ye had already surpassed his former self, reaching rank thirty-two. But it didn¡¯t stop there. Top thirty! Top twenty! The moment that beam of light entered the top twenty, a majestic illusory stone stele materialized in the sky above the First Heaven. Heaven and earth responded as one¡ªcelestial music played, divine radiance burst forth. It was as if the world itself rejoiced, celebrating the emergence of a new Heaven¡¯s Chosen. Everyone in the First Heaven could see the stele appear. "What is that stele?" In an instant, powerful figures across the realms were startled out of their cultivation. With a single step, they appeared high in the sky, gazing at the towering illusion with shock. "The Heaven¡¯s Chosen Stele¡ªthat¡¯s the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking! The stele has manifested... someone has entered the top twenty of the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen!" Even mighty cultivators felt their hearts quake. Top twenty! That was a realm where, as long as one didn¡¯t fall prematurely, they were virtually guaranteed to become an Emperor or Supreme Lord. A single Emperor could allow one sect to dominate the myriad worlds. If someone became a Heavenly Lord, they would stand unrivaled across all heavens and earth, their name immortalized, their words becoming law! Of course, most of these experts were just here to watch the show. The ones truly stirred were the many factions camped in Nine Dragon Valley. They all knew¡ªthe Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield now housed a slaughter demon, and every cultivator within had already been annihilated. And according to Bai Qiulan¡¯s account, this demon hadn¡¯t started with human cultivators¡ªhe began by butchering the demon, monster, and alien races. Which meant this demon killed indiscriminately. No other cultivators remained in the battlefield. Which meant¡ªthat being who had just surged into the top twenty of the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking... Was that very slaughter demon! He had charged into the top twenty! Top twenty! To be so bloodthirsty at such a young age... If he were allowed to mature, the Nine Heavens themselves would wail beneath his sword. "Fellow Daoists, this killing fiend has already become a menace," bellowed a Grand Elder of the Yin-Yang Law Sect. "In the past, the Great Saints of the Nine Heavens eradicated evil cultivators to uphold the righteous path. Today, another devil cultivator has emerged. We must exterminate him¡ªfor the lives of all beings, for the countless masses, to preserve a bright and just world!" "All sects, send word back immediately. Call for your strongest!" "If necessary¡ªsummon the Tribulation-Crossing Ancestors!" "Yes! Every sect must gather their peak powers. We must join forces to slay this devil!" "This is no longer a personal feud. If we let him grow any further, the First Heaven will be destroyed. His bloodlust is beyond comprehension¡ªwe don''t need to say more!" A group of sect elders, all of whom had lost disciples to Lu Ye, were particularly agitated. Many others felt their words held truth. That man in the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Battlefield¡ªhe had killed everyone inside, without distinction. He was truly a devil cultivator. Yue Hongling and Bai Qiulan exchanged glances in that moment. Yue Hongling was, at first, overwhelmed with joy. Senior brother... had become even stronger! In his past life, he only made it to thirty-third. But now, he had charged into the top twenty. But the more joy she felt, the more her heart went numb. Senior brother was cultivating so desperately... it felt like he was trying to get as far away from them as possible... On the illusory stele in the sky, the light had already entered the top twenty¡ªbut it didn¡¯t stop there. "It¡¯s still rising!" Many top cultivators across the First Heaven couldn¡¯t help but feel a cold chill flood their hearts. What kind of monster was this?! Chapter 78: Illuminating the Heavens At that moment, Lu Ye¡¯s heart was remarkably calm. If I attain it, I am fortunate. If I do not, it is fate. To cross blades with the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen at this very moment¡ªwas a blessing in itself. The light continued to climb, though its speed had clearly begun to slow. The top twenty were all titans¡ªaside from those who had fallen prematurely, the rest were all Emperors at minimum. As he watched the light leap past one name after another¡ª Lu Ye¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. Back when I faced the Eternal Tribulation, all of you beat me down so viciously. Now it¡¯s my turn to surpass you one by one, isn¡¯t it? Fifteenth! Fourteenth! Thirteenth! All of First Heaven was utterly stunned. It was still climbing? Yue Hongling¡¯s eyelids twitched wildly. No way... Why has Senior Brother become this strong after reincarnation? Even with a rebirth, being able to climb from thirty-third to somewhere in the top twenty was already ridiculously exaggerated. And now¡ªhe was still rising? "Master, how can Senior Brother¡¯s rank rise so much?" Yue Hongling asked, unable to understand. She, too, had reincarnated as a Great Emperor. Though there was indeed a realm gap between an Emperor and a Heavenly Lord, the improvement Lu Ye was displaying far exceeded anything she¡¯d achieved. Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression was complicated. She stared unblinking at the beam of light that continued to surge upward. Why had Lu Ye become so powerful? "Perfect Origin Core Pill," Bai Qiulan uttered those five words. In his past life, Lu Ye had only formed a Sky-Grade Core¡ªit had left serious flaws in his foundation. Those who made the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen top thirty... no, even the top twenty¡ªall of them had walked an utterly flawless path at every step. For Lu Ye to reach thirty-third despite a flawed Origin Core said everything about how terrifyingly strong he already was. Yue Hongling fell silent. So... Lu Ye could¡¯ve ranked higher in the past life, but because he gave her the Perfect Origin Core Pill, his placement dropped? "A single Perfect Origin Core Pill isn¡¯t enough to boost Senior Brother this far," Yue Hongling still resisted the idea. Bai Qiulan¡¯s gaze shifted toward her. "The Silent Forest Battle." Yue Hongling froze. He was the Nine-Life Heavenly Lord¡ªbut last time, because of her, he¡¯d already lost one of his lives. Compared to now, when his lives remained intact¡ªthere was no contest. "I remember... when Lu Ye left his name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking in his past life, he wasn¡¯t at full strength," Bai Qiulan added. Yue Hongling... That wasn¡¯t her fault, okay¡ªSenior Brother had been injured saving Vermilion Bird. "So now, without us holding him back... he truly soars. No one can stop him anymore." Bai Qiulan sighed deeply. Yue Hongling no longer had the slightest smile on her face. Twelve! Eleven! When the beam of light reached rank eleven, the Invincible Sword Sovereign was automatically pushed back. That peerless sword cultivator¡ªhad just been surpassed by Lu Ye. The crowd erupted. Truly¡ªan uproar. Lu Ye breaking into the top twenty had shocked everyone¡ªbut it was still digestible. After all, this was a one-man slaughterhouse. If he wasn¡¯t that strong, how could he have wiped out the entire Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield? But now¡ªyou¡¯re telling me he¡¯s entering the top ten? Tenth! The top ten names were cloaked in chaotic light. When Lu Ye¡¯s gaze pierced through the haze, one ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) of the names emerged from the mist. Cang Jiutian. Honorific title: Great Sage of the Nine Heavens. The very one who carved out the Nine Heavens, giving the weak a chance to breathe¡ªan exalted sage of supreme virtue. Before the Nine Heavens had been opened, what kind of world had this been? The Human Sovereign Banners flew unchecked, blotting out the sun and sky. Tens of thousands, even millions of beings would be swept into the banners to be "guests." The refinement of Purple Placenta Chariots had become commonplace. Evil demons and wayward cultivators were endless in number, their growth frighteningly fast. Billions of living beings floated rootless like pond scum¡ªnot knowing if they would survive today, not knowing what tomorrow might bring. You could devote yourself wholeheartedly to cultivating the Dao¡ªonly to step outside and be slaughtered by some devil cultivator who started far later than you. They roared and howled, murdering and burning, flaunting their golden belts. Build a bridge? Die in a ditch. ¡°Fellow Daoist, help me attain the Dao!¡± In such an atmosphere, it¡¯s easy to imagine how absurd the world was. Ordinary beings were on the brink of extinction. It was under such conditions that the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens, after much sorrow and reflection, rose to become invincible, purging evil and cleansing the world¡ªthis is also how the Nine Heavens came to be. He was a benevolent saint, admired by all living beings. To this day, countless beings still offer incense in his name. Lu Ye admired him as well. But now, Lu Ye had taken his place, directly occupying the tenth spot. It was at this very moment. The illusory stone stele in the void erupted with unprecedented brilliance. In that instant, countless shadows of the stele cast their light toward the heavens. Second Heaven! Third Heaven! Fourth Heaven! All the way up to the Ninth Heaven! The Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking was a chaos-grade treasure, possessing boundless power. Simply casting an illusory shadow across the Nine Heavens was a simple task. But this shadow created an uproar across the realms. "Heaven¡¯s Chosen Stele? Someone has entered the top ten again?" "Good, good, good! Looks like another great era is arriving. My path to becoming an Emperor is right before this person!" "Father, what is this?" "The Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking records the greatest Chosen of all time. Anyone who makes it onto the list is an unparalleled genius, destined to become an Emperor, a Supreme Lord, or even a Saint. There¡¯s more than one who will achieve this!" "Where is it? I¡¯ll go try it! With my strength, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll make it to the top!" "It¡¯s in the First Heaven. You won¡¯t be able to pass." "Is there no way? This kind of momentum should be mine!" "It¡¯s set by the Saints, and it¡¯s not easy." The stele floated high in the Nine Heavens. Under the gaze of thousands, the race for the rankings was far from over. Lu Ye saw the ninth name on the stele. Li Mo! Also known as, Mo Sheng! Ah, this was the strongest evil cultivator who had ascended through the darkest and most chaotic era. One could say that the title of Mo Sheng was so prestigious, it was almost absurd. Eighth. Zhu Qing Shen. Oh, so the Heartless Saint only ranks eighth, huh? The deeper the love, the shorter its life. The more profound the feelings, the deeper the wounds. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but sigh when he saw that name. The Heartless Dao, the Heartless Dao... If Lu Ye weren¡¯t such an optimistic person after all that had happened¡ªbetrayed by eight women he loved¡ªhe might have doubted himself as well. As the saying goes, if one person betrays you, it¡¯s their fault. But if eight people betray you, perhaps it¡¯s time to reflect on your own issues? There¡¯s a valid point in that. Lu Ye didn¡¯t argue against or agree with that kind of thinking. No one is perfect, no saint is flawless. There¡¯s not always a right or wrong in this world¡ªwhat matters is whether you stay true to your own heart. To be honest, with those eight women... If even one of them had truly cut off their love after being reborn and moved forward with determination, Lu Ye might not have grown so disgusted with them. Of course, the premise was that they never came near him again. Leave him be, stay far away, live a good life, and perhaps, they might create a dazzling future for themselves. Wasn¡¯t Shangguan Huanling trying to become independent and strong? Her Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture was also the ultimate technique Lu Ye had derived for her based on the Swallowing Heaven True Scripture. If Shangguan Huanling could use her own strength to gain enough treasures and devour her own origin, she might truly be able to rise to the throne once again. But of course, only if she could really pull it off. Seventh place. Yao! This name didn¡¯t even leave a personal mark, instead using the title "Yao." A great Saint of the Demon Clan, Swallowing Heaven Mayfly? As for this, Lu Ye couldn¡¯t say for certain, but it didn¡¯t matter. He¡¯d never really cared much for demons or monsters. Chapter 79: His name is Lu Ye! "It¡¯s still rising?" All across the heavens, everyone saw the name that had just been knocked down by the light. Even though it was just for an instant, they saw it¡ªclearly. Good heavens¡ªGreat Sage of the Nine Heavens, Mo Sheng, Heartless Saint, Demon Saint... One saint after another, mercilessly replaced. How terrifyingly powerful was this newly risen Heaven¡¯s Chosen? Sixth place: Xiang Changsheng! The Longevity Saint! A supreme cultivator who had walked the path of the Great Dao to an unimaginable level, ultimately attempting to become one with heaven and earth, to live as long as the universe itself. Unfortunately... What in this world is truly eternal? Even the cosmos will one day explode into a fleeting spark. And it¡¯s still rising! Fifth place: Mortal Dust Brother! At this point, the names belonged to truly ancient existences. It was hard to fathom how, in such an ever-intensifying cultivation world, these figures had managed to remain at the forefront for so long. And that name... didn¡¯t even sound like a name. More like a title. Hm... well, putting someone else¡¯s name on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking¡ªthat alone was a power move. Fourth place: Ni?lua?n! (Chaos Reversal!) The undisputed number one during the Reversal, Archaic, and Bloodshed Eras. When the Great Saint of Reversal appeared, yin and yang were flipped, star rivers flowed backward. Across all Nine Heavens, countless cultivators were now witnessing the ranking live. Could he break into the top three? Everyone was waiting, eager. Some hoped he¡¯d make it. Others hoped he¡¯d fail. Lu Ye himself was quietly curious. What kind of existences are in the top three? Suddenly, the beam of light surged forward¡ªinto the top three. But this time... the names of the top three did not appear. Even Lu Ye didn¡¯t get to see them. He guessed there were two possible reasons why the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking didn¡¯t display them. First, the top three were taboo. Existences that could not be spoken of. Second, they were still alive. In either case, if the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking displayed them, it might trigger immense karmic repercussions. It could even be directly destroyed. As for Lu Ye¡¯s own ranking, the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking seemed to hesitate. It couldn¡¯t decide exactly which position Lu Ye should occupy. Seeing this, Lu Ye let out a low laugh. "When you hesitate¡ªthat means I¡¯m already number one." Three mysterious beings whom the stele dared not provoke¡ªand Lu Ye, who was not yet that powerful. The fact that the stele was hesitating about placing him meant only one thing, didn¡¯t it? Upon hearing Lu Ye¡¯s words, the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking seemed to steel its resolve. In an instant, within Lu Ye¡¯s vision, the radiant beam of light leapt upward¡ª Soared¡ª And landed directly at first place! The pinnacle of the list! The Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking then flew toward Lu Ye of its own accord, hovering silently before him. "Please inscribe your honorific title." For Lu Ye, this was a moment of decision. Should he write "Nine-Life"? Or should he write his real name? If he used "Nine-Life," no one would know it was him until much later. But if he used his real name¡ªthen every realm under the heavens would remember Lu Ye. And in the future, there would surely be unending, earth-shaking battles. After all, the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking was located in the First Heaven¡ªHeaven¡¯s Chosen from the other Eight Heavens had no chance to leave their names on it. Yet many of those Heaven¡¯s Chosen had terrifying talent. Some were born fused with the Dao. What could he do? Their parents were powerhouses. If Lu Ye wrote his real name, then all of those monsters would become his rivals on the path of Dao. But¡ª Who cared? Lu Ye lifted a finger as his brush. In his past life, he had never feared the enemies of the world. In this life, he feared them even less. None of that "lie low and secretly develop until you shock everyone" bullshit. In Lu Ye¡¯s eyes, there was only one path¡ªpress forward with unstoppable might, battle all enemies under heaven, and become truly invincible! He used his finger as a brush. The stroke of the brush was fierce like a dragon, swift like a snake. Two large characters burst forth onto the void. His name¡ªLu Ye! ¡°Boom!¡± The entire Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield trembled at once. Immortal light surged, chaos swirled. The Great Dao descended like chains, manifesting between heaven and earth. The name Lu Ye appeared clearly upon the stone stele¡ªupon the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking¡ªand before the eyes of all cultivators across the Nine Heavens and the myriad realms. ¡°Bold!¡± In an instant, countless Heaven¡¯s Chosen lit up with divine brilliance in their eyes. Such boldness! To write one¡¯s real name¡ªstroke by stroke, with full clarity¡ªhow much audacity did that take? Good. Very good. Lu Ye. Even many cultivators who had long since abandoned the desire to compete drew a sharp breath. This was a ruthless one¡ªa heaven-shaking, bone-chilling ruthless one. This one act alone made it clear: in the future, storms of blood would sweep across the land. ¡°First Heaven, huh? Come up. Please, I beg you to come up¡ªI can¡¯t wait to either kill you or be killed by you!¡± ¡°Arghhh, why isn¡¯t that me? Why wasn¡¯t I born in the First Heaven? Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, do you dare come to me?!¡± ¡°Too crazy. But damn it, I really like it!¡± These were the words of strangers¡ªoutsiders, watching, observing. But in Nine Dragon Valley¡ª When the crowd saw that the number one name on the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Stele was Lu Ye, they all gasped at once. Lu Ye! He actually¡ªfucking¡ªreached first place on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking! Holy shit. That¡¯s number one! All the Saints, Heavenly Lords, Emperors on that list had just been trampled underfoot. Nine Dragon Valley fell into an eerie, prolonged silence. The members of Grand Dao Sect actually wanted to cheer out loud in that moment. This was Lu Ye¡ªtheir disciple from Grand Dao Sect! Their disciple¡ªhad become number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking! If this had been a normal situation, they would¡¯ve burst into cheers, absolutely ecstatic. But the problem was... Lu Ye had just massacred a heap of disciples from the various sects. To those sects, he was now a thorn in the flesh, a mortal enemy, unforgivable. To cheer... wasn¡¯t appropriate! But to not cheer¡ªhaha¡ªit was getting hard to hold it in! Number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking! Their disciple from Grand Dao Sect! Just thinking about it filled them with a sense of unmatched glory. ¡°Still going to encircle and kill him?¡± asked a Grand Elder from Mountain River Pagoda Sect, his voice a little shaky. If it had just been twenty-something rank... even rank ten-something... they¡¯d still go for it. But this¡ªwas first place! A powerhouse from the Supreme Empire instantly became incensed. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we? So what if he¡¯s number one? A Heaven¡¯s Chosen is still just a Heaven¡¯s Chosen¡ªnot a real powerhouse!¡± ¡°No matter how gifted, kill him and he¡¯s nothing!¡± ¡°When he was unknown, we¡¯d send one Tribulation Realm cultivator to kill him. Now that he¡¯s ranked number one¡ªwe¡¯ll send ten, fifty Tribulation Realms to kill him. I don¡¯t believe we can¡¯t deal with a newly risen Heaven¡¯s Chosen!¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t kill him¡ªwhat, are our dead disciples supposed to have died in vain? If we let this slaughtering demon live, he¡¯ll come knocking on our doors sooner or later!¡± The Supreme Empire cultivators were worked up, and so were the elders from the Yin-Yang Law Sect. Other sects had only lost a portion of ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) their young elites. But these two sects¡ªtheir younger generation had been completely wiped out. ¡°But Grand Dao Sect...¡± the elder from Mountain River Pagoda Sect still looked concerned. ¡°Grand Dao Sect, didn¡¯t you say Lu Ye¡¯s soul stone had shattered? This Lu Ye can¡¯t be your disciple. If we attack him, will your sect intervene?¡± The Grand Elder of Grand Dao Sect was silent for a moment. Then replied, clean and sharp: ¡°We will intervene.¡± ¡°To help whom?¡± asked a Grand Elder from Jie Sect. ¡°Anyone who tries to kill Lu Ye¡ªwe¡¯ll fight them.¡± All the sects... Chapter 80: Catching a turtle in a jar? Grand Dao Sect¡¯s words made the entire situation suddenly delicate. "You¡¯re saying that anyone who attacks Lu Ye¡ªGrand Dao Sect will strike at them?" The Grand Elder of Jie Sect seemed as though he hadn¡¯t heard clearly. Grand Dao Sect¡¯s Grand Elder Qin Youzhi gave a firm nod. "That¡¯s right. Lu Ye is our Grand Dao Sect disciple. If someone attacks a disciple of our sect, how could we possibly stand by and watch? Of course, we¡¯ll help our own." "He killed so many Jie Sect disciples¡ªhe¡¯s committed a monstrous crime! And your Grand Dao Sect not only refuses to denounce him, but even protects such a fiend? How can you still call yourselves righteous?" roared the Yin-Yang Law Sect¡¯s Grand Elder furiously. "If he violated sect rules, we will punish him according to those rules. But he¡¯s still a Grand Dao Sect disciple. If there is to be punishment, we will take him back to the sect to face our Sect Master¡¯s judgment. If you¡¯re unsatisfied, you may petition our sect. But if you lay hands on our ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) disciple¡ªespecially in such overwhelming numbers¡ªwe absolutely will not turn a blind eye." "You¡¯re going to start a civil war!" "If a civil war begins, it won¡¯t be us who started it. Protecting our disciples is not wrong!" At this moment, Grand Dao Sect was showing unprecedented strength and clarity. Honestly, anyone with half a brain could see Lu Ye¡¯s value to the sect¡ªthose who couldn¡¯t must truly have lacked perspective. He was the kind of genius who could lead Grand Dao Sect from second-tier status straight into the ranks of the top powers of the Nine Heavens. Even if it cost them everything, even if they had to burn through all their resources, Grand Dao Sect would protect Lu Ye at all costs. Supreme Sword Sect said nothing¡ªbut all their strongest quietly began drifting toward Grand Dao Sect¡¯s side. If Lu Ye really soared to the heavens, Supreme Sword Sect would certainly benefit. The Central State Dynasty also leaned toward Grand Dao Sect. There was no need to overthink it¡ªwhatever the Supreme Empire opposed, the Central State Dynasty supported. Simple as that. Meanwhile, the factions of Yin-Yang Law Sect, Jie Sect, Mountain River Pagoda Sect, Supreme Empire, and Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty¡ªall wore ugly expressions. If everyone had banded together, they might¡¯ve had a solid chance at killing Lu Ye. But now... That wasn¡¯t looking so good. Jie Sect was already filled with regret. Their relations with Grand Dao Sect had once been good. But because of one wrong decision, they hadn¡¯t withdrawn their disciples in time¡ªresulting in their deaths¡ªand had placed themselves in direct opposition to Grand Dao Sect. Now that they thought about it... Bai Qiulan had sworn upon the Dao. Why hadn¡¯t they believed her when she warned of danger? Bai Qiulan wasn¡¯t some small fry. Not even a hundred years old, and already achieved Unity with the Dao. Would she speak carelessly? One misstep led to another. And now, the situation had become thoroughly awkward. "Those who kill must pay with their lives. That is the law of the world. I, Youming, acknowledge this law. Since Grand Dao Sect chooses to protect a slaughter demon, then allow me, Youming, to test your Dao." A cold voice suddenly rang out. Black mist surged forth. But despite being black, it carried no evil aura. Within the roiling haze, seven terrifying figures emerged into Nine Dragon Valley¡ªeach exuding pressure that made the heavens tremble. "And I, too¡ªWan Gu Sect, shall join!" More figures appeared¡ªUnity Dao and even Tribulation Realm cultivators, stepping forward. Youming and Wan Gu Sect had joined the camp of those who sought to execute Lu Ye. The mood among those aligned with Grand Dao Sect grew visibly heavy. "What a lively scene," a soft voice interjected, tinged with laughter. "I never expected that the ¡®Heaven¡¯s Chosen¡¯ my junior brother spoke of would actually become the top of the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. Now I really am a little curious to test this Lu Ye myself." A handsome young man in moon-white robes stepped out, holding a folding fan, smiling as he approached. On his robes was embroidered the image of a strange and elegant tower. Heavenly Pavilion had come to join the chaos. Lu Ye, of course, had no idea how chaotic things had become outside. Right now, he was just... happy. Number one. He had actually become the number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. Though if he knew how much turmoil he¡¯d stirred outside, he might¡¯ve been even happier. After all, he still had a bit of killing intent left that hadn¡¯t been burned off. ¡°Boom!¡± A massive pillar of light descended from the heavens. The reward from the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking¡ªwas finally arriving. Perhaps it was because Lu Ye had claimed the top position. Or perhaps it was because¡ªaside from Lu Ye¡ªthere was no one else left to stand on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. This time, the reward was shockingly abundant. The spiritual energy of the entire Nine-Layer Ancient Battlefield was drawn toward him. Simultaneously, the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield trembled with the roar of the Great Dao, and in that moment, a vast flood of insight surged into Lu Ye¡¯s mind. Under the resonance of the Dao, Lu Ye didn¡¯t feel as though he was comprehending it alone¡ª It was as if all the Heaven¡¯s Chosen who had, across countless ages, left their names upon the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking in this battlefield were now lending him their strength, helping him comprehend the Dao together. "Cultivation initiated!" "Ding! Initiated!" Boom! A deep, muffled rumble erupted within Lu Ye¡¯s body. Boundless radiance surged toward his Nascent Soul. His strength began to rise¡ªrapidly. Not long after¡ª Second Layer of Nascent Void! Third! Fourth! In his past life, even ranking thirty-third had allowed him to leap forward four small realms in one go. But this time¡ªhe was first. Fifth Layer! Sixth! Seventh! Eighth! Ninth! From newly entering the Nascent Void Realm all the way to the ninth layer, all within a single reward cycle¡ªand Lu Ye¡¯s aura was still rising. The spiritual energy of the entire Nine-Layer Ancient Battlefield was rushing toward him. Its density¡ªunimaginable. Lu Ye even felt it clearly: If he so wished, right now, he could break through into the Unity Dao Realm. But of course¡ªthat was not going to happen so easily. First, because his third life (including his true life, all future ones included) still hadn¡¯t been condensed through a proper treasure. The Unity Dao Realm was the most optimal stage to forge that third life. Second, Lu Ye intended to break into the absolute pinnacle¡ªto become the most powerful being across all time. How could he break through so casually? "Compress it!" Terrifying rumbles rang out within Lu Ye¡¯s body without pause. Lightning began to spark faintly across his form¡ªan effect of energy flowing too quickly through his meridians. His cultivation base began to drop violently! From ninth layer¡ªplummeting straight to fourth. But it simply wouldn¡¯t drop any further. His cultivation bounced back. His Nascent Soul wore a faintly miserable expression. From ninth to fourth¡ªwhat did he think it was? A spring toy? It felt like it was going to explode. It was clearly over 1.8 meters tall, and now someone was trying to compress it back to 1.6... Cycle after cycle, suppressing and halting, suppressing and halting¡ª In the end, Lu Ye¡¯s realm settled at eighth layer of Nascent Void. "Initiate deduction!" "Ding! Initiated!" Lu Ye, within the resonance of the Dao, began yet another deduction. This time, he wanted to test something: could he actually pull off the thing he once bluffed Bai Qiulan with¡ªthat in order to break through, he had to fuse all Nine Lives into one? Meanwhile, back at Nine Dragon Valley, the battlefield had shifted. With the arrival of Youming and Wan Gu Sect, Grand Dao Sect, Supreme Sword Sect, and the Central State Dynasty were forcibly driven out. Grand Dao Sect had no choice but to withdraw temporarily and begin calling reinforcements. Under the leadership of Youming, an unparalleled great formation was beginning to take shape¡ªenveloping the skies and earth of Nine Dragon Valley. Now, all that remained¡ªwas for Lu Ye to emerge. They were going to stage a performance of "catching the turtle in the urn." Chapter 81: Choice Why could Lu Ye claim the top rank? In his previous life, he was merely a Heavenly Venerable who had never ascended to the Saint realm. Now, he had simply been reborn¡ªon what grounds did he have the ability to surpass Saints? Especially with the top three being unspeakable taboos. Among the top ten on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, which one wasn''t a dazzling, peerless genius? Lu Ye believed there were three main reasons. First, the great tribulation he faced as a Heavenly Venerable was called the Eternal Calamity. Among all tribulations recorded throughout history, the Eternal Calamity was rightfully ranked as the number one catastrophe. Across the endless ages, it had only ever appeared once. That was back in the distant beginning of the Primeval Era, when a divinely blessed being, born of the heavens and nurtured by the earth, with the physique of a Chaotic Dao Embryo, stood undefeated in battles against Saints even while still in the Heavenly Venerable realm. The day that being became a Saint was the day the Eternal Calamity descended. And yet even such a sacred being failed to survive the tribulation. He fell beneath the Eternal Calamity. It could be said that any Heavenly Venerable capable of triggering the Eternal Calamity already had combat power no less than an ordinary Saint. Lu Ye had also failed. But why did he fail? A Nine-Life Heavenly Venerable, down to his last life, cursed with eight Yin-Yang Devour-Dao Gu parasites, and on top of that, betrayed¡ªdisheartened and despairing, he voluntarily gave up on overcoming the tribulation and chose instead to drag the Source of Darkness down with him. At that time, Lu Ye no longer wished to cross the tribulation. He was exhausted. That kind of mental fatigue, that weariness of the soul, had left him completely unable to understand what value his life even held. Second, he had the system. Reborn along with him, the system had now become a laid-back "Melon-Eating Bro." It appeared useless, nothing more than a slacker. But in truth? When cultivating, Lu Ye cranked his cultivation speed to the maximum. During the early stages of cultivation, whether a Saint or Heavenly Venerable was reborn, or even a Great Emperor restarted their path, the early-stage cultivation speed generally wouldn¡¯t differ too much. The differences only began to show in the mid-to-late stages. Among the nine who were reborn along with him¡ªLu Ye didn¡¯t know all of them, but he was clear about Yue Hongling and Chu Ling. He reached Qi Condensation¡ªthey also reached Qi Condensation. He formed a Core¡ªthey followed, forming their Cores one after another. He broke through to Nascent Soul¡ªthey were still at Core Formation. He perfected the Nascent Soul stage¡ªthey had only just stepped into it. He reached the Void Refining stage¡ªthey were still stuck in Nascent Soul, barely mid-stage at that. Through the single [Cultivation] function alone, the system forcibly elevated Lu Ye¡¯s cultivation speed to an unimaginable level. What was a tiny difference in the beginning became a yawning chasm later on. The second function was [Comprehension]. In truth, Comprehension no longer had much use for Lu Ye at this point. But the key was understanding why it didn¡¯t. Because in his past life, thanks to the system¡¯s Comprehension option, Lu Ye had already grasped the Dao of Heaven and Earth with astonishing clarity. When it came to discussing Dao, Lu Ye was immensely confident¡ªhe could go head-to-head with anyone, including and especially Saints. The third function was [Deduction]. This was Lu Ye¡¯s creative tool¡ªwhether for inventing cultivation techniques or deducing entirely new systems, it served as a tremendously powerful aid. That said, in this life, it hadn¡¯t been of much use just yet. Currently, the last two functions had been merged together by Lu Ye, used to deduce the Nine-Life Unification technique. Although only the [Cultivation] function was actively useful, it alone allowed Lu Ye to break through limit after limit, reaching a level that even the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking had never witnessed before. Because the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking had seen too many geniuses¡ªdivine physiques, ancient bloodlines¡ªyet never once had it seen a living being capable of shattering the shackles of cultivation speed. Fast¡ªcould only be so fast. You might possess a divine body, born in perfect harmony with the Dao¡ªbut you were still gestating in the womb for a long time! If a mighty figure wanted to give birth to a child, even ten or eight years of pregnancy, or even a hundred years, wasn¡¯t unusual. The Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking accounted for that time, too. Take Bai Qiulan, for example¡ªpossessor of the Chaotic Lunar Divine Physique. A physique that could bear the term ¡°chaotic¡± was terrifying enough, right? Yet even she couldn¡¯t reach Lu Ye¡¯s level at his age¡ªshe was far from it. For a practitioner starting out young, cultivation must begin with body tempering. Postnatal, prenatal¡ªeach threshold waited. Only after reaching adulthood, when the bones, meridians, and divine soul had fully matured, could one truly embark on the path of cultivation. Third¡ªthis lifetime, he no longer had those eight. How to put this... Let¡¯s set aside everything else for now. But when it came to cultivation¡ªhonestly, it felt fucking amazing!!! What Clear Water Beads, what junior sister¡¯s budding feelings, what Vermilion Bird¡¯s escape, what Shangguan Mirage Spirit''s peril. What did any of that have to do with him? In his past life, just these four things alone¡ªhow many times did Lu Ye get injured because of them? How much time did they delay him? There wasn¡¯t even a number for it. Now, none of it remained. ˬ!!! (ˬ = that untranslatable surge of total satisfaction, of being finally free. And Lu Ye felt it in full.) Thirty-third¡ªthat was the rank of a man burdened by countless entanglements, staggering forward in his pursuit of the Dao. First¡ªwas the rank of a man who had torn free of all shackles and poured everything into the Dao. Even if ten thousand people believed he didn¡¯t deserve it, that he wasn¡¯t worthy¡ªhe held no fear, no regrets. ...... "What do we do?" Qin Youzhi was thoroughly at a loss. He had truly made up his mind earlier: he would protect Lu Ye. Even if it meant mobilizing the entire sect. But now? It wasn¡¯t just the other sects that were on par with the Grand Dao Sect. Youming had shown up. The Myriad Ancients Sect was here for the spectacle. Even Heaven¡¯s Pavilion had arrived! The Grand Dao Sect couldn¡¯t even handle a one-on-one with the Myriad Ancients, let alone Youming and Heaven¡¯s Pavilion together. For Lu Ye¡¯s sake, should the whole sect march to its death? Was it worth it? Qin Youzhi couldn¡¯t make the call. So he contacted the sect. The Sect Master. Though not the strongest in the Grand Dao Sect, the Sect Master was its highest authority. And his wisdom was anything but ordinary. He would be able to give a reasoned and proper answer. Qin Youzhi took out a sound-transmission stone and relayed the entire situation. Liu Changfeng fell silent. His body¡ªat that moment¡ªbegan to tremble slightly. Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling stood there, both visibly tense. Yue Hongling had initially wanted to plead on Lu Ye¡¯s behalf, but Bai Qiulan stopped her. This was not the time for any personal emotion to sway the sect¡¯s judgment. Pleading now might very well backfire. Liu Changfeng stood at a crossroads of fate. Top rank on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking... The sect master¡¯s decree in his hand creaked from how tightly he gripped it. If they failed, there was a 40% chance the Grand Dao Sect would be destroyed¡ªand a 100% chance the sect would fall into decline. But if they succeeded... what were the odds of the Grand Dao Sect soaring to unprecedented heights? "Where is Bai Qiulan?" Liu Changfeng finally spoke. Qin Youzhi quickly handed the transmission stone to Bai Qiulan. "Junior sister¡ªyou are Lu Ye¡¯s master. What kind of person is he?" Liu Changfeng asked. Bai Qiulan let out a soft breath. "He is loyal and righteous." "Then why, when the Sword Sect Elder asked if he was willing to leave Bailan Peak and enter another sword cultivator¡¯s tutelage, did he say he was naturally willing?" "I¡¯m not in a position to explain the details," Bai Qiulan replied. "But I can assure the sect¡ªLu Ye¡¯s loyalty and righteousness are rare through the ages!" Liu Changfeng¡¯s internal calculation began to rise. Two percent? Three percent? Four? Five? The odds of Grand Dao Sect ascending on Lu Ye¡¯s back? His fist clenched tight. "Transmit my sect master decree¡ªsummon all ancestral elders out of seclusion! They are to aid our disciple!" "Sect Master¡ªwhich elder?" In that moment, ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) Liu Changfeng donned his battle armor, black hair whipping wildly. He swept a hand through the void. The Grand Dao Sect¡¯s rise or destruction¡ªwould be decided today! "All of them!" Chapter 82: Crossing the Tribulation Siege Couldn¡¯t hold it back after all. He was already at the ninth level of Void Refining! He¡¯d originally wanted to keep a low profile, but the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking just gave too much¡ªso much it was impossible to suppress. Ninth level of Void Refining? Not bad! Lu Ye glanced at the very top of the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, where his name flashed again and again. A faint smile appeared on his lips. It was time to leave. He wasn¡¯t sure if there would be a brutal battle waiting outside. But Lu Ye didn¡¯t care either way. If they wanted to fight, then fight. If they wanted to kill, then kill. Right or wrong didn¡¯t matter¡ªeven if he was in the wrong, so what? His figure disappeared. ...... "This won¡¯t do. Our Central State Empire will not gamble alongside your Grand Dao Sect!" When they heard the Grand Dao Sect was mobilizing its full force, the Central State Empire was utterly shocked. "You people are insane! You¡¯re risking everything for a genius who hasn¡¯t even fully grown yet. Who doesn¡¯t know how many bones line the road to the Dao? What you¡¯re doing is... is..." "Our Central State Empire absolutely refuses to follow your Grand Dao Sect into madness!" The Grand Dao Sect didn¡¯t try to force them. On the side of the Supreme Sword Sect, many were frowning deeply. It was crazy. But damn... it was exciting. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t a disciple of the Supreme Sword Sect. Their relationship with the Grand Dao Sect was merely one of close alliance. So even if the Supreme Sword Sect gave their full support, they wouldn¡¯t benefit nearly as much as the Grand Dao Sect would. Still, when it came to the siege against Lu Ye, they hadn¡¯t participated. And now that it was a counter-siege¡ªwhat, they were just going to sit it out? Wouldn¡¯t that make their swords rust? No way. They had to do something. After a round of internal discussion, the Supreme Sword Sect made their decision: Anyone who wanted to support the Grand Dao Sect¡ªwas free to act. The moment those words spread, the sword cultivators of the Supreme Sword Sect howled with joy. Though not every last one of them moved out, a huge number of them did. They liked chaos. The Myriad Ancients Sect was here. Youming and Heaven¡¯s Pavilion were here. Could the Supreme Sword Sect just sit on their hands? For sword cultivators, especially the battle-hungry ones of the Supreme Sword Sect, doing nothing was worse than death. And sure, Lu Ye had killed two of their disciples. But those two died while seeking their path¡ªno one else could be blamed. The sect had already given the order to retreat, but they had chosen to stay behind with clear hearts. Even if they died, they had no regrets. This was what it meant to be a cultivator. Lu Ye descended from the ninth layer of the battlefield. On the way, he scoured another round of treasures. The last three layers had been too chaotic¡ªwhen he first arrived, the fighting had been so brutal that no one had a chance to loot properly. From the ninth layer down to the first. He stood before the teleportation vortex. No hesitation. He stepped in. As light and shadow twisted around him, he emerged to see a sea of people¡ªas if he were Sun Wukong being surrounded by the Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers. Lu Ye was completely encircled, not a crack left open. The moment the final cultivator exited the battlefield, the entrance behind Lu Ye vanished without a trace. The Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, which opened only once every thousand years, drew to a close on this day. Lu Ye raised his eyes and looked in all directions. Layers of grand formations surrounded him. Countless powerful figures, each radiating overwhelming might, stood fully armed. Damn. These people really thought that highly of him? Even the tribulation squad showed up? So, were they going to attack right away¡ªor waste time talking first? "Lu Ye, number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking¡ªso powerful, so terrifying. I heard from my little junior brother that even your formation skills are peerless. So I set up these Three Thousand Lost Paths Formations just for you. If you can break through them, you might escape with your life. If not... well, you¡¯ll die here." Heaven¡¯s Pavilion¡¯s current eldest disciple, Lu Xuntian, said with a smile. "Lu Ye, you must¡¯ve known this day would come when you carved your name onto the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. We of Youming have no personal grudge with you¡ªwe were simply hired to do a job. Sorry." "Lu Ye, you slaughtered many disciples of our Yin-Yang Law Sect. You¡¯re a demon in human skin. Today, we will kill you!" "Lu Ye, if you surrender now, there may be a sliver of hope left. But if you insist on being stubborn, then our Supreme Empire will see to it that you pay for our fallen cultivators¡ªfor our fallen prince!" ...... "Lu Ye, you killed disciples of the Myriad Ancients Sect. Did you really think this day wouldn¡¯t come? A life for a life. Blood for blood. What do you have to say for yourself?" Lu Ye didn¡¯t respond to any of the others shouting at him. Because what they said¡ªwas blunt, and honestly, made sense. Lu Ye had killed many innocent people while in a state of bloodlust. But the Myriad Ancients Sect¡ªwhat the hell were they barking for? He glanced at the one who spoke from the Myriad Ancients and sneered with utter disdain. ¡°Hypocrite.¡± The man from the Myriad Ancients instantly flew into a rage. Everyone else had just cursed him and Lu Ye didn¡¯t say a word. But the moment he spoke, Lu Ye insulted him? What the hell¡ªthis bastard was playing favorites! The Myriad Ancients struck first. A golden miniature mountain expanded violently in the wind, hurtling toward Lu Ye with devastating force. Almost simultaneously, all the other powerhouses attacked. Among them were dozens of Tribulation Crossing cultivators¡ªincluding some already in the mid and late stages. In other words, every faction here had brought out their true elites. They were serious about killing Lu Ye. Lu Ye formed seals with both hands. He understood all laws, comprehended all Daos. Endless radiance rained down upon him. A blurry, three-legged, two-eared bronze cauldron appeared above his head. The cauldron was old, mottled with the wear of countless years. BOOM! A deafening blast erupted from the bronze cauldron. It was just the first wave of attacks, and Lu Ye was already coughing up mouthfuls of blood. The gap was a little too big. He had slain Unity Dao cultivators while in the Void Refining realm¡ªbut to kill Tribulation Crossing experts while still at Void Refining? That was nearly impossible. Even if he broke through now, stepping into Unity Dao on the spot, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. His foundation wasn¡¯t solid¡ªbreaking through in the middle of battle would only lead to hidden flaws. But Lu Ye wasn¡¯t panicked in the slightest. One after another, he pressed seals into the bronze cauldron, and the cauldron seemed to resonate with some distant point in the void. BOOM! The second wave struck. The bronze cauldron shuddered violently again. At this moment, Lu Ye¡¯s hand seals had already reached a terrifying speed¡ªblinding, inhuman. Amid the seething void, not only were terrifying energy waves erupting, but threads of glowing patterns began surfacing in rapid succession. ¡°Great Ascension Demon-Slaying!¡± ¡°Eternal Evergreen!¡± ¡°Reverse Yin and Yang!¡± Countless techniques and divine abilities appeared one after another. Lu Ye continued to vomit blood. The bronze cauldron above him trembled violently, cracks spreading all across its surface. ¡°Hahaha! So this is the number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking? That¡¯s all? Take my Desolate Fist!¡± ¡°Still too young. If I were you, even if I had to flee to the Demon Realm, I wouldn¡¯t have returned to the Desolate Lands after killing so many human cultivators. Did you really think you were invincible?¡± ¡°Cut the bullshit! Kill him with everything we¡¯ve got!¡± Lu Ye¡¯s expression remained calm. Suddenly, a massive phantom emerged behind him¡ªan indistinct Buddha whose face couldn¡¯t be seen. If any Buddhist sect saw this, their eyeballs would probably pop out of their skulls. No way¡ªyou even know Buddhist techniques?! The Buddha embraced Lu Ye. Took all the incoming attacks into itself. Lu Ye was still weaving hand seals without pause. The ripples in the void spread faster and farther. The Buddha shattered. An ancient lotus bloomed, swallowing Lu Ye within. A defensive technique. Still more layers of defense. At that moment, a thunderous explosion erupted from the outer perimeter. The Grand Dao Bell rang out softly, and the entire Nine Dragon Valley collapsed into ruin. Endless runes lit up. Countless grand formations revealed their full power. ¡°Lu Ye! Hold on¡ªwe¡¯ve come to /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ save you!¡± Lu Ye heard Liu Changfeng¡¯s voice, and for a brief moment, a smile touched his otherwise solemn face. He hadn¡¯t expected the Grand Dao Sect to step in¡ªfor someone like him, whose hands were soaked in blood. But honestly... He didn¡¯t really need it. Chapter 83: Purpose Smoke and dust billowed to the heavens. The deafening booms were so fierce they made the earth tremble without pause. In the vast Desolate Realm, it had been countless years since more than fifty Tribulation Crossing cultivators struck at the same time. Even longer since one had seen the sight of an entire alliance mobilizing¡ªone sect, three empires, and five great clans all throwing in everything they had. The Grand Dao Sect alone had brought in nineteen Tribulation Crossing cultivators, along with six Scatter Gods, and countless Unity Dao and Void Refining experts. Every Grand Dao Sect powerhouse was armed to the teeth. Scatter Gods were those who had failed their tribulations¡ªnot yet fallen, but with their paths severed. Their strength was terrifying, but that power came at a cost¡ªburning away their remaining lifespan to unleash their final might. In other words, Scatter Gods were the last hidden card a sect could use. And now... they¡¯d all come out. All the formations erupted at once. The Grand Dao Sect threw out every top-tier treasure they had¡ªeven the Dao Bell, an innate spiritual treasure. Each time the Dao Bell rang, the earth beneath it turned to dust. Even the void itself shuddered. But the enemy¡¯s formations were simply too powerful. These weren¡¯t simple traps¡ªthey¡¯d been researched and arranged by a team of top experts over days. Layer upon layer, intricately interlocked¡ªthey couldn¡¯t be broken in a short time. ¡°Kill him¡ªnow!¡± A Tribulation expert from the Yin-Yang Law Sect bellowed. No one had expected the Grand Dao Sect would go this far for a single disciple. If they let the Grand Dao Sect keep this up, no formation would hold out for long. All the Tribulation Crossing cultivators unleashed their full power. The ancient lotus shattered. Lu Ye¡¯s body cracked open like porcelain. A phantom of a Black Tortoise appeared above his head. Still defending! ¡°Why the hell does he have so many defensive techniques?¡± one of the Tribulation experts snapped, completely [N O V E L I G H T] fed up. ¡°Does it ever end?!¡± Blood poured from Lu Ye¡¯s seven orifices. He shut his eyes, sensing the flow of energy between heaven and earth. The Black Tortoise hovered above him, shielding him from all harm. A breeze stirred across the battlefield. It was cool¡ªeerily so. Like the breath of the Great Dao brushing past his face. A single thread of pattern emerged amidst the raging chaotic energy. Then, more and more began to spread. These patterns ignored the destructive forces around them entirely. In the blink of an eye, they coalesced into an incredibly profound formation in the void. Bai Qiulan had been attacking the enemy formation alongside the Grand Dao Sect, but when she saw those Dao patterns unfurling in the sky¡ªher expression changed drastically. ¡°No! Get back! Now!¡± She screamed in alarm. ¡°What?!¡± The Grand Dao Sect¡¯s cultivators didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I said move! Retreat immediately¡ªespecially the Tribulation cultivators! Get out of there!¡± The wind suddenly surged. A formless force between heaven and earth was drawn down by the formation¡ªdescending from the sky. That thread of energy was faint. So faint, it seemed it would scatter with the next breeze. If someone tried to strike with it, it probably wouldn¡¯t even knock out a strand of hair. Huh? Many sensed that tiny, vague wisp of energy. But no one knew what it was. Lu Ye had poured such a tremendous effort into forming all those seals¡ªonly to bring out this? One of the Tribulation cultivators waved his hand dismissively. Whatever it was, just disperse it first! But the moment his energy touched that faint thread¡ª In an instant, boundless tribulation force ignited, like hot oil set aflame¡ªeverything caught fire! ¡°It¡¯s heavenly tribulation energy!¡± A Tribulation cultivator let out a sudden, horrified cry. BOOM! The once-gentle breeze turned violent¡ªhowling, surging, tearing through the sky like a mad storm. Just moments ago, the sky had been clear. Now, in a split second, the heavens had been overturned. A dense mass of black clouds rolled across the sky, blotting out every trace of sunlight. Black clouds pressed down on the mountains. Furious winds tore trees from their roots. Tribulation energy spread like wildfire through the ranks of the Tribulation Crossing cultivators¡ªutterly unstoppable. The experts of the Grand Dao Sect and the Supreme Sword Sect, at that moment, looked as if they¡¯d seen a ghost. They retreated in a frenzy, their faces contorted by sheer terror. Who was the lunatic? Who the hell triggered a tribulation now?! So many Tribulation Crossing cultivators in one place¡ªtrying to overcome the tribulation here was like a dung beetle diving into a latrine¡ªasking for shit! The Grand Dao Sect and Supreme Sword Sect ran faster than fleeing bandits. Because they weren¡¯t trapped inside the formation. The world was vast¡ªthey could run wherever they wanted. But the Tribulation Crossing cultivators encircling Lu Ye were screwed. Where the hell was this tribulation energy coming from?! Then they realized. Every single Tribulation Crossing expert¡¯s killing gaze locked on Lu Ye. Soaked in blood, Lu Ye grinned at them. The moment he saw all those Tribulation Crossing cultivators surrounding him, he¡¯d already thought of a countermeasure. Sometimes killing someone didn¡¯t mean you had to be stronger¡ªyou just had to use the right conditions. And right now? Things were about to get lively. ¡°Quick! Break the formation! Let me out!¡± A Tribulation cultivator who hadn¡¯t yet been tainted by tribulation energy turned pale, desperately trying to flee. But the formation was still active. If Lu Ye couldn¡¯t leave it, did they really think they could get out that easily? ¡°Break it! Break the damn formation now!¡± ¡°Shit, who the hell set this thing up? Open it already!¡± ¡°We¡¯re screwed. I¡¯ve been locked onto by the heavenly tribulation too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over! With this many Tribulation Crossing cultivators undergoing tribulation together¡ªhow strong will the heavenly lightning be? We¡¯re all going to die!¡± Lu Xuntian from Heaven¡¯s Pavilion had never attacked Lu Ye. He¡¯d just been curious about the man. And now... He wasn¡¯t even at the Tribulation stage yet¡ªonly peak Unity Dao. But to his horror, he had been locked onto too! The tribulation aura was too dense. It had targeted everyone. Regardless of whether they were Tribulation Crossing or not. Including Lu Ye himself. And Lu Ye... Lu Ye was delighted. Let the tribulation begin. Let¡¯s all go through it together. Forty or fifty Tribulation Crossing cultivators entering tribulation at the same time¡ªwhat kind of spectacle would that be?! Lu Ye looked up toward the heavens. The tribulation clouds were so thick they completely blotted out the light. The world was plunged into darkness. BOOM! A bolt of thunder ripped through the clouds like a divine blade. All the Tribulation cultivators stared up in despair at the silver-white lightning dancing across the tribulation clouds. Silver-white... Normally, heavenly tribulation bolts were only plain white. But silver-white? That meant the power level had jumped by at least a whole tier. The Grand Dao Sect¡¯s experts fled wildly, especially those at the Tribulation level¡ªsome ran a thousand miles in a single breath, and still, goosebumps covered their bodies from head to toe. They were shaken¡ªtruly shaken. What the hell had just happened? Liu Changfeng turned to Bai Qiulan. She had been the first to shout for retreat. She had to know. Bai Qiulan calmed herself slightly. ¡°The technique Lu Ye used is called the Heaven-Earth One Tribulation Technique. It¡¯s an extremely powerful method. Right now, his strength isn¡¯t enough to use it for direct killing. But he doesn¡¯t need to. With so many Tribulation Crossing cultivators present, all he has to do is stir up a single strand of tribulation intent... and it¡¯ll trigger the tribulation aura in all of them.¡± ¡°And once that happens¡ªthe heavenly tribulation will lock onto them.¡± Liu Changfeng sucked in a sharp breath. Lu Ye. Lu Ye! This bastard¡¯s moves were insane! He dragged forty or fifty Tribulation cultivators into a heavenly tribulation¡ªall in one go?! Ruthless didn¡¯t even begin to cover it! ¡°But doesn¡¯t that mean he¡¯s inside the tribulation too? He¡¯ll be struck by it as well!¡± Bai Qiulan closed her eyes. ¡°Killing them isn¡¯t even his main goal.¡± ¡°What he truly wants... is this descending tribulation itself.¡± Chapter 84: All reduced to ashes Liu Changfeng still hadn¡¯t fully grasped what Bai Qiulan meant. Then¡ªcrack! With a thunderous roar, heaven and earth were torn open in a flash of silver-white light. The tribulation thunder descended! Not one bolt. But a dense barrage¡ªwave after wave of lightning merged into a vast curtain, crashing down over all of Nine Dragon Valley. A formation? A sealed trap? The formation was sturdy, yes. But now all the powerful cultivators inside were like turtles in a jar¡ªcompletely trapped, no escape. To be fair, the grand formation they had set up was truly powerful. Even the first wave of densely packed silver-white tribulation bolts didn¡¯t fully destroy it. ¡°We must unite our strength and resist the tribulation together! If we fight separately, all of us will die!¡± A Tribulation Crossing expert from the Myriad Ancients Sect was nearly apoplectic, roaring at the others. They had victory within reach. Lu Ye had only defended, defended, and defended again. They were moments away from killing him¡ªuntil he activated that one move. No, from the very beginning, Lu Ye had been setting this up. All those seals he¡¯d been forming¡ªnone of them were for defense. Every single one was meant to construct this formation. BOOM! The second tribulation bolt fell. All the formations shattered instantly. Tribulation aura filled the air. The concentration of lightning-based spiritual energy reached its peak. Sparks of lightning danced everywhere. A massive shield was hoisted into place. A treasured innate spiritual artifact of the Myriad Ancients Sect¡ªthe Indestructible Shield. ¡°All of you, combine your strength!¡± Now, no one was even paying attention to Lu Ye anymore. Above his head, the Black Tortoise still hovered¡ªdim, but still intact. Breaking through it would still require everyone working together. The remaining Tribulation cultivators gathered behind the Indestructible Shield. Massive flows of spiritual power surged into it. One after another, phantom shields appeared¡ªuntil a total of ninety-nine were manifested. Lu Ye shut his eyes, his hands slowly revolving in front of his lower dantian. Faint silver-white light sparked from his body, and the lightning energy drifting through the air began to converge toward him. He¡¯d been cultivating his true essence for long enough¡ªit was time to temper the body. BOOM! The third tribulation bolt descended. Layer after layer of shield light on the Indestructible Shield were obliterated like dry leaves. The entire shield dropped lower under the pressure. One of the weaker Tribulation cultivators vomited blood on the spot¡ªthe force of impact had seriously wounded his body. ¡°It¡¯s too strong! Quick, bring out all your defensive treasures!¡± A Tribulation cultivator from Youming bellowed in panic. He was the first to act, summoning his own spiritual treasure¡ªa pitch-black talisman that burned fiercely, creating a dark defensive barrier. The others hurried to do the same. The fourth bolt of tribulation thunder fell. BOOM! Every single defensive treasure shattered. Turned to scrap. The strongest of them all¡ªthe Indestructible Shield¡ªwas pierced on the spot. All the Tribulation Crossing cultivators were left scorched and blackened, each one suffering varying degrees of serious injury. And this was only the fourth tribulation bolt. There would be nine in total. Despair filled every heart. One Tribulation cultivator suddenly looked at Lu Ye, eyes full of seething hatred. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± ¡°All of this is because of you!¡± ¡°You deserve to die!¡± Lu Ye calmly nodded. ¡°Then come kill me.¡± He once again formed hand seals. In that moment¡ªthe Vermilion Bird, the Black Tortoise, the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger¡ª The Four Sacred Beasts emerged as four interlocking barriers of light, fully encasing Lu Ye¡¯s body. Just one Black Tortoise had withstood the combined attacks of Tribulation Crossing cultivators for several rounds without breaking. Now that he had summoned all four at once¡ªinterlinked and merged¡ªtheir power multiplied exponentially. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you myself!¡± That Tribulation cultivator finally snapped, charging at Lu Ye in a frenzy. His energy surged chaotically. His body began to swell¡ªlike a balloon rapidly filling with air. Lu Ye¡¯s expression shifted. Damn. Was this guy going to self-detonate?! That was no joke. Even the fully merged Four Sacred Beasts barrier couldn¡¯t survive a self-detonation from a Tribulation cultivator. ¡°Go!¡± The merged Four Beasts barrier expanded instantly, slamming toward the enemy. At the same time, Lu Ye¡¯s figure turned into a stream of light. He activated his secret art¡ªNine Steps of Samsara. With just one step¡ª His figure had already blurred beyond visibility. A joke. With the formation intact, he couldn¡¯t escape. But now that it was destroyed¡ªwho the hell could stop him? BOOM! A thunderous explosion echoed through Nine Dragon Valley. The earth shook violently. The Four Sacred Beasts barrier shattered into dust on the spot. Lu Ye had moved fast¡ªdamn fast¡ªbut he was still caught by the shockwave. Blood sprayed from his mouth in a thick arc. His body flew through the air like a torn burlap sack. At that very moment¡ªthe fifth tribulation bolt descended. Above, the heavenly tribulation. Below, a Tribulation cultivator''s self-detonation. In the middle, a cluster of Tribulation cultivators frozen in place. ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°Boundless Heavenly Venerable, save us!¡± ¡°We''re fucking doomed¡ª!¡± BOOOOOM! Silver lightning danced like serpents, divine might surging. The weak were instantly turned to charcoal beneath the divine thunder. That one strike¡ªanything below Tribulation level was completely annihilated, reduced to ash. Even Lu Xuntian, who was only spectating, died on the spot. One-third of the Tribulation cultivators perished¡ªmiserably, unbearably so. Lu Ye didn¡¯t escape the wrath of the heavens either. He too had been locked onto by the heavenly tribulation. The core bolt split into countless thinner arcs, each one hammering straight into him. His entire body was scorched black. He quickly rotated his hands before his lower dantian. Ninefold Tribulation Immortal Body. Refine it! Lightning tore through him. The pain was unimaginable¡ªpure agony. But Lu Ye¡¯s expression never twisted, not even once. Pain... is simply proof of growth! Dense, surging lightning poured into his body. Silver light burst from within him. And then¡ª The dormant Flesh-Rebirth Pill hidden deep in his blood and marrow finally activated. Endless vitality exploded outward, rapidly mending his torn flesh. His muscles ripped open. Then [N O V E L I G H T] healed. Ripped again. Healed again. The sixth bolt descended¡ª Right in front of dozens of already-devastated Tribulation cultivators. And once again, a bolt as thick as a forearm slammed down onto Lu Ye¡¯s body. PFFT! Another mouthful of blood spewed forth. His skin flipped inside out. Muscles torn and exposed. Pain! Unbearable pain! Yet Lu Ye¡¯s expression remained frighteningly calm. When had the road of cultivation ever been free of suffering? Countless arcs of lightning surged through his body, wreaking havoc in every direction. ¡°Hahaha...¡± ¡°They¡¯re dead. All of them... dead...¡± A Tribulation cultivator from the Myriad Ancients Sect¡ªno longer even recognizable as human¡ªlet out a hoarse, broken laugh. His voice was filled with desolate despair. Three hundred years of cultivation¡ª Reduced to ash in a single day. So be it. So be it... His final gaze landed on Lu Ye. His voice was icy, like it came crawling out of an abyss. ¡°Well, well. Number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking. Today, the Myriad Ancients Sect¡¯s strongest have been wiped out. That¡¯s a karmic debt on your soul. I¡¯ll be waiting for you... on the road of reincarnation!¡± Lu Ye looked up, answering seriously. ¡°If you fail your tribulation, you don¡¯t enter reincarnation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my rule. That was set by the Reincarnation Heavenly Venerable.¡± The Myriad Ancients cultivator¡ª ¡°AAAARGH I¡¯M GONNA DIE OF RAGE!!!¡± BOOM! The seventh tribulation bolt fell. The final Tribulation Crossing cultivator was reduced to ash in the light of the divine lightning. Lu Ye watched the thundering sky. He could no longer withstand it head-on. The stone sword appeared in his hand. Three Thousand Dao Blades! In an instant, countless sword lights shot upward, striking at the tribulation bolt. The lightning roared, annihilating all the blades¡ª And crashed down upon Lu Ye again. Chapter 85: Ninefold Tribulation Immortal Body Every gaze in the Grand Dao Sect fell on Lu Ye. No one had expected him to pull off something like that. It was terrifying. In a single stroke, he had wiped out forty to fifty Tribulation Crossing cultivators. After today, Tribulation-level experts in the Desolate Realm would become a rare species. But... could he really survive the heavenly tribulation he had provoked? Even if most of the tribulation power had targeted the others, just one percent of its force was enough to obliterate a Tribulation Crossing cultivator. Lu Ye already looked badly wounded. His body, scorched black like charcoal, pulsed with blood-colored light from within. The blackened crust of his skin cracked and flaked away. The eighth bolt of tribulation thunder began to form. As if in response to the destruction of all the other Tribulation cultivators, the eighth bolt¡¯s power swelled¡ªseveral times greater than before. Lu Ye spread his arms wide, taking a stance. In that instant, a strange Dao resonance surged around his body¡ªTaiji, Yin and Yang, the endless cycle of transformation... Yin and Yang intertwined¡ªan eternal flow of life and death. Lu Ye rose to meet the bolt head-on. As his hands moved in unison, the lightning twisted. In that moment, the tribulation thunder began to swirl around him like water. The supreme yang, the blazing might of destruction, transformed into the ultimate yin¡ªgentle, flowing currents encircling his body. As the thunder danced around him, his body drank in the tribulation¡¯s power. He was torn apart¡ªand reborn. Shattered, then healed. Crumbling, then reformed. The transformed thunder slowly dissipated, completely absorbed into Lu Ye¡¯s body. Truthfully, if he hadn¡¯t been using tribulation lightning to refine his physique, he wouldn¡¯t have had to go through such agony. But it was all for growth. Dark as ink, his body still flickered with coursing lightning. His heart thudded powerfully. Vital blood, rich with energy, surged from that beating heart and rushed through every inch of his broken body. In that moment, his flesh was rapidly regenerating¡ªrebirth from destruction. The first stage of the Ninefold Tribulation Immortal Body was complete. Now then... The final bolt¡ªbring it on. Lu Ye looked up. The clouds above churned, gathering into a massive, dense storm. A terrifying pressure filled the world. At that moment¡ªhe and the heavens were one. The blackened blood crust flaked off his body, revealing fresh, pristine skin beneath. His skin shimmered faintly, as though bathed in divine light. BOOM! The final tribulation thunder roared like a dragon. It shot down from the sky. Lu Ye¡¯s body launched upward in that very instant¡ªswift and fierce. One punch thrown¡ªthe heavens trembled. Heavenly Sovereign Fist! His right fist blazed with radiant light, shining like a meteor as it blasted toward the descending thunder. BOOM! Fist and lightning collided with deafening force. A blinding explosion erupted¡ªelectric arcs surged across the entire sky. Lu Ye was knocked back, but before he could even hit the ground, he steadied himself midair. Eyes like lightning. Body like a dragon. After the punch¡ªhe formed seals again with both hands. ¡°Return!¡± In a flash, the shattered tribulation thunder reversed course¡ªgathering into a torrent. Lu Ye opened his mouth wide. He swallowed it all. The final bolt of tribulation¡ªdevoured. With that, the tribulation ended. The clouds cleared. The sun shone down once more. Nine Dragon Valley had been completely leveled¡ªnothing but blackened pits and scarred earth remained. A wasteland. Lu Ye hovered in the sky, immense vitality surging through his body. His hair grew wildly, black strands whipping in the wind¡ªhis figure like that of a god or demon. The entire Grand Dao Sect gazed upon him in silence. And somewhere deep in their hearts, a strange feeling of reverence began to rise. The kind of awe one felt when facing a true powerhouse. Lu Ye checked through ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) the spatial rings he¡¯d gathered¡ªmade of spatial stone, known for being nearly indestructible, not even tribulation lightning could destroy them. So many storage rings... Lu Ye had hit the jackpot. The entire Grand Dao Sect had come to aid him. Honestly, Lu Ye hadn¡¯t expected it. But since they¡¯d come, he did feel a sense of belonging to the sect. In his previous life, the Grand Dao Sect had risen from a second-rate force under the Nine Heavens to a top-tier sacred land. Lu Ye flew toward the gathered sect members. ¡°Disciple Lu Ye greets the Sect Master, the ancestral elders, and all my seniors and uncles.¡± He¡¯d greeted everyone¡ª Except one person. His master¡ªBai Qiulan. ¡°Lu Ye... good. Very good. You truly are the pride of the Grand Dao Sect.¡± Liu Changfeng¡¯s tone was clear and direct. ¡°But this time, you killed many experts from major powers. The damage is enormous¡ªespecially to Youming and the Myriad Ancients Sect. We¡¯ll return to the sect first, activate the protection array, and deal with things from there.¡± When so many Tribulation cultivators died, word would spread fast. This grudge wouldn¡¯t just vanish. Soon, Scatter Gods would come. Maybe even with supreme treasures in hand. Lu Ye chuckled. ¡°Forget it. If I return to the sect, I¡¯ll only bring disaster with me. I can stay outside. They won¡¯t be able to do anything to me.¡± Liu Changfeng¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What nonsense. The sect and you¡ªwe¡¯re always on the same path. Do you think if you don¡¯t return, we can just stay out of this?¡± ¡°No more debate. We return to the sect.¡± Lu Ye didn¡¯t argue. It didn¡¯t matter much to him. He was already at the ninth level of Void Refining. He had also completed the first stage of the Ninefold Tribulation Immortal Body. At this level, there were very few people who could still kill him. He¡¯d return for now, rest, sort through the spatial rings¡ªkeep what he needed, give the rest to the sect. There was another benefit to returning. If a powerhouse from the Myriad Ancients Sect really did come wielding a supreme treasure¡ª Lu Ye could just leave. That way, all eyes would stay on him. One figure after another tore through the air. They returned to the sect at high speed. ¡°Sect Master, may I take some time to recover my injuries first?¡± Lu Ye cupped his fists. ¡°Of course. Go rest. Once you''re recovered, come meet me in the main hall.¡± Lu Ye nodded and vanished. ...... The Grand Dao Sect¡¯s protective array activated. In the entire First Heaven Realm, each major sect¡¯s protection array could be considered one of the most powerful formations in existence. Every sect poured massive manpower and resources into upgrading their protective arrays¡ªturning them into near-impenetrable fortresses. The Grand Dao Sect¡¯s version covered tens of thousands of kilometers. All its mountain peaks were connected as anchor points. Once activated, it consumed a sea of spirit stones every single day¡ªbut trying to break it? Nearly impossible. ¡°Hah... it¡¯s finally over,¡± Yue Hongling let out a long breath. The Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen battlefield had left her shaken, with a strange sense of how unpredictable life could be. Bai Qiulan let out a soft sigh as well. Her silver hair gradually faded to black. ¡°Bai Qiulan!¡± Sun Ruowei¡¯s voice suddenly shot up several octaves. Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling both turned to look at her. ¡°You... you just called Lu Ye husband! Bai Qiulan, you¡ª I treated you as my closest sister! And this whole time you kept it from me? What the hell is going on? Why would you call Lu Ye your husband?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me... you two¡ª?!¡± The gossip queen had entered the chat. Sun Ruowei¡¯s eyes were practically on fire. In this world, being that curious was... risky. And in fact, it had been fatal¡ªSun Ruowei had died pretty early in the previous life. Even on her deathbed, she¡¯d been stunned by a juicy rumor. Truly, she had died for the gossip¡ªand died with no regrets. Bai Qiulan... ¡°You misheard.¡± Chapter 86: She really doesn’t know? "You¡¯re full of shit!" "I misheard? You think I misheard that?" "You definitely said ''husband''. I heard it loud and clear, not a single bit off. Now hurry up and tell me, what the hell is going on?" "The two of us have over sixty years of friendship! We¡¯ve been inseparable, cultivating together, practically did everything except sleep in the same bed." Bai Qiulan... Yue Hongling gave her a look full of helpless resignation. She¡¯d told her before¡ªhad advised her to just call Lu Ye by his name. But her master, that spineless woman, folded in just a few moves under senior brother¡¯s obscene pressure. It didn¡¯t take long before she was tearfully calling him ''husband.'' It was Yue Hongling who stayed unyielding. Even after suffering all sorts of torment, she still refused to call him ''hubby'' or whatever. Later, once master got used to calling him ''husband'', she never stopped. And now, well¡ªshe slipped. "I¡ªI really didn¡¯t say that. What I said was..." "Keep going. Let¡¯s see how far you can bullshit this." Sun Ruowei sneered. Bai Qiulan racked her brain¡ªthen a flash of inspiration. "What I said was, ''A true gentleman cultivates himself with serenity, nourishes virtue with frugality. Without indifference, there is no clarity of aspiration''... It¡¯s just that the end of the sentence was too soft, you didn¡¯t catch it, that¡¯s all..." Sun Ruowei stared, dumbfounded. Are you fucking kidding me? Seriously? "Bai Qiulan!" "I treated you like a sister, and you treat me like I¡¯m an idiot?" Sun Ruowei was not having it. "Anyway, that¡¯s the truth. Me and Lu Ye¡ªwe¡¯re completely clean. Just master and disciple. Nothing else." Bai Qiulan finally just adopted the attitude of a dead pig not afraid of boiling water. "Fine, fine, fine. Hongling, do you like your senior brother Lu Ye?" Sun Ruowei turned her aim on Yue Hongling. This girl looked all innocent and dopey¡ªprobably easier to pry something out of. Yue Hongling... "Yes, I do like senior brother," Yue Hongling replied with certainty. "And are you okay with your senior brother having more than just you?" Sun Ruowei pressed on. See? This Yue Hongling is way too simple. If it were Bai Qiulan, she wouldn¡¯t even engage with that kind of question. "I am!" Yue Hongling answered firmly. More than just okay¡ªshe was already comrades-in-arms [N O V E L I G H T] with the other women. "Then are you okay with master and disciple sharing a husband?" Yue Hongling: ??? Bai Qiulan looked at the two of them, a bit dazed. She felt like she was freezing up a little. What were they even talking about now? She wasn¡¯t even sure she was hearing things correctly anymore. Why was it getting quieter? Quieter and quieter? Bang! Bai Qiulan suddenly collapsed flat onto the ground. Neither Yue Hongling nor Sun Ruowei had expected that. Bai Qiulan was in the Unity Dao realm¡ªshe hadn¡¯t been injured or anything. So why the hell did she suddenly fall over like that? "Master!" Yue Hongling was horrified. She quickly crouched down to lift Bai Qiulan up. Cold! Bone-piercing cold! The instant Yue Hongling touched Bai Qiulan, she felt an indescribable chill flood through her body¡ªit almost made her drop her. "Qiulan!" Sun Ruowei was also panicking. She reached out¡ª"Why is she so cold? Didn¡¯t she say she¡¯d recover quickly?" "Hurry, warm her up!" Yue Hongling shouted, fully aware of Bai Qiulan¡¯s condition. "How?!" Sun Ruowei was just as frantic. Her hands turned red, blazing with intense heat, which she pressed onto Bai Qiulan¡¯s body. But it didn¡¯t work. Her warmth didn¡¯t dispel anything. No¡ªthat¡¯s not even the right word. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t dispel the cold, she couldn¡¯t even reach it. She couldn¡¯t touch the chill clinging to Bai Qiulan¡¯s body at all. "Incompatible!" Yue Hongling knew about her master¡¯s condition, but not in detail. Because her master was always too embarrassed to talk about it. But she had seen with her own eyes how senior brother had relieved that icy coldness from her master. So she reached out and started untying Bai Qiulan¡¯s robe. Sun Ruowei didn¡¯t understand, but she didn¡¯t say anything either. It was just the three of them here, and she¡¯d already set up a barrier around the area¡ªit was safe. Soon, Bai Qiulan was completely undressed. Yue Hongling then began unfastening her own clothes. Sun Ruowei: ??? Something... didn¡¯t feel right anymore. In just a few swift motions, Yue Hongling had stripped off everything. She pulled Bai Qiulan into her arms. In that instant, the bone-chilling cold made Yue Hongling writhe in pain. It was a kind of agony the body was never meant to endure. Her body trembled uncontrollably, instinct screaming at her a thousand, ten thousand times to let go and escape. But Yue Hongling refused to move. Bai Qiulan¡¯s body gradually began to warm up. Still cold enough to terrify, but not as deathly frozen as before. In the end, Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t hold out anymore. She felt that if she went on like this, her body would simply freeze to death¡ªand even her soul might suffer damage from the cold. She let go of Bai Qiulan and wrapped her tightly in a thick quilt. "What exactly is going on?" Sun Ruowei asked anxiously. She also began to remove her clothes, imitating Yue Hongling, and reached out to embrace Bai Qiulan. In an instant, Sun Ruowei let out a scream of sheer agony. She couldn¡¯t endure the overwhelming cold¡ªjust a brief moment of contact had her pulling away. Too cold. Far, far too cold. A coldness the body, the soul, simply could not withstand. Bai Qiulan¡¯s breathing was calm, her eyes tightly shut. There was nothing unusual in the breath she exhaled, but her body¡ªher body was frozen beyond measure. "Only senior brother can help. I¡¯ll go find him¡ªhe knows what to do!" Yue Hongling quickly got up and dressed. "Aunt Sun, stay here and watch over master. I¡¯ll bring senior brother right away." "Alright, go and come back quickly!" Yue Hongling flew off toward Lu Ye¡¯s location. She was about to barge straight into Lu Ye¡¯s room¡ªbut stopped cold barely ten centimeters from the door. See? Some things can¡¯t be taught by words¡ªonce is enough to learn by experience. "Senior brother! Master¡¯s condition flared up again¡ªshe¡¯s unconscious now. Come with me quickly and save her!" Yue Hongling¡¯s voice was filled with urgency. Inside the room, there was no response. "Senior brother!" Yue Hongling knocked on the door. "I¡¯m serious¡ªthis is an emergency! You have to come with me! No matter what, she¡¯s still our master¡ªour only master!" No matter how hard Yue Hongling knocked¡ªloud enough to shake the sky¡ªLu Ye still didn¡¯t say a word. Gritting her teeth, she was just about to force the door open when finally, Lu Ye¡¯s voice came from inside. "Her illness again?" Yue Hongling brightened. "Yes! She passed out. Her body¡¯s freezing cold. Senior brother, please¡ªplease help her!" Lu Ye¡¯s voice held something strange in it. "How do you expect me to help?" "However you can¡ªany way you want. Anything is fine." Lu Ye¡¯s lips curved into a self-mocking smile. "Anything is fine?" "Then once I help her, I¡¯ll become that disrespectful disciple again¡ªthe one she holds a grudge against?" Yue Hongling... "Master doesn¡¯t know the pain you¡¯ve suffered... you can¡¯t blame her for that..." "You really think... she doesn¡¯t know?" Chapter 87: Respecting the Fate of Others Did Bai Qiulan truly not know how excruciating Lu Ye''s suffering had been? She acted like she had no idea. But in truth? She knew damn well¡ªit was the Taiyin Chaotic Divine Body! Once the chaotic yin poison flared up, it had to be thawed by the flame of life itself¡ªa living blaze to melt through that deadly cold. And the horror of the chaotic yin poison wasn¡¯t just some ordinary chill. It went deep¡ªinto the bones, into the soul. Lu Ye had died once because of it. Only through relentless deduction had he managed to claw back a sliver of hope after that death. The method of treatment? He had to preemptively consume over a dozen kinds of supremely yang and unyielding pills, then burn away his own lifespan and cultivation as fire to forcibly counteract the poison. Of course, Lu Ye wasn¡¯t the only one capable of doing this. If someone else had managed to refine those same dozen pills and didn¡¯t care about the cost of losing lifespan or reversing their cultivation, they too could cure Bai Qiulan. But those dozen yang-based pills were complicated as hell¡ªduring his simulations, he¡¯d almost crashed the barely upgraded system just trying to work them out. And it was precisely because of those pills that Lu Ye had gotten a little high during the process¡ªended up flipping Bai Qiulan over and over, eyes rolling back in his head. "Master didn¡¯t know how much you were suffering!" Yue Hongling said firmly, unwilling to believe that the teacher she respected so deeply could be... could be that kind of person¡ªa liar. Lu Ye heard the absolute conviction in her voice and let out a laugh. See? Still the same. Not even a tiny bit of change. No one ever believed his words. No investigation, no second thought. Just immediate denial¡ªand total belief in their own assumptions. He really didn¡¯t get it. He and Bai Qiulan had been through everything together. They¡¯d seen each other in their most exposed states. And he¡¯d been under the influence of all those pills¡ªbarely able to fake anything. As long as Bai Qiulan had looked at him once¡ªhell, even if she hadn¡¯t looked at all¡ªshe should have been able to feel the kind of pain he was enduring. Lu Ye waved his hand. Boom! Yue Hongling was instantly blasted backwards, slamming hard into a boulder. The door slammed shut behind her. If he said one more word, he really would be an idiot. He¡¯d just come back from the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, made quite a haul. Grand Dao Sect had rushed over to help him¡ªhe¡¯d felt warm for once. Mood had just started to lighten up¡ªonly to get ruined all over again. Like hell. Yue Hongling climbed to her feet, coughing up blood. "Senior brother, please save Master... she¡¯s the only one we have!" This time, Lu Ye didn¡¯t even bother responding. Yue Hongling had no choice. She rushed back to where Bai Qiulan lay. Sun Ruowei quickly asked, "Well? Did Lu Ye come?" Yue Hongling¡¯s face was full of bitterness. "Senior brother won¡¯t help. I... I think I said something that made him mad again." "What did you say? For fuck¡¯s sake¡ªyour master¡¯s in this condition, and you¡¯re still pissing him off?" Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t understand it. Yue Hongling still didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d done wrong. "I just said... senior brother saved Master before, right? So I said Master didn¡¯t know how much he was suffering. And then he blasted me through the air." Sun Ruowei: ??? "And how do you know your master didn¡¯t know how much he was suffering?" Yue Hongling... That one question left her completely blank. Yeah... how did she know? Because Master said so... In that moment, Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes fell on Bai Qiulan. Master had said Lu Ye wasn¡¯t in pain at all¡ªshe said he¡¯d actually enjoyed it. But... Was that really true? When Master said something, she just believed it outright. But when Senior Brother spoke¡ªhad she ever truly believed him? Yue Hongling clutched her chest. It hurt. God, it hurt. She could barely stay on her feet. Why was it that every time she faced Senior Brother, this was always her attitude? She had regretted it already. And yet, when she stood before him again, it was still like this. In that moment, Yue Hongling even hated herself. She didn¡¯t understand. What was wrong with her? Why did she always face Lu Ye with that kind of arrogant, unreasonable confidence¡ªbelieving only what she wanted to believe? Sun Ruowei let out a quiet sigh. She glanced over at Bai Qiulan¡ªLu Ye¡¯s reaction had already proven that his entanglement with Bai Qiulan went even deeper than she''d imagined. "So what now?" Yue Hongling asked, forcing herself to speak through the pain. Sun Ruowei fell silent, thinking for a while. "I¡¯ll go find Lu Ye." "You have to talk to him gently. My senior brother¡¯s temper is bad right now¡ªone wrong word and he¡¯ll start throwing punches." Sun Ruowei vanished. A moment later, she stood before Lu Ye¡¯s door. She knocked softly. Inside, Lu Ye was rummaging through a bunch of storage rings taken from Tribulation-stage cultivators. Sensing Sun Ruowei¡¯s arrival with his divine sense, he paused for a moment. "Ding! One of my kind has arrived!" came the voice of the system in his mind, sounding vaguely excited. "She has a system too?" Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "Ding! No, she just really likes gossip!" Lu Ye: ... "Ding! Especially gossip about you!" Lu Ye: ... You know what? Maybe you should go back to being the Heavenly Dao. At least you were quiet back then. Lu Ye opened the door and cupped his hands slightly. "Disciple Lu Ye greets Aunt-Master Sun." His expression was calm, with a gentle smile¡ªwarm and mild. In her previous life, Sun Ruowei had died because of her obsessive gossip habit¡ªliterally gossiped herself to death¡ªbut she¡¯d also fought side by side with Lu Ye in a war against the foreign races. She¡¯d died in battle. She had treated Lu Ye pretty well. "Lu Ye, huh." This wasn¡¯t the first time Sun Ruowei had interacted with him. In fact, their last two encounters had been... memorable. The first time was when Lu Ye had turned blood-red, murderous intent surging like he was about to wipe out the world. The second was when he summoned the Heavenly Tribulation to slaughter an entire group of Tribulation cultivators. Good god¡ªhe used to be just some little disciple in her eyes. But now... now even she felt a flicker of fear when facing him. "Don¡¯t be scared, Aunt-Master. I only kill enemies. Everyone in our sect is one of us." Lu Ye noticed her fear and infused his voice with a trace of Dao resonance, calming her down. Sure enough, the fear eased quickly. "You¡¯re right. We¡¯re from the same sect, all one family. And I¡¯ve always been close friends with your master. Treated you like my own¡ªwell, maybe that¡¯s not the perfect phrase, but you get what I mean, right?" "Disciple understands." "So now your master has fallen unconscious. That silly girl Hongling said you know a way to save her. Could you go help?" "I¡¯m sorry, Aunt-Master. It¡¯s true I¡¯ve saved Master before. But she made it clear¡ªshe doesn¡¯t want my help. And I¡¯ve already been punished once for doing so. I absolutely dare not involve myself again. ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) I ask that you consult others. Perhaps someone else can treat her." Lu Ye¡¯s tone was respectful, but undeniably cold. "She won¡¯t let you save her?" "Master is Master. I am her disciple. To honor one¡¯s teacher, respect the Dao, and uphold boundaries between man and woman¡ªthat is the foundation of ethics. I must not cross that line. I beg Aunt-Master to understand my position." Lu Ye cupped his hands again as he spoke. Sun Ruowei... "At special times, doing special things is sometimes understandable." "But if it¡¯s understandable, then it means something wrong is being forgiven. And if I don¡¯t do it, then I haven¡¯t done anything wrong¡ªand there¡¯s no need to talk about forgiveness at all, is there?" Sun Ruowei... had nothing left to say. Chapter 88: What Should You Call Me? She doesn¡¯t want me to save her. And when I do save her, she turns around and harms me. So if I don¡¯t save her... then nothing happens, right? This is what you call letting go of the savior complex¡ªand respecting someone¡¯s fate. Good. "You¡¯re just going to stand by and watch her spiral deeper into disaster?" Lu Ye didn¡¯t respond. He just looked at Sun Ruowei, calm and expressionless. And in this moment, silence was the best answer of all. "You really can¡¯t help her?" "I cannot." Two words¡ªsharp and final. No room for negotiation. Sun Ruowei took two steps back. "Alright. I understand. Then I won¡¯t disturb you any longer." "Take care, Aunt-Master. I won¡¯t see you off." Sun Ruowei left under Lu Ye¡¯s faint, courteous gaze. It wasn¡¯t until her figure completely disappeared from sight that Lu Ye finally shut the door again. "So polite, so warm... why does someone like that..." Ah, damn it. Slipped into gossip mode again¡ªnow¡¯s not the time for melon-eating. What now? "Ding! A kindred spirit, a kindred spirit! I must see what my fellow gossip-lover will do next!" Lu Ye: ... A light screen floated silently into view before Lu Ye¡ªeven though he hadn¡¯t given any permission. Lu Ye: ... Damn it. This system knew him too well now. If the system had asked if he wanted to watch, he probably would¡¯ve brushed it off. But showing it without asking? Well, now he couldn¡¯t really ignore it, could he? Not like he could punch the damn system, right? Ahem. Besides, sorting through loot wasn¡¯t all that hard. Watching a bit wouldn¡¯t hurt. Lu Ye suddenly felt like he was back in his childhood on Earth, when he was sent to an orphanage. One day, the orphanage got a huge batch of raw cotton still inside the bolls. The director gathered all the kids to pick cotton¡ªand to motivate them, they played an outdoor movie. Picking cotton while watching a movie¡ªthat had been one of Lu Ye¡¯s rare happy memories. This... kind of had the same vibe. Back at Bai Qiulan¡¯s place, Sun Ruowei returned. Bai Qiulan¡¯s face was still deathly pale. "How did it go?" Seeing Lu Ye wasn¡¯t with her, Yue Hongling¡¯s expression instantly darkened. "He said Qiulan made it explicitly clear she didn¡¯t want him to help her." Of course. Of course it would be that. Bai Qiulan¡¯s body trembled slightly. It felt like she was dreaming¡ªtrapped in a deep pit of icy water. Not just freezing cold, but with the terrifying sensation of drowning. She tried to struggle, to break free from the pit. But the more she fought, the deeper she sank. Before, in times like this, a pair of strong, warm hands would always reach out and grab hers. And then that blazing presence would hold her tight in his arms. Those strong arms would pull her upward, rising with her out of the ice. All the cold, all the fear of drowning¡ªit would vanish far behind them. But this time, no matter how far she sank, no matter how much she struggled¡ª That presence never came. "Husband... husband... save me..." Yue Hongling and Sun Ruowei both turned to Bai Qiulan, frozen still as they listened to the words she mumbled in her sleep. That was her subconscious. What she truly wanted¡ªwas for Lu Ye to save her. Nobody wants to die. "This won¡¯t do. I refuse to believe only Lu Ye can save her. I¡¯m going to the Sect Leader. There are so many great experts in Grand Dao Sect¡ªsomeone must be able to help!" Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She wasn¡¯t going to accept this fate. Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes were filled with sorrow. "It¡¯s no use. It¡¯s no use. Across the vast heavens, beneath all the gods and Buddhas¡ªonly Senior Brother can save Master. Only Senior Brother can." "Then I¡¯ll have the Sect Leader command Lu Ye to save her!" Sun Ruowei stormed off, heading straight for Dao Peak. Soon, she stood before Liu Changfeng. "Sect Leader, Bai Qiulan is gravely injured and unconscious. It appears she¡¯s been poisoned¡ªand according to her disciple, Yue Hongling, only Lu Ye can save her. I¡¯ve come to request an official decree from the Sect Leader. Please issue an order¡ªcommand Lu Ye to save his master." Hearing this, Liu Changfeng¡¯s heart clenched at once. The simp-brain kicked in before anything else. "How could Junior Sister Bai be poisoned? I¡¯ll go to her right away!" "Changming! Immediately summon the Supreme Elders of the Medical Peak and Pill Peak to head to Qiulan Peak!" But Sun Ruowei quickly cut in. "Sect Leader, going yourself won¡¯t help. Nor will the elders of Medical or Pill Peak. Only Lu Ye has the method to save her. Even I, who specialize in healing, have no way. What we need is your decree¡ªjust have Lu Ye go and everything will fall into place." That finally made Liu Changfeng pause. He remembered¡ªSun Ruowei herself was one of the most skilled healers in the sect. But as soon as the matter involved Lu Ye, the love-struck brain yielded the throne to his Sect Leader mindset. He calmed down. "Junior Sister Bai is Lu Ye¡¯s master. Why wouldn¡¯t he save her?" Liu Changfeng asked. Sun Ruowei¡¯s expression froze. How could she explain it? Say that in order for Lu Ye to save her, he¡¯d have to become a disciple who violated his master? And even if Bai Qiulan survived, how could she continue living with that kind of shame? Sun Ruowei knew Bai Qiulan well¡ªshe was traditional to the bone, firmly bound by etiquette and decorum. There was no way she¡¯d ever allow herself to cross that line with a disciple. "Lu Ye... does have his difficulties. But this matter won¡¯t bring him any harm. As long as you give the order, everything will resolve itself naturally!" In Sun Ruowei¡¯s view, Bai Qiulan clearly had feelings for Lu Ye¡ªbut because of their identities, both of them had been stuck behind that line they couldn¡¯t cross. But a command from the Sect Leader? That would be a third party stepping in¡ªforcing the situation to move forward. Liu Changfeng understood. He didn¡¯t know exactly why Lu Ye had refused to help, but if even Lu Ye had said no, then even as the Sect Leader, he couldn¡¯t force someone to save another. If he issued the command, Lu Ye might comply¡ªfor the sake of the sect¡¯s recent assistance in the battlefield. But once he did... Lu Ye might leave the sect altogether. That would be the end of it¡ªno more ties, no more loyalty. But this was Bai Qiulan... On one side was the sect¡¯s future¡ªthe prodigy they¡¯d gone all in on. On the other side... was the woman he had loved for years. Liu Changfeng¡¯s expression turned grave. He took his seat atop the Sect Leader¡¯s throne. Looking at Sun Ruowei, he spoke. "Junior Sister Bai has been poisoned. It is the duty of the Medical Peak and Pill Peak elders to treat her. Lu Ye is but a mere cultivator¡ªhe is not trained in medicine or healing. What could he possibly do?" "Changming, hurry and summon the Supreme Elders of Pill and Medical Peak!" Vice Sect Leader Ji Changming immediately responded with a loud yes, then quickly ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) departed. "Liu Changfeng, you¡ª!" Sun Ruowei¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief, then quickly turned to deep disappointment. She couldn¡¯t believe it. Liu Changfeng¡ªwho had adored Bai Qiulan for so long¡ªwas now, in this moment, abandoning her without hesitation. Liu Changfeng¡¯s expression remained solemn. He looked down at Sun Ruowei, voice cold and firm. "Junior Sister. Outside of Dao Peak, you may call me Liu Changfeng, or Senior Brother Liu¡ªI won¡¯t argue. But here, in the Dao Peak¡¯s Inquiry Hall, what should you address me as?" Sun Ruowei looked up at Liu Changfeng, seated high on the Sect Leader¡¯s throne. In this moment, he appeared towering and distant. His face stern and emotionless, like a divine figure devoid of all sentiment. Sun Ruowei trembled in her heart as she stared at him. Her voice shook slightly as she answered. "Se¡ªSect Leader..." Chapter 89: Deceiving Yourself She woke up! Bai Qiulan had woken up! With a soft moan, Bai Qiulan¡¯s eyes fluttered open, and in that very instant, her aura surged violently¡ªshe broke through two minor realms in one go. The Taiyin Saint Scripture truly lived up to its ferocity. Even while she was unconscious, it had continued to operate automatically, slowly dissolving the chaotic yin poison. Dissolve, absorb into her Nascent Soul, condense. Then dissolve again, get absorbed again, and condense again. Of course, the speed at which her Nascent Soul could absorb the poison wasn¡¯t nearly fast enough to match how fast it was being generated. After resting for a while, Bai Qiulan¡¯s body temperature finally began to normalize. "You¡¯re awake!" Yue Hongling and Sun Ruowei both cried out in joy. Bai Qiulan suddenly furrowed her brows. Her expression shifted sharply. "Who touched my clothes?" "Master, it was me¡ªit was me," Yue Hongling said quickly. Only then did Bai Qiulan breathe a sigh of relief. "How are you feeling now? Just what is this constitution of yours? You¡¯ve already reached Unity Dao Realm and you¡¯re still having these disasters?" Sun Ruowei asked anxiously. "It¡¯s nothing. I can handle it myself. The unconsciousness was just a form of self-preservation. My collapse didn¡¯t alarm too many people, did it?" Bai Qiulan asked, frowning. Yue Hongling and Sun Ruowei exchanged glances. "Ahem... no, not really!" Bai Qiulan looked helpless. "Go ahead. Tell me¡ªwho did you alarm?" She would¡¯ve preferred they didn¡¯t bring it up. But now that they had, Sun Ruowei was already seething with frustration. "Qiulan, what the hell is wrong with the men around you? That Lu Ye¡ªno matter what I said, no matter how much I pleaded, even when I told him to just do whatever he needed to do and I wouldn¡¯t blame him¡ªhe still refused to save you!" Bai Qiulan had already guessed it, but hearing for certain that Lu Ye had ignored her suffering... still sent a chill through her heart. Fine. Maybe she ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) really was pathetic. She had told him not to save her¡ªand now that he didn¡¯t, she still felt disappointed. "It was me who told him not to. This can¡¯t be blamed on him." Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t show any change in expression. "Forget Lu Ye. You told him not to help, fine. But what about Liu Changfeng?" Sun Ruowei pressed. Bai Qiulan¡¯s face instantly changed. "You tried to get Liu Changfeng to save me?" Though she couldn¡¯t accept any relationship with Lu Ye, her traditional beliefs made it even harder to accept any other man besides Lu Ye. Her ultimate path should be one of solitude, walking the great Dao alone. "No, no! Of course not. We¡¯d never let Liu Changfeng save you," Yue Hongling quickly explained, understanding Bai Qiulan¡¯s reaction. Bai Qiulan exhaled deeply in relief. "It¡¯s not that we asked him to save you. I just wanted him to issue a command ordering Lu Ye to do it. But he refused! And even scolded me for calling him by name instead of calling him Sect Leader¡ªit was ridiculous," Sun Ruowei complained. Bai Qiulan understood what Liu Changfeng meant. A faint sigh stirred in her chest. In this world... perhaps aside from Lu Ye in that previous life, no one had ever treated her with such undivided sincerity. Yue Hongling hesitated. Bai Qiulan turned to her. "Is there something you want to say?" "It¡¯s just... Master, do you really not know how much pain Senior Brother has to endure to help you?" Yue Hongling asked. Bai Qiulan was stunned. "Why are you asking that?" "I went to him, begged him to help you. I said you didn¡¯t know how much pain he had to go through to save you. But Senior Brother said... you do know." Bai Qiulan fell silent. She didn¡¯t respond. "I¡¯m tired. I need to cultivate and stabilize my condition. The two of you, go take care of your own matters for now." No answer¡ªthat was the loudest answer of all. Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t believe it. Master... Master really did know? Hadn¡¯t she said over and over again that she didn¡¯t know? Why? Why pretend she didn¡¯t know when she clearly did? Why lie? Yue Hongling wanted to ask again¡ªbut was pulled away by Sun Ruowei. Inside the room, Bai Qiulan stared at the closed door, then slowly shut her eyes. In the end, she couldn¡¯t hold back¡ªa single tear slid silently down the corner of her eye. Of course she knew how much Lu Ye had suffered. But she had deliberately chosen to forget. Especially after obtaining the Taiyin Saint Scripture¡ªLu Ye no longer needed to suffer for her. And as time passed, she had gradually forgotten the pain he once endured. What she didn¡¯t forget was Lu Ye¡¯s identity. She was the master. He was the disciple. She was lying to herself. Lying so well... even she had come to believe it. How pathetic. ...... "There wasn¡¯t anything worth watching in that!" Lu Ye muttered, dissatisfied. "Ding! Nothing worth watching? And yet you watched it so intently?" The system immediately voiced its displeasure. "I was that into it?" "Ding! You were!" "You must¡¯ve seen it wrong. Oh, right¡ªyou don¡¯t even have eyes. No wonder." "Ding! I have eyes. I have as many eyes as I want!" "All of them blind." "Ding! Your eyes are the ones that are blind!!!" Lu Ye bickered with the system for a while, then went back to organizing the storage rings. His mood was fairly decent. "Come to think of it, I¡¯ve been back at the sect for a while now. Why haven¡¯t any of those factions made a move? If this drags on, I¡¯m heading out to find the Withered Human Wood myself." The Withered Human Wood¡ªone of the key materials he needed to condense his third life. And he knew exactly where to get it. He¡¯d been staying in the Grand Dao Sect specifically to wait for the allied sects to come attack, so he could draw all their firepower and slip away under their noses. But since the sect had sealed itself off after returning, Lu Ye had no idea what was happening outside. What he didn¡¯t know... was that the death of forty-six Tribulation Realm experts had already spread across the Great Wilderness at terrifying speed. So fast it shook everyone. "Forty-six Tribulation Realm? And fifty-seven Inquiry Realm? All wiped out?!" "My god¡ªis Tianji News playing some kind of joke on us? How many Tribulation Realm cultivators are there in the whole Great Wilderness, even including all the factions?" Take the Grand Dao Sect, for example¡ªthey¡¯d sent out everything they had to rescue Lu Ye. Nineteen Tribulation Realm experts. The Five Great Sects, Three Grand Dynasties, plus the Immortal Everlasting Church. All together, the number barely reached two hundred Tribulation Realm cultivators. And the Grand Dao Sect¡¯s numbers were already considered above average. Once you included the first-rate powers outside the top tier, and the hidden factions like Nether Ghost Sect and Heaven Pavilion, it meant that one-seventh of the entire first heaven¡¯s Tribulation cultivators had just been wiped out. A full seventh. The Yin-Yang Law Sect and the Supreme Empire had lost almost all their top fighters. The Jie Sect and the Mountain River Pagoda Sect were beyond regret¡ªtheir intestines were practically twisted with it. They¡¯d actually had decent relations with the Grand Dao Sect. Meetings were cordial, people got along. Just look at how Xu Mozhi had gifted Bai Qiulan a treasure¡ªthat said it all. But now? They¡¯d turned into enemies¡ªand lost so many of their elite. The younger generation was devastated too¡ªno future talent, no frontline strength. No strong cultivators left. No future potential either. These factions... were completely numb. Chapter 90: No More Waiting "Jie jie jie jie..." In the Demon Realm, the Heavenly Demon Emperor threw his head back and cackled madly. A pitch-black banner hovered behind him, radiating boundless black fog. Within the mist, it was as if countless souls were letting out ear-piercing wails. "I never would''ve guessed¡ªI really never would''ve guessed!" The Demon Emperor was nearly laughing himself stupid. By the Devil Saints! Forty-six Tribulation Realm cultivators dead¡ªslaughtered in one go by a killing maniac who triggered the heavenly tribulation through some unknown means. All wiped out at once. He¡¯d only just received the news and had almost choked to death from laughter. Around him, the many demon race cultivators¡ªalso at the Tribulation Realm¡ªbared their fangs in savage grins. They¡¯d been worried before¡ªconcerned that their younger generation had suffered too many casualties, leaving them with a weak future. But now? There was nothing to worry about at all. Because the human race wasn¡¯t running out of strength anymore¡ªthey were just plain out of strength. "Forty-six Tribulation Realm cultivators. Forty-six!" The Demon Emperor kept repeating the number, unable to contain his joy. For the demon race, this was like losing a colossal enemy overnight. "Pass down my Demon Emperor Decree! Contact the other clans! It¡¯s time to march into the Great Wilderness¡ªour chance to unify the First Heaven is here!" "This time, I will let my Ten Thousand Soul Banner feast on the souls of the human race!" "Yes!" Just like in the Demon Realm¡ª The spies of other races embedded among the humans had already sent word back. When the foreign clans heard it, they all exploded into uproar. The fall of forty-six Tribulation Realm powerhouses was practically a festival for them. They quickly received a message from the Heavenly Demon Emperor. "Attack!" "Attack!" "A once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity! We must strike the Great Wilderness now¡ªwhile the humans are in chaos and fear!" "Unite! This time, we¡¯ll make the human race pay!" "I think we should wait a little longer. The humans have already lost their Tribulation Realm experts. Every one of those takes immense time and resources to cultivate. And now they¡¯ve turned on each other. That Lu Ye, ranked first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, killed all those cultivators¡ªand the Grand Dao Sect still chose to side with him. How could the other sects possibly let this go?" "There will definitely be another war. And it won¡¯t be small." "Either the Grand Dao Sect gets destroyed, or the rest of the human factions suffer another massive loss. Don¡¯t rush¡ªdon¡¯t rush!" "Amitabha. Wise words. This humble monk also believes we should wait a little longer." "Very well. But we must begin gathering strength. Be ready to strike at any time!" The many foreign clans began their discussions. Then, from the God Clan, a voice rose¡ªWater Liang, descendant of the Water God. "Perhaps... we can also reach out to the forces that lost the most during the slaughter." "What do you mean?" "The Supreme Empire has already contacted our God Clan. They said¡ªif we can destroy the Grand Dao Sect and kill Lu Ye, the Supreme Empire is willing to coexist with us." Hm??? This news from Water Liang instantly piqued the foreign clan leaders¡¯ interest. "The Supreme Empire really said that?" "Indeed." "Interesting. That¡¯s worth considering." ...... Grand Dao Sect. "I¡¯ve had enough waiting!" Lu Ye shot to his feet. No enemies had come¡ªjust waiting here like this was a waste of life. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t the type to sit idle. He needed to cultivate. His figure vanished. And when he reappeared, he was already at Pill Peak. By now, everyone in the Grand Dao Sect knew his name. The image of him summoning tribulation lightning to annihilate the enemy was still vivid¡ªlike it had happened only yesterday. "Disciple Lu Ye seeks audience with Peak Lord Qinghuo!" As soon as they heard it was Lu Ye, the elders of Pill Peak didn¡¯t dare be negligent. One of them immediately led Lu Ye up the peak and sent word to Daoist Qinghuo. They hadn¡¯t even walked far when Qinghuo¡¯s laughter rang out loudly. "Hahaha! Lu Ye! Coming to my Pill Peak¡ªsurely you¡¯re here for some pills? Whatever you need, just tell me!" Lu Ye stepped forward and bowed to Daoist Qinghuo. "Greetings, Peak Lord. This disciple has not come to request pills¡ªI wish to borrow the Nine-Dragon Departing Flame Furnace to refine a grand pill of my own." Peak Lord Qinghuo was immediately surprised. "You know how to refine pills?" "I do." No need for modesty here¡ªLu Ye¡¯s alchemy skills could be described as nothing short of a Dao unto itself. "What kind of pill do you intend to refine?" "It has no formal name. But if you must call it something... then let it be called Great Spirit Pill." "Hmm?" Qinghuo blinked, confused. A pill with no name? Didn¡¯t that mean... this pill was created by Lu Ye himself? Now come on¡ªthat couldn¡¯t be right. The kid was still so young. It was already monstrous enough that he had reached this level of cultivation. How could he also have the years of immersion and study needed to become a grandmaster of alchemy? Lu Ye smiled. "This disciple understands your doubts, Peak Lord. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I only need to use the Nine-Dragon Departing Flame Furnace for a while. It¡¯s tough enough that even if I blow it up, it won¡¯t take a scratch. You can rest easy." Well, that was true. "Alright then. Come with me!" The two of them made their way to the location of the Nine-Dragon Departing Flame Furnace. The furnace stood about three feet in diameter, with nine dragons spiraling around its outer shell. When activated, all nine dragons could spew flame simultaneously¡ªan extraordinary artifact, and one of the most famed pill furnaces in not just the Grand Dao Sect, but the entire First Heaven. "Uh... can I watch you refine?" Qinghuo asked curiously. He didn¡¯t entirely believe Lu Ye had high-level pill-refining skills. But if the kid wasn¡¯t bad, he could offer some guidance. And who knew? If Lu Ye was impressed by his knowledge, he might even ask to learn under him. Then he¡¯d technically become half of Lu Ye¡¯s master. Just the thought of it made him giddy. Lu Ye didn¡¯t refuse. "Feel free, Peak Lord." He raised a hand¡ªwhite Sunlight Flame ignited beneath the furnace. The nine carved dragons immediately responded as if they¡¯d awakened from slumber. The furnace flared to life, beginning to preheat. Qinghuo nodded slightly. Alright, this part looked pretty solid. Good fire control, clean technique. Lu Ye then pulled out a handful of spiritual herbs¡ªand casually tossed them all in at once. "Eh?" Qinghuo blinked. Lu Ye had already thrown them in before he could even see what they were. Wait¡ªwhat? Who refined pills like this?! The flame roared higher, and within the furnace, the herbs were instantly liquefied into potent medicinal essence. Qinghuo instinctively lifted both hands¡ªif he weren¡¯t too embarrassed, he probably would¡¯ve already covered his ears. This was going to explode! He waited for the blast¡ª But it never came. Instead, the lid of the furnace opened on its own. Inside, twelve Qi-replenishing Pills glowed with thick medicinal fragrance. Every pill was perfectly round, glistening, evenly marked with refined lines. "Boundless Heavenly Sovereign!" Qinghuo cried out. It was done?! Who the hell refined pills like this¡ªjust tossing everything in at once? Medicinal energies had different melting rates¡ªthis method should¡¯ve guaranteed violent conflict between essences. But Lu Ye... did it anyway. And he succeeded. Lu Ye casually tested his hand, gauging his current state. Not bad. Time to begin. Suddenly, he summoned a massive pile of spiritual herbs¡ªeach brimming with intense spiritual energy. These were Tribulation-tier treasures. "Wait, wait¡ª" Qinghuo /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ stammered. Lu Ye casually tossed dozens of kinds of spiritual herbs straight into the Nine-Dragon Departing Flame Furnace. "¡ªwait a moment!" Lu Ye turned his head, manipulating the flame with ease, and asked curiously, "What is it?" Qinghuo¡¯s face had turned pale. It was over. Pill Peak was about to blow sky-high. Chapter 91: This Pill "Peak Master, don¡¯t be so nervous." Lu Ye glanced at Daoist Qinghuo and noticed that the latter¡¯s hands were clenched tight, so he couldn¡¯t help but offer some comfort. "Just keep a good eye on the pill furnace!" Daoist Qinghuo raised his voice. "Alright, alright. But really, it¡¯s nothing serious. It¡¯s not like this is my first time refining pills." "What kind of herbs were you using before, and what kind of herbs are you putting in now? How could they be the same?" What Daoist Qinghuo meant was that Lu Ye¡¯s previous pill refining used ordinary low-grade spirit herbs. But now, the pile of herbs he was throwing in came from the collection of a Tribulation Stage powerhouse¡ªabsolutely top-grade materials. There was simply no comparison. What he didn¡¯t know was that even before, the herbs Lu Ye had used were already peak-tier divine medicines and Dao Fruits, some of which had even developed sentience¡ªyet Lu Ye had tossed them all in like some stew. "Pretty much the same. Herbology really only has a few basic principles. It¡¯s all similar." "It¡¯s not the same at all! A tiny deviation leads to a huge mistake! Even within one type of herb, the medicinal properties can differ depending on¡ª" Daoist Qinghuo hadn¡¯t even finished his sentence when Lu Ye grabbed another massive handful of herbs and tossed them in. "Hey hey hey¡ª!" Daoist Qinghuo truly couldn¡¯t take it anymore. "Be careful, slow down!" "See? It didn¡¯t explode." Yet another giant handful of herbs was thrown into the furnace. The Nine Dragons continued breathing fire, and the herbs were quickly liquefied. Lu Ye tossed in another big handful. Those herbs¡ªdamn, it looked like he was throwing in a pile of wild grass. At this point, Daoist Qinghuo didn¡¯t even dare speak anymore. He¡¯d realized that the medicinal properties of the herbs Lu Ye was throwing in really were all about the same, just like he said. But this... this wasn¡¯t how pills were supposed to be refined! A single pill formula didn¡¯t just require herbs with similar properties¡ªit also needed ones that counterbalanced those properties. Using only one kind of property? You couldn¡¯t refine a proper pill that way. You¡¯d just end up poisoned. Minute by minute, time passed. Lu Ye brought out a fresh pile of herbs with completely new medicinal properties. "No, no, no..." Daoist Qinghuo didn¡¯t even know what to say anymore. All his accumulated knowledge was screaming at him that if these herbs went in, the furnace was absolutely going to explode. He had already braced himself to die¡ªif the furnace exploded, he¡¯d protect Lu Ye first and foremost. He could die. The sect¡¯s chosen heir could not. Lu Ye glanced at Daoist Qinghuo... Can¡¯t really blame him¡ªhe¡¯d only just begun learning pill refinement himself. Inside the furnace, the herbs melted, and massive clouds of white smoke burst out from the Nine-Dragon Lihuo Furnace, like smoke from a coal-fired train chimney. Daoist Qinghuo¡¯s entire body was tense. Wait... it didn¡¯t explode? Just then, Lu Ye pulled out another pile of herbs and tossed them in faster than lightning. Daoist Qinghuo realized¡ªthis Lu Ye really did have fast hands. Whoosh¡ªjust like that, a pile of herbs came out. He didn¡¯t even check them properly¡ªdidn¡¯t look to see if they were right¡ªjust yanked them out and tossed them in the furnace! As the herb count kept increasing, the pill furnace began to tremble lightly. From within came the roar of wind and crashing waves. Lu Ye stayed calm, steadily continuing to add herbs. "Too many. There¡¯s way too many herbs being added." In standard pill refining, a pill that used a few dozen ingredients was already considered extremely complex. But with Lu Ye? A rough count said he¡¯d already thrown in a few hundred kinds. Who the hell refined pills by grabbing fistfuls of herbs and chucking them into the furnace like this? Until finally, the last handful of herbs was tossed in. The White Sunfire that Lu Ye controlled surged even more intensely. Roaring, gushing sounds filled the furnace, ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) and there was even that bubbling, rumbling sound like something about to explode from within the belly. "Ssshh..." A massive burst of steam sprayed out. The entire pill refining room was filled with thick smoke. If they hadn¡¯t been cultivators, this kind of concentration of vapor would¡¯ve given them carbon dioxide poisoning. "Done!" Pill condensation successful. Daoist Qinghuo squinted, staring unblinkingly at the pill furnace. Even as his eyes stung and watered from the smoke, he refused to look away. He had to see for himself what kind of earth-shattering pill would come from Lu Ye¡¯s insane, brute-force method of pill refinement. Lu Ye opened the furnace. An incredibly rich medicinal fragrance burst out instantly. Daoist Qinghuo was startled. So fragrant! Lu Ye, however, suddenly darkened his expression. No... Damn it¡ªhis White Sunfire was too low-level. Even though it was divine fire, refining this many peak-tier First Heaven ingredients was still incredibly difficult. He¡¯d actually encountered a pill-refining disaster in his life. "What¡¯s wrong?" Daoist Qinghuo, curious, came closer. And then he saw the pill inside the furnace¡ªand froze, dumbfounded. Lu Ye¡¯s face was dark as he took out the pill. It was a single pill larger than his own head, a full twenty centimeters in diameter. Intricate pill patterns glowed across its surface, releasing a scent so enticing it made one¡¯s soul quiver. Judging by its roundness, the markings, and the fragrance, it was clear the pill¡¯s refinement was highly successful¡ªthis was a top-grade pill. It was just... the size. Daoist Qinghuo¡¯s eyes were wide with awe. "Boundless Heavenly Venerates! I¡¯ve never seen a pill this big in my life. This huge¡ªwho the hell could even swallow something like this?" Lu Ye!!! He couldn¡¯t stop himself from shooting Daoist Qinghuo a sideways glare, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Ah, sorry, sorry, I speak before thinking. It¡¯s just... since you didn¡¯t follow the standard pill-refining protocols, the pill came out like this. If you refined systematically, you¡¯d definitely be able to make pills that are¡ªuh, this pill?" At first, Daoist Qinghuo had only noticed the pill¡¯s massive size. Now, finally, his focus shifted to the pill¡¯s actual quality. "Top-grade pill?" Daoist Qinghuo blurted out. "Mm. Thanks to Peak Master for letting me use the Nine-Dragon Lihuo Furnace, I¡ªah, whatever!" Lu Ye pulled out a blade and sliced off a chunk of the Giant Spirit Pill, handing it to Daoist Qinghuo. "If you want to eat it, eat it. If you want to study it, study it. I¡¯ll be taking my leave now." Daoist Qinghuo stared blankly at the chunk of pill in his hand¡ªit was the size of a fist. He... he... He used a blade to carve out a piece of the pill. And that one chunk was already the size of a fist. At that moment, Daoist Qinghuo¡¯s pride in his own pill-refining Dao suffered the most devastating blow in his entire life. Lu Ye put away the Giant Spirit Pill and didn¡¯t dare take it out again until he was back in his own quarters. Ding ding ding... The system let out a barbell-like laugh in his mind. Lu Ye was considering¡ªshould he slice this pill and eat it bit by bit? Or scoop out chunks? Or just gnaw on it directly? Forget it! Lu Ye¡¯s body began to grow larger. Heaven-Manifesting Earth-Embodying Technique! (Fa Tian Xiang Di!) No good¡ªthere was a roof. But that wasn¡¯t going to stop Lu Ye. Only his head enlarged. He opened his massive bloody maw, aaaahhh¡ªhis mouth stretched to the limit, his face turning almost feral¡ªand finally, he chomped down on the whole pill in one bite. Munch munch munch... The pill went down. A massive wave of energy erupted, spreading rapidly through his body. Lu Ye sat cross-legged. His heart was already set¡ªafter refining this pill, he would immediately leave Grand Dao Sect. Not only would he leave¡ªhe would make sure the entire world knew. When the time came: Dao Integration! Chapter 92: Leaving Cultivation. Cultivation! He was already at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul stage. Now, by combining the herbs from the forty-six storage rings of Tribulation Stage cultivators with the ones he¡¯d obtained from the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, he had refined a pill perfectly suited for his current level. The pill didn¡¯t need a fancy name. It just had to meet his needs. And his need was simple¡ªto take the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage and push it one step beyond. Even his Nascent Soul was beginning to swell. The terrifying medicinal force transformed into the purest energy, surging through Lu Ye¡¯s body. The Nine-Life Undying Sutra circulated endlessly, pushing his cultivation speed to its limits. The rolling tide of energy converted into true essence, which flowed into the Nascent Soul, expanding it. As the Nascent Soul grew, it began to release vast amounts of true essence on its own, synchronizing and refining the medicinal properties. Lu Ye¡¯s body started to swell and enlarge. But it was no issue¡ªhis physique had already undergone countless refinements. The Nine Tribulations Immortal Body allowed him to withstand such overwhelming power without breaking. He kept refining, and his reservoir of true essence grew deeper and denser. His Nascent Soul became more tangible, more vivid, and much, much larger. Fortunately, the space within his dantian was limitless¡ªno matter how large the Nascent Soul grew, it would still fit. The more real his Nascent Soul became, the more he successfully transformed falsehood into reality¡ªadvancing through the final level of the Nascent Soul stage. Like this, three days passed. All the medicinal energy had been consumed. Lu Ye opened his eyes. There was no cold light flashing through the void, only a calm and natural sense of completion. It was enough. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but feel a little sentimental¡ªhis cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage had really been... luxurious. Not long after breaking into Nascent Soul, he¡¯d received the blessing of the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, and the purity of that energy went without saying. He¡¯d broken through all the way to the ninth level in one go. And then came this latest pill¡ªrefined from the top-tier herbs of multiple Tribulation Stage powerhouses. As for the age-old claim that ¡°cultivation mustn¡¯t rely on external aids¡±? Don¡¯t kid yourself. That was just something people said to fool the ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) poor. If external aids were useless, then why would sacred sects and divine clans fight to the death over blessed lands? Why did people crack each other¡¯s skulls open for resources? If you¡¯re a poor man, they¡¯ll tell you that true cultivation must rely on hard work, that every step you take on the Dao must come from bitter struggle¡ªthat¡¯s the righteous path. But if you¡¯re rich, they¡¯ll tell you how miraculous their pills are, how taking them will let you surpass your peers, gain the upper hand from the very start, and keep it forever¡ªthat this is the true competition between cultivators. All Lu Ye could say was: he ate really well. Now that cultivation was done, Lu Ye rose to his feet. He headed for Grand Dao Peak. "Disciple Lu Ye requests an audience with the Sect Master." Upon hearing this, Liu Changfeng smiled and came out to greet Lu Ye in person. "Hahaha, Lu Ye, how¡¯s your recovery? Do you need the sect to prepare some restorative elixirs?" Lu Ye smiled as well. "Many thanks for the Sect Master¡¯s concern. This disciple is fully recovered. I came today because I¡¯ve had a new idea and hope that the Sect Master will approve." "Oh? Let¡¯s hear it." "This disciple is currently at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, only one step away from Dao Integration. But since the Grand Dao Sect has no method for integrating the Dao, I must leave for a while." "That urgent?" Liu Changfeng¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. "One must not delay cultivation." "What do you need to break through to Dao Integration? Let me see if the sect has it. Right now, things are precarious. I¡¯ve already received word¡ªthe foreign clans beyond the realm are growing restless. Even though the other sects haven¡¯t yet sought revenge, they absolutely won¡¯t let things lie. If you go out now and are discovered, you won¡¯t just face attacks from other sects¡ªyou¡¯ll be targeted by the foreign clans as well." Liu Changfeng was being truthful. If Lu Ye left the sect now, without the protection of the Grand Dao Sect¡¯s great defensive array, and was found out, then he would truly be facing the whole world as his enemy. "The treasure I need is called Withered Man Wood. It only exists in the Western Extinguished-Buddha Desert." "Withered Man Wood..." It was the first time Liu Changfeng had heard of this item. The Western Extinguished-Buddha Desert had once been a Buddhist nation. Later, a monk known as the Buddha Who Crosses the Heavens arose there. He wished to save the entire world, to make all people disciples of the Buddha, and made a grand, world-spanning vow. And so, the sacred Buddhist lands of the West... were reduced to desert. The entire Buddhist sect was expelled from the Great Wilderness, severing ties completely with the human race. Now, the Buddhist sect no longer even considered itself part of the human realm. Their sole obsession was to return to the Great Wilderness and once again ignite the light of the Buddha. "Don''t be in such a rush. I¡¯ll have people look for it." But Lu Ye already knew¡ªthe Grand Dao Sect didn¡¯t have Withered Man Wood. He¡¯d searched in his previous life. Back then, even though he had only ranked thirty-third, that was still enough to place him among the top Heaven¡¯s Chosen of this era. When he returned from the Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ancient Battlefield, he was treated with the utmost honor by the sect. At that time, when he wanted to find Withered Man Wood, he also commissioned the Grand Dao Sect to search. They didn¡¯t have it, so he turned to the Heaven¡¯s Secrets Pavilion¡ªand only then did he learn of its existence. Liu Changfeng gave the order to begin searching. In the meantime, he spoke with Lu Ye. "If we truly can¡¯t find it, there¡¯s no need for you to personally seek it out. I can send someone else to retrieve it for you." Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh. "Sect Master, I¡¯m not some clueless child. Every step I take, I take after careful thought. No one else needs to look for it¡ªI can retrieve it myself." "If even this needs someone else to handle for me, then no matter if I¡¯m ranked first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, I¡¯d still be raised into a useless cripple." Liu Changfeng, of course, knew Lu Ye was right. But it was just too dangerous. Soon, Ji Changming returned with an answer. No trace of Withered Man Wood had been found. Lu Ye rose to his feet and cupped his hands. "Then this disciple shall depart from the Grand Dao Sect. Please be at ease, Sect Master¡ªno matter how vast the Great Wilderness is, there are only two or three people who might be able to stop me. I won¡¯t give them that chance." Liu Changfeng let out a long sigh. "Very well. If you insist on leaving, then at least take the Grand Dao Bell with you!" Lu Ye... "Truly unnecessary. Farewell!" Lu Ye turned and left. Liu Changfeng fell silent for a moment, then said, "Contact Ancestor Qingfeng. Have him secretly protect Lu Ye. Make sure Lu Ye doesn¡¯t notice." "Yes!" That was all Liu Changfeng could do. He knew¡ªfrom the moment Lu Ye stepped onto the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, trial after trial would await him. Forty-six Tribulation Stage cultivators¡ªthat was just the first gate. But what did it mean to be ranked first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking? It meant fearlessness. It meant forging forward without hesitation, breaking through every obstacle no matter how deadly. That was the true way of a Heaven¡¯s Chosen. Even if it ended in death¡ªthere would be no regrets. Of course, that was Lu Ye¡¯s path. Not Liu Changfeng¡¯s. Liu Changfeng was the sect master¡ªthe leader chosen by all of Grand Dao Sect. His duty was to lead the sect toward even greater glory. Lu Ye stepped out of the Grand Dao Sect. His brow twitched slightly. Ancestor Qingfeng, huh... Better shake him off now, or he¡¯d interfere with the escape plan. There was no way Qingfeng could smooth things over if Lu Ye stirred up trouble. So, half an hour later¡ª Ancestor Qingfeng, white-haired but child-faced, stood with a faint trace of confusion in his eyes. He looked around at his surroundings. Looked at heaven and earth. Then pulled out a transmission stone. "What happened?" Liu Changfeng¡¯s voice came through. "...Lost him." Liu Changfeng: ??? A Loose Deity... lost track of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Liu Changfeng understood. Lu Ye did it on purpose. Just what the hell was that kid planning? Chapter 93: Fish Pond Blast What was Lu Ye trying to do? No one knew. But in the blink of an eye¡ªthe entire Great Wilderness knew. Yin-Yang Holy Land. This place was blessed with clear mountains and flowing waters, picturesque and serene. Two opposing peaks stood tall, one pure white, as if formed from piled-up white jade, the other pitch black, dark as ink and coal. Two twin lakes rested beneath, resembling the eyes of the Taiji symbol. The entire sacred land was saturated with profound Dao charm. Lu Ye arrived. Same principle as always¡ªif you didn¡¯t make a big enough scene, how would anyone know that Lu Ye had left the Grand Dao Sect? He would take full responsibility for his actions. If the other sects wanted revenge for their fallen¡ªcome find him. A few gatekeeping disciples noticed Lu Ye floating in midair above the sect¡¯s entrance. But their strength wasn¡¯t high, so they had no idea who he was. "What do you think you¡¯re doing? You think you can just fly above the Yin-Yang Law Sect¡¯s gates? Get down here immediately and state your business¡ªor don¡¯t blame us for capturing you!" Even gatekeeping disciples of the Yin-Yang Law Sect had enough backbone to speak sternly to a strong cultivator. Just like when Master Li Jian had pursued Chu Ling¡ªeven though he was at the Core Shattering stage, he still had to behave when facing a Grand Dao Sect disciple at the Nascent Soul level. Unfortunately, Lu Ye was no Master Li Jian. His hands formed a seal. In an instant, the earth trembled and mountains shook. A colossal peak materialized, forged from overwhelming magic power. Its vast shadow began to envelop the entire Yin-Yang Law Sect. The two gatekeepers: ??? Boom! The enormous mountain came crashing down toward the sect¡¯s gates. The Yin-Yang Law Sect¡¯s protective grand formation automatically activated. Huge boulders shattered upon impact, sending smoke and dust billowing into the sky. Woooooo... The deep blare of the Yin-Yang war horn echoed through the mountains. One by one, powerful auras began to surge from within the sect. "How dare you attack our Yin-Yang Law Sect! You¡¯ve got a death wish!" Lu Ye summoned another mountain with a flick of his fingers. The insult mattered far more than the damage. The boulders weren¡¯t all that lethal¡ªbut a giant mountain smashing down from the heavens, stirring up a storm of dust and debris, had turned the once-beautiful sacred land into a complete wasteland. Even if the grand formation inside remained intact. The people inside had been roused. Lu Ye pulled out his stone sword¡ªand with one furious strike, brought it down. In a flash, the sword¡¯s light slammed into the grand formation. The formation trembled lightly before completely dispersing the sword qi. A Dao Integration cultivator flew out immediately and finally saw Lu Ye¡¯s face. "Lu Ye!" His expression twisted. The moment he recognized Lu Ye, he turned and bolted back inside. Too fast¡ªLu Ye had planned to kill him with a single sword strike, but the guy ran back faster than Lu Ye could even swing. So it was true that people could unleash unprecedented strength at the edge of life and death. "Lu Ye is here!" A thunderous shout. The entire Yin-Yang Law Sect exploded into chaos. Even the ancestral elders were startled awake. Tribulation Stage cultivators and Loose Deities swarmed out en masse. "Lu Ye! You dare show your face at our Yin-Yang Law Sect?! You¡¯re courting death!" Anyone with a brain knew that Lu Ye had shown up for [N O V E L I G H T] a reason. There was no way he was actually here just to get himself killed. But Lu Ye didn¡¯t say a word. Fist and sword flew out again and again, making the protective formation tremble violently. He watched the furious Loose Deities of the Yin-Yang Law Sect charge out¡ªthen sneered in disdain. Then, without hesitation, he turned and bolted. Wind¡¯s up¡ªtime to scram! "Careful, it could be a trap! If it¡¯s not¡ªkill him without mercy!" The Yin-Yang Law Sect¡¯s sect master, Daoist Wuji, shouted furiously. Lu Ye ran like the wind, using a movement technique called Floating Feather Flight. His body became like a feather, drifting with the wind, erratic and elusive. But his pursuers were still Loose Deities¡ªno matter how he flew, the gap was gradually closing. Lu Ye¡¯s figure suddenly dropped. He dove into the ground, and in an instant, his aura completely vanished. The two Loose Deities halted, carefully scanning the surroundings. "This way!" The aura was faint, but it had still been detected. They continued the pursuit¡ªonly for the aura to abruptly split into nine strands, fleeing in nine different directions. The two Loose Deities roared in fury, unleashing Yin-Yang divine light toward two of the fleeing traces. The earth trembled violently, enormous craters blasted into the ground. But inside the craters¡ªnothing. The remaining seven auras darted away at incredible speed, and within the blink of an eye, they¡¯d pulled far out of reach. The two were left dumbfounded. Which one should they chase? After the seven auras had run a great distance, six of them suddenly vanished at the same time. "This way!" The Loose Deities snapped to attention and gave chase again. Clearly, this kind of aura could only be sustained for a short period of time. Lu Ye had too many ways to escape. In the cultivation world, the stronger a person was, the more escape techniques they possessed. Mainly because those with too few escape methods... generally didn¡¯t live long enough to need them. Someone in the cultivation world once joked: ¡°Any emperor can be called the Great Escaping Emperor.¡± That was the truth of it. Even a peerless emperor walking the path of invincibility¡ªunmatched among their peers, capable of crossing realms in battle¡ªif they came up against someone two or three realms stronger? No matter how invincible they were, they could still be smacked to death with one slap. Lu Ye could absolutely shake off these two Loose Deities¡ªbut then how would he stir up public uproar? "Which direction is he running in?" Chasing and chasing, the two Yin-Yang Law Sect Loose Deities suddenly realized¡ªthey were near the imperial capital of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. Lu Ye had rushed into the capital. In that moment, he vanished into the sea of people like a raindrop returning to the ocean. His aura disappeared completely¡ªnot a shred left behind. The two Yin-Yang Law Sect Loose Deities¡¯ arrival immediately triggered high alert in the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. Several of the dynasty¡¯s own Loose Deities awakened and flew out to intercept them. "Fellow Daoists of the Yin-Yang Law Sect, for what reason have you come to Jiuli City?" one of the Jiuli elders asked coldly. "Lu Ye ran into your Jiuli City," said the Yin-Yang Law Sect patriarch, Gu Chengzi. "...What?" The Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty ancestor¡¯s voice instantly shot up an octave. At the same moment, a terrifying sword light erupted into the sky. A monstrous sword will surged upward, so intense it turned the very sky a different color. The massive sword towered higher than the surrounding mountains and pierced through the clouds. With a single, explosive strike, it slammed down toward the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty¡¯s imperial palace. The palace¡¯s protective grand formation rose at once, and simultaneously, the city¡¯s external formation activated as well. Boom! The earth quaked, mountains swayed. Countless buildings in Jiuli City collapsed instantly. A flood of terrified screams echoed as citizens scattered and fled in panic. A large number of powerhouses from the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty rushed out¡ªfour Loose Deities among them. No joke¡ªif Lu Ye started a massacre inside Jiuli City, the entire dynasty could collapse. Tension ran high throughout the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. "It¡¯s fine. His sword strike didn¡¯t breach the inner formation. Now that both the inner and outer layers of the Jiuli Grand Array are fully activated, he won¡¯t be able to escape. As long as we search thoroughly, we¡¯ll find him!" one of Jiuli¡¯s Loose Deities shouted. It was true¡ªthe Jiuli Grand Array¡¯s outer layer guarded the city, both defensive and offensive, while the inner layer protected the imperial palace and was utterly impregnable. Thousands of soldiers flooded through the city, scouring every possible hiding spot and inspecting citizens one by one. At that moment, Lu Ye had already slipped into the inner formation. Let¡¯s talk about himself¡ªafter becoming a Heavenly Venerable for so many years, he¡¯d nearly forgotten what he was best at. Sure, chopping through someone else¡¯s grand array was great for public humiliation. But then what? People could just wash the dust off their pride and pretend nothing happened. But what if you stole their treasury? You couldn¡¯t just toss in some junk and pretend the treasure hadn¡¯t gone missing. Lu Ye¡¯s real target for entering Jiuli City¡ª Was the royal treasure vault of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. Chapter 94: Siege His aura-concealing technique was called Heaven-Masking Art (Ma?ntia?n Fa?). This thing worked exceptionally well. Back when he¡¯d created it, he and the system had spent a long time simulating countless variations to perfect it. How effective was it? When he helped the system steal from the Heavenly Dao itself, this very technique had played a key role. So now, using it to hide his presence? Child¡¯s play. Was the royal treasure vault heavily guarded? Of course. Layer upon layer of defensive formations, each linked to the next. Touching even one would trigger an alarm. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes turned a pale silver, and the world in his vision was reduced to clean, simplified lines. In a short span of time, he unleashed one arcane technique after another, each more obscure than the last. ¡°Pow! Pow!¡± Two hand chops struck the vault guards with pinpoint precision¡ªlaced with a trace of Primordial Morning Mist essence. Neither guard made a sound. The searing, instantaneous pain shredded their souls in an instant. Their corpses vanished into Lu Ye¡¯s storage ring. With deft fingers, Lu Ye cracked the formation. The treasury doors opened. He slipped inside. The formation resealed itself automatically behind him. Aside from two missing guards, nothing seemed amiss. Lu Ye didn¡¯t bother being picky. He just took everything. And then took more. And more. From the first level, he swept his way through to the third¡ªwithout leaking a single hint of aura. Until he stepped into the final floor¡ª And came face to face with an old man with white hair and a youthful face. Lu Ye: ... Well, yeah. What treasure vault doesn¡¯t have an old ancestor sitting in it? Lu Ye could only offer him a polite smile. "You brazen little thief!" The old ancestor roared. Lu Ye instantly bolted backward. A piercing alarm screeched from the vault. Lu Ye fled at top speed. Every time he neared a formation, it opened for him automatically. Every time the ancestor approached, the formations reactivated against him. The treasury doors opened¡ª And then boom!¡ª Shattered as the old ancestor burst through them. But Lu Ye was already gone. "Where is he?!" The elder¡¯s furious roar echoed across the imperial palace. Lu Ye followed the escape route he¡¯d memorized ahead of time, darting out of the palace with mere seconds to spare. If he¡¯d waited any longer, the entire palace would have been sealed tight. Formations were nothing to Lu Ye. He reached the outer city wall, shattered the protective grand array, and emerged once again into view. With one palm strike, he slapped the grand array. Boom! The formation quivered lightly. Every powerhouse in the city snapped their heads toward him. "Get him!" Streams of light surged toward Lu Ye like a tidal wave. Lu Ye turned and ran. ...... "What?! Lu Ye smashed the Yin-Yang Law Sect¡¯s mountain gate?" Liu Changfeng shot to his feet on the Sect Master¡¯s throne. "Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be looking for Withered Man Wood? What the hell¡¯s he doing picking a fight with the Yin-Yang Law Sect?" Ji Changming could only force a bitter smile. "Who knows..." "This is bad. It¡¯s far too dangerous¡ªhe doesn¡¯t understand how terrifying Loose Deities truly are. We have to act!" "Summon all sect powerhouses at once¡ªprepare to reinforce Lu Ye!" "Seriously now¡ªhe¡¯s just a young man. Why can¡¯t he sit still for once? What¡¯s the rush? Train for five or ten more years, and would the Yin-Yang Law Sect still be a problem?" The powerhouses of the Grand Dao Sect had already entered full battle-readiness. At the call to gather, they quickly assembled atop Grand Dao Peak. Bai Qiulan came too. She was a Dao Integration cultivator¡ªnot low in realm, and definitely not weak in combat. If it involved Lu Ye, she couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing. Liu Changfeng had just opened his mouth to speak¡ªwhen another report arrived. "What? Lu Ye robbed the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty¡¯s inner palace vault?!" If it were just the Yin-Yang Law Sect, the Grand Dao Sect could still grit its teeth and go all out to protect Lu Ye. But now he¡¯d stirred up the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty too? "What? He smashed the ancestral statue of the Jie Sect and cursed them as broke as hell, saying there wasn¡¯t a single decent treasure?!" "What? He broke the Mountain River Pagoda Sect¡¯s protective grand formation¡ªbecause their vault defense was ¡®too well guarded¡¯?" One after another, scouts came rushing in with updates¡ªand the Grand Dao Sect¡¯s entire leadership... their scalps were tingling. No, seriously¡ªthese forces already had a grudge against him. They were just holding back from launching a direct assault on the Grand Dao Sect. And now? Now he went over and personally insulted every single one of them? You¡ª You! Boundless Heavenly Venerates, weren¡¯t you just going out to look for Withered Man Wood?! Ancestor Qingfeng couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, "Boundless Heavenly Venerates..." Thank the heavens this old Daoist didn¡¯t follow along¡ªif he had, he¡¯d be a battered corpse by now. "Sect Master, what do we do?" Liu Changfeng was already numb. He¡¯d seen people court death before¡ªbut this? This wasn¡¯t courting death. This was forcing death to notice you. The way Lu Ye was acting¡ªif you didn¡¯t know any better, you¡¯d think he¡¯d already passed his Tribulation and ascended. The other sects had Loose Deities. Some even had Innate Spirit Treasures. And yet Lu Ye still dared to charge into their domains. If they¡¯d been even ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) a little weaker¡ªhe probably would¡¯ve wiped them out altogether. "What do we do? What else can we do? Collect every last bit of intel related to Lu Ye! Have the Heaven¡¯s Secrets Pavilion monitor him closely!" "Everyone must be prepared to mobilize at any time!" "Yes!" And it wasn¡¯t just the Grand Dao Sect watching this unfold¡ªnow everyone was watching Lu Ye. Unreal. Completely absurd. These top sects and dynasties hadn¡¯t been humiliated like this in countless years. But Lu Ye? He didn¡¯t just provoke one. He provoked every single one that had ever held a grudge against him. The entire Great Wilderness was in an uproar. Arrogant¡ªtoo arrogant. The Heaven¡¯s Secrets Pavilion, of course, wouldn¡¯t miss this chance to make a killing. They locked onto the incident and turned it into a bulletin, mass-producing dispatches at lightning speed and selling them at dirt-cheap prices. And even at those cheap prices¡ªthey were still raking in an absolute fortune. According to the latest data, the Mountain River Pagoda Sect, the Jie Sect, the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty, the Yin-Yang Law Sect, and the Supreme Empire¡ªfive powers in total¡ªhad dispatched eleven Loose Deities to hunt Lu Ye down. Eleven Loose Deities. That many Loose Deities¡ªif the Grand Dao Sect really did try to intervene, they¡¯d be lucky to escape with mutual destruction. Per the Heaven¡¯s Secrets Pavilion, the Grand Dao Sect had yet to make a move¡ªstill holding its forces in reserve. Which meant... no reinforcements were coming. Not yet. "Latest news! Latest news! Lu Ye has fled into the Extinguished-Buddha Desert¡ªeleven Loose Deities have followed!" "The Extinguished-Buddha Desert? That place is full of danger. Back when the Buddhist sect fell, countless people died there!" "Still, they¡¯re all top-level experts. It shouldn¡¯t be too big a problem. The only thing is¡ªonce Lu Ye enters the desert, can the Heaven¡¯s Secrets Pavilion still report on it in real time?" "You saying that is insulting the Heaven¡¯s Secrets Pavilion. The Heaven¡¯s Secrets Mirror sees everything. There¡¯s nowhere they can¡¯t look." "Sigh... Why must things turn out this way? All those are human experts¡ªand yet they¡¯re at each other¡¯s throats while the foreign clans lie in wait, eager to strike. What kind of madness is this?" "If you ask me, the moment Lu Ye entered the Extinguished-Buddha Desert, his escape path narrowed. It¡¯s just a matter of time before they catch him. When that happens¡ªLu Ye¡¯s dead for sure!" "I disagree. Lu Ye wiped out forty-six Tribulation Stage cultivators in one go. What¡¯s eleven Loose Deities? He¡¯ll probably kill them with one hand behind his back." Chapter 95: Seeking the Way Extinguished-Buddha Desert. The boundless sands radiated intense heat. The very air shimmered and twisted in waves. Lu Ye moved swiftly through the desert. And just as everyone had expected, he was gradually being surrounded. Eleven Loose Deities. Loose Deities weren¡¯t the same as Tribulation Stage cultivators. Tribulation cultivators could still summon heavenly tribulation¡ªLoose Deities no longer bore that burden. In terms of raw combat power, the two realms weren¡¯t that far apart. One hadn¡¯t yet transcended tribulation; the other had failed it. If a Tribulation Stage cultivator went all out and ignored the risk of triggering their tribulation, they might actually overpower a Loose Deity. But in doing so, they would almost certainly die in the process. Right now, Lu Ye could take on one Loose Deity in a one-on-one fight. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem. With all his methods unleashed, he could kill them outright. But the price wouldn¡¯t be small. Against eleven? Not a chance. His reason for coming here was very clear. Draw the eyes of the world. Ensure the Grand Dao Sect''s safety. Retrieve Withered Man Wood. Break through to Dao Integration. And kill enemies. As for right and wrong? On the road of seeking the Dao¡ªwhat even is right or wrong? If Lu Ye won, it meant the sects ignored his warnings, led their disciples to death, and then stubbornly refused to back down¡ªcausing their own downfall, one step at a time. If Lu Ye lost, then he was nothing more than a bloodthirsty madman, a devil who brought calamity upon himself, and thus deserved death. This world had always been that way. The victor becomes king; the loser, a criminal. Up ahead lay a half-buried temple swallowed by the sands. Once golden and radiant, its halls gleaming with Buddhist light¡ªnow reduced to broken walls and collapsed roofs. Crumbled Buddha statues lay coated in dust, their once-compassionate faces twisted into eerie, terrifying expressions. Lu Ye stepped inside. A faint chanting echoed all around him, lingering by his ears. He ignored it completely and walked forward. One Buddha statue¡¯s head slowly twisted on its own. Lu Ye slashed out with a flick of his hand, leaving a deep mark on the stone with his sword. "Don¡¯t bother me." The wraith latched onto the Buddha¡¯s head¡ª Went silent. These were remnants of long-dead Buddhist powerhouses¡ªghostly obsessions lingering after the sect¡¯s fall. Their combat power wasn¡¯t much¡ªaround Nascent Soul¡ªbut their horror factor was top-tier. Passing through the front hall¡ª He came to the collapsed Grand Buddha Hall, littered with countless bones. Lu Ye slammed his fist into the ground. A blast erupted. Skeletons were thrown in all directions. A deep pit tore through the sand. Lu Ye dove straight # N§àv§Ölight # in. The sand suddenly began to churn in an unnatural, disturbing way. Layer upon layer of murderous intent turned blood-red, coating everything. It surged up around him, trying to drown him in it. The red sand surged into him, burrowing through his flesh, invading his mouth, nose, eyes, ears¡ªevery opening of his body. No¡ªeven inside his veins, the sand had begun to flow. It was a nightmarish sight. A living person, slowly being turned into a being made of sand. Lu Ye had already experienced this in his past life. It wasn¡¯t truly an attack¡ªbut rather a deeply realistic illusion. The Withered Man Wood, ever since he entered the temple, had begun releasing hallucinogenic poison into him. It was formless and traceless, and Lu Ye hadn¡¯t paid it much mind. Simple illusions¡ªhe wasn¡¯t afraid of those. Now, he had sunk deep beneath the desert. And through his Heaven-Masking Art, he had concealed every last trace of his presence. Suddenly, Lu Ye stopped moving. Within his divine sense, his current state was terrifying beyond words. Blood-red sand had occupied everything. Even his mind¡ªcompletely filled with sand. Lu Ye reached out. And seized a withered, blood-red piece of wood. At its base, thick tangles of fibrous roots extended outward, spreading densely in all directions. Clearly a dead piece of wood¡ªyet gripping it felt like grabbing a fistful of hot, fresh blood. A flash of swordlight burst from his hand. In that moment, a sharp, shrieking wail echoed from the withered wood. The Withered Man Wood was in hand. True essence surged out of Lu Ye, forming a stable pocket of space deep within the desert. "Begin cultivation." Ding¡ªCultivation initiated! Golden Sunflower of the Heavenly Dawn, Stainless Pearl of the Blood Sea, Withered Man Wood¡ª Three treasures required for condensing the third life were now assembled. In the depths of cultivation, Lu Ye¡¯s Nascent Soul opened its eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he chose to break through. Dao Integration. Harmony with the Dao. A merging with the Grand Dao. This was the realm where one first truly touched the Dao itself¡ªa stage where many cultivators defined the path they would follow for the rest of their lives. In his previous life, the Dao Lu Ye chose... was honestly a bit ridiculous. It was protection. To protect those he loved. To protect the people of the human race. Those who lack love, if they ever manage to grasp it, will never let go¡ªeven if that love is full of thorns, tearing their hands open and spilling blood, they¡¯d still hold tight, intoxicated and addicted. Only those who have always been loved have the luxury to pick and choose between kinds of love. As for protecting the human race¡ªLu Ye never thought much of it. But when he saw others living in happiness, he could always smile quietly to himself. There is much beauty in this world. It is worth protecting. But when it came to ¡°protecting those he loved¡±¡ª At this moment, a cold, cruel smile crept across Lu Ye¡¯s face. This life¡ªhe would integrate with the Dao of seeking. All that is unknown, All that was never seen in lifetimes past, All of it¡ªhe would pursue. In this life, he sought not beauty or wealth, Not mercy or compassion. Only the endless edge of the Dao. Only the summit of all things. Only the truth that makes death worth it. Only the courage to charge forward, no matter the price. A faint smile appeared on Lu Ye¡¯s face. That smile¡ªcalm, and utterly indifferent. He was going to merge with the Dao. A new poison¡ª What would it be? Meanwhile, in the Demon Realm. After the self-detonation of the Myriad-Beast Demon Emperor, the realm was left in chaos¡ªwithout a ruler. The Myriad-Beast Demon Emperor had commanded immense reverence among the demon clans. Even now, many refused to believe it had truly died. But the dead were dead. The demon race had to move forward. So a new Demon Emperor was chosen. A mighty beast with Qiongqi bloodline, second only to the Myriad-Beast Demon Emperor in power. And far away, in a desolate corner of the demon realm¡ª A wet, ashen bird lay in the mud, barely clinging to life. It was Vermilion Bird. But her condition... was clearly wrong. Her entire body was trembling violently, as if something inside her was tearing around, struggling to break free. Suddenly, Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes shot open. Her gaze turned savage. Mad. A moment later, her eyes shut again. When they reopened, they were frantic. Desperate. Two wills were locked in battle within the same body¡ªentangled, warring, fusing. Parasitism was underway. "No¡ªdamn it¡ªwhy is your Dao so strong?!" A voice that did not belong to Vermilion Bird came out of her mouth. Far off, the newly crowned Qiongqi-blooded Demon Emperor let out a roar of pain and defiance. His eyes... changed. From the eyes of a Qiongqi Demon Emperor, To the eyes of the Myriad-Beast Demon Emperor. Vermilion Bird panted heavily. After the baptism of flame, she was now in an extremely weakened state. The Myriad-Beast Demon Emperor had tried to possess her with everything it had¡ª And still failed. But... it couldn¡¯t be called a complete failure. At this moment, Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes seemed to see two perspectives at once. One¡ªher own. The other¡ªthe Qiongqi Demon Emperor¡¯s. The parasitic seed had taken root in her body. Though she had forcibly severed all the tendrils, the seed itself had not been expelled. It had completely fused with her. Which meant¡ª To utterly annihilate the Myriad-Beast Demon Emperor... She would have to die too. Chapter 96: Massive Attack "Transmit my command!" "Pass down my decree!" The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor had resurrected. Though Lu Ye had nearly shattered his Dao heart¡ªno, more than nearly, it had been on the verge of complete destruction¡ªhe was still a Parasitic Celestial Demon. To be honest, the fact that he had been able to ascend from the First Heaven to the Seventh Heaven at the same pace as Lu Ye in their previous life was proof enough of how terrifying he was. Of course, part of that was because Lu Ye had deliberately slowed down, waiting for his many red-streaked confidantes to ascend together with him. The Parasitic Celestial Demon reformed his Dao heart. He had seen Lu Ye¡¯s Dao, and from its destruction, his own Dao had sublimated anew. Even if ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) you possess boundless starry universes¡ªso what? Sooner or later, he would be able to parasitize the starry universes themselves and become the most fearsome existence in all of the Nine Heavens. After reviving with the help of the Qiongqi Demon Emperor, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor immediately absorbed all the information that had transpired during this time. Number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking? Slaughtered forty-six Tribulation Crossing cultivators? Eleven scattered gods pursuing Lu Ye into the Buddha-Destruction Desert? The other foreign races were still waiting for an opportunity to enter the Great Wilderness? After the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor digested all the information, he felt even his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. Fuck, still waiting for an opportunity? This opportunity right now¡ªit was one that might not appear even once in ten thousand years. Keep waiting? Wait until Lu Ye killed all eleven scattered gods, then broke into the Great Wilderness, and after he broke through again, solo-cleared all the foreign races? What the hell were they thinking? Who was the idiot that said to wait? "Immediately transmit my decree¡ªcontact all foreign clans. Gather all top combat power, traverse the void, and return to the Great Wilderness!" "Enter the Great Wilderness, first annihilate the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty, seize their territory, and use the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty as our base of operations!" "Second step¡ªhave all Tribulation Crossing and scattered god cultivators from each race gather. Half stay behind to hold the base, the other half march into the Buddha-Destruction lands to kill Lu Ye!" "As long as Lu Ye is killed, the third step is to launch an all-out assault on the Mountain River Pagoda Sect and the Jie Sect. Swallow the entire northern part of the Great Wilderness and stand toe-to-toe with the human race!" ... The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was extremely irritable, his speech full of arrogance and self-assurance. He wasn¡¯t negotiating¡ªhe was issuing commands for the other foreign clans to obey. "We can¡¯t let Tribulation Crossing cultivators go to encircle and kill Lu Ye. He has methods to trigger Heavenly Tribulation. It¡¯s too dangerous for Tribulation Crossing cultivators to pursue him." The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor roared with curses. "Where¡¯s your brain? Didn¡¯t you read the scout reports? Lu Ye triggered Heavenly Tribulation and caused forty-six Tribulation Crossing cultivators to die because they trapped themselves in a formation. Otherwise, the moment tribulation lightning appeared, they would¡¯ve all run!" "With the speed of Heavenly Tribulation''s manifestation, a Tribulation Crossing cultivator can run across the world. What damn tribulation is he even pulling off!" His tone was wildly arrogant. Some of the foreign clans, hearing this tone, suddenly felt something strange¡ªwhy did this Qiongqi sound exactly like the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor? "Are you Myriad Spirit?" One of the foreign clans couldn¡¯t hold back and asked. "I am the successor of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor! The Myriad Spirit Blood Transformation Demon Scripture was passed down to me long ago! Now that the demon emperor has fallen, I shall inherit his name and become the new Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor!" "Obey my command, foreign clans¡ªattack the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty!" "Boom!" A vast number of foreign clans gathered countless troops, traversed the void, and charged toward the Great Wilderness. The human race, alerted by embedded spies within the foreign ranks, was shocked upon hearing the news. The foreign clans are coming! But where were the human experts? At that moment, the entire Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty was shrouded in a deep, suffocating despair. "Quick, send word to all major powers¡ªhave them come to the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty! We need reinforcements!" "Inform all factions!" "Yes!" In the face of the foreign race¡¯s invasion, the human race was still surprisingly united. In no time, sects everywhere¡ªeven solitary cultivators¡ªbegan hurrying toward the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. Streams of brilliant light tore across the skies, streaking through the void. Even the Grand Dao Sect was preparing to join the battle. Although the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty and Lu Ye had past grudges... Eh? Holy shit! Those eleven scattered gods hadn¡¯t returned from the Buddha-Destruction Desert? Liu Changfeng, who had been about to give the order to send reinforcements, suddenly froze. The Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty didn¡¯t seem all that anxious after all! Their own scattered gods hadn¡¯t come back¡ªthey were still chasing Lu Ye. Why the hell should the Grand Dao Sect be in a rush? Let¡¯s wait a bit! Whenever those eleven scattered gods return, that¡¯s when the Grand Dao Sect will go support them! Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. Dark clouds were already converging above, storms and thunder bursting forth in a terrifying heavenly catastrophe, crashing down over the territory of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty like an endless flood. Tornadoes swept across the land. Rain poured down like overturned buckets, rapidly triggering devastating floods. Heavenly fire wrapped in massive boulders rained from the sky. Yes¡ªthe God Clan had taken the lead in launching the first battle. War had begun. A cultivator¡¯s war had officially ignited. ... "Not good!" Among the eleven scattered gods, two of them¡ªwho belonged to the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty¡ªturned pale upon receiving the report. They hadn¡¯t expected the foreign races to attack at this very moment, much less that the first battle wouldn¡¯t erupt at the Supreme Empire but instead at the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. "No, we must go back and support them!" The two scattered god ancestors of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty refused to remain still. "No! We''ve already pinpointed Lu Ye¡¯s last known location¡ªit¡¯s right in this temple. If you leave now, won¡¯t everything we¡¯ve worked for be wasted?" "Even if the two of you leave, there are still nine of us left. Can¡¯t nine of us kill Lu Ye?" "How long could it possibly take to kill a single Lu Ye? Once we confirm he¡¯s dead, we¡¯ll leave. Don¡¯t give him any chance to live¡ªif he survives and grows stronger, all our Dao lineages will be annihilated!" Under the persuasion of the others, the two scattered gods reluctantly stayed. Together, they surrounded the entire temple. "He¡¯s definitely here!" One of the scattered gods held a compass, absolutely certain. "Don¡¯t let him escape! All eleven of us, guard your positions!" "Understood!" "Move in!" Boom! The already-abandoned temple was utterly obliterated in an instant. Even the lingering obsessions inside were completely scattered. "Nothing?" "No¡ªit¡¯s not nothing. The compass vanished right here." "Underground! Move all the sand!" A few scattered gods unleashed great divine power and began clearing away huge quantities of sand. The sand was thick. Very thick. As it was swiftly removed, massive, blood-red root tendrils began to emerge before their eyes. Something strange was definitely hidden below. More sand was hurled away. Finally, after a powerful gust cleared the last layer, a shimmering layer of astral energy appeared beneath it all. "Ha ha ha! I knew it! You¡¯re dead now!" One of the scattered gods let out a mad laugh and swung his palm down at the astral energy. Boom! The protective layer shattered with a single strike¡ª And beneath it was Lu Ye. Lu Ye opened his eyes at that very moment. The aura of a Union Dao cultivator exploded from his body, and at the same time, a mass of bizarre markings began to spread rapidly across his skin. Those strange patterns overflowed with the aura of reincarnation. The fourth deadly poison¡ªerupted in full force! Chapter 97: Reincarnation Obsession "System, simulate for me!" "Ding, simulation in progress!" This poison clearly wasn¡¯t the Taiyin Marrow Worm¡ªwhich meant that the poison Bai Qiulan had used was still yet to come. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t the Taiyin Marrow Worm. Then which woman had done this? "Ding, simulation complete¡ªit¡¯s Reincarnation Obsession!" Lu Ye understood. Reincarnation Obsession¡ªsimilar to those strange mists from before. Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t a poison in the traditional sense. Rather, it was a special kind of existence, formed from the souls on the path of reincarnation¡ªthose with the strongest obsessions who refused to enter the wheel of reincarnation, their souls crushed by the cycle and deposited deep in the very bottom of the cycle¡¯s flow. In this world¡ªbirth, aging, sickness, death, unfulfilled desire, reunion with the hated, separation from the loved, and the flourishing of the five aggregates¡ªbring about endless suffering. Some people were born into pain and would rather eternally sink into darkness than reincarnate. Some were tormented by old age¡ªbody and heart alike decaying, powerless to resist the flow of time, overwhelmed by grief. Some lived their lives chained by illness, calamity after calamity, their pain unbearable. Some feared death with such intensity that it became the end of everything, unwilling to step into the wheel of reincarnation again only to face another ending. Some died with vengeance unfulfilled, their souls restless. Some loved but were never loved in return, or gained love only to lose it¡ªso deep was their pain that they couldn¡¯t pull themselves out. Some people met the one they yearned for but never truly saw them their whole life. Some gathered all the miseries of the world: born into poverty, afflicted with congenital illness, terrified of death, bodies aging, wills decaying, unable to live and afraid to die, with a heart filled with unrequited love and desire that could never be fulfilled. Great sorrow. Great suffering. They didn¡¯t want to enter reincarnation. They didn¡¯t dare to. These people existed¡ªand they weren¡¯t few in number. This thing wasn¡¯t meant to poison the body¡ªit targeted the Dao heart. And it was a particularly troublesome force. Even the Reincarnation Heavenly Sovereign¡ªone who specialized in reincarnation¡ªhad no way to deal with it. Lu Ye¡¯s Dao heart was like divine iron, incomparably solid. And yet... why were there tears trailing down from the corners of his eyes? Yes. Lu Ye was crying. The eleven scattered gods stared at him, eyes full of murderous intent, each gathering power to crush him in one strike. But now¡ªLu Ye was crying? He was crying? The eleven scattered gods exchanged shocked glances¡ªutter disbelief on their faces. They¡¯d all experienced countless battles in their cultivation journeys, big and small. But someone crying before the battle even started? This was a first. This sobbing mess was actually ranked first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking? Lu Ye wiped his tears. Inside his heart, it was like a stampede of ten thousand divine-grass donkey beasts thundering through. So bitter! Too fucking bitter! But then again... it wasn¡¯t like he was the one suffering¡ªno, he was, kind of. Yeah, pretty damn bitter. But still, you can¡¯t just cry like that! One of the scattered gods couldn¡¯t hold back a cold sneer. "Looks like you already know you¡¯re doomed. Crying for your own funeral in advance? Fine, that¡¯s understandable. Go to hell¡ªYin-Yang Great Dao Palm!" The scattered god from the Yin-Yang Law Sect struck first. Black and white spun together. A massive palm, white on the front, black on the back, came crashing toward Lu Ye. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes turned icy cold. The true essence of the Union Dao Realm within him had risen dramatically in both quality and quantity¡ªand now he finally qualified to begin using the power of a Dao. "Heaven-Cleaving Sword Dao!" Lu Ye¡¯s black hair whipped wildly in the air. He drew his sword skyward. Infinite sword intent surged through the heavens and earth. At that moment, all eleven scattered gods felt something they hadn¡¯t experienced in countless years¡ªfear. They felt like sacrificial ants, necks bared, waiting for the blade. Before Union Dao, one could still fly through the skies and escape into the earth¡ªit was still within the realm of high-level martial prowess. But stepping into Union Dao meant fully surpassing that realm. This was the beginning of the truly fantastical¡ªtrue fantasy cultivation. Heaven and earth trembled with violent fluctuations in spiritual energy. Eleven beams of sword energy soared upward, terrifying sword intent weaving through the void. The eleven scattered gods roared and struck in unison. The Buddha-Destruction Desert erupted into a terrifying sandstorm. "Boom boom boom boom boom...!" The sword energy shattered all eleven attacks. Lu Ye stepped forward¡ªbeneath his feet, nine-colored lotus flowers bloomed, rising higher with each step, as if ascending to the heavens. Within his body, the nascent soul began to condense complex seals. His aura surged violently. Union Dao¡ªFirst Tier. Union Dao¡ªSecond Tier. Union Dao¡ªThird Tier... One step, one realm. His explosive secret technique ignited fully with the blessing of the Dao! "Water Severance!" The sword energy let out a piercing wail. Sword intent raged wildly, carving clear scars into the void itself. Space¡ªwas torn apart! The blade of energy sliced through a layer of space, slashing straight toward the eleven scattered gods. Such sharp, terrifying sword energy. A wave of uncontainable fear surged through the hearts of the eleven. They were scattered gods¡ªthose who had failed the tribulation. Their Dao hearts had already been severely damaged under the heavenly calamity. Now, under the impact of this sword Dao, they were teetering on the brink of collapse. The only thing they could still boast about... was that their cultivation realms were higher than Lu Ye¡¯s. "Jiuli Sword!" "Clang!" Two bursts of sword light collided. The thick, forceful sword energy of a scattered god clashed against Lu Ye¡¯s erupting Water Severance Sword Energy. But the density of their respective energies wasn¡¯t even remotely on the same level. The difference¡ªat least twofold, maybe more. And yet, in the instant the Water Severance Sword Energy met the Jiuli Sword Energy, it was like a hot knife slicing through tofu¡ªclean and effortless. The Jiuli Sword Energy was instantly severed. The scattered god of the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty stared, utterly stunned. "Pu!" His body was split cleanly in two by the Water Severance Sword Energy. The stone sword rang out with a clear, exhilarating sword cry¡ªjoyful, so joyful that the entire blade trembled. The sword Dao Lu Ye was wielding now was, to the stone sword, sheer ecstasy. Yes, yes¡ªonly this kind of sword Dao was worthy to be its master. This kind of sword Dao¡ªhow many in all of heaven and earth could wield it? Eleven beams of Water Severance Sword Energy bloomed like petals, each one cutting down a scattered god. The rest exploded into action, unleashing all sorts of Daoist arts. Some of the sword energy were forcibly diverted, some evaded, some resisted head-on. Those who resisted were all cleaved clean in half. Five scattered gods tried to recover from their wounds, only to despair as they realized¡ªthe wounds wouldn¡¯t heal. Lu Ye activated a secret technique, stomping forward nine steps in succession, forcibly pushing himself to the peak of Union Dao Realm. Now, in terms of true essence quantity, he was still slightly behind the scattered gods¡ªbut only slightly. The gap was nothing like before. Behind him, the violent sandstorm formed a colossal avatar of sand and dust. Lu Ye raised his fist. And the towering avatar behind him¡ªhow many zhang high, no one could tell¡ªraised its own fist. The avatar was Lu Ye. Lu Ye ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) was the avatar. A punch was thrown. "Boom!" A raging gale of force tore through the desert, carving an endless trench that stretched out who knew how far. The scattered god who was struck head-on by the punch instantly exploded into a mist of blood, which fused into the surrounding sandstorm and drifted away with the wind. Savage¡ªsavagery to the extreme. Lu Ye, face still streaked with tears, now looked unimaginably terrifying to the four remaining scattered gods. How could sword Dao be this strong? How could a fist technique be this monstrous? Was this the true weight of being ranked first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking? Their true essence was two times, three times, even more than Lu Ye¡¯s. But under Lu Ye¡¯s true essence, theirs felt... fake. The quality wasn¡¯t even in the same league. "Run!" The four scattered gods were genuinely terrified. These heaven¡¯s chosen were truly something else. You chased them, they had a breakthrough on the spot, then turned around and slaughtered you. If they survived this¡ªwhoever told them to hunt a heaven¡¯s chosen again, they¡¯d twist that bastard¡¯s head off. These monsters were all walking with heaven¡¯s fortune. You really couldn¡¯t afford to provoke them. Inside, Lu Ye was overwhelmed with grief. A thousand agonizing memories surged within him. He kept feeling that life was meaningless. But his Dao heart kept whispering back: You can. He... might be depressed. But depression didn¡¯t hinder his movements. Lu Ye viciously wiped the tears from his face. "Don¡¯t run!" Chapter 98: I Want to Become a Woman Lu Ye was strong in swordsmanship. Strong in martial arts. But that didn¡¯t mean those were his only strengths. As the four scattered gods fled in different directions, Lu Ye¡¯s hands flew into motion, forming seals at incredible speed. The aura of tribulation exploded outward. Heaven and Earth Tribulation Art! Last time, without the guidance of a complete spiritual path, he¡¯d formed seals for ages¡ªonly to release a pathetic puff of tribulation energy, like a fart. But this time¡ª Hundreds of seals per second. Countless fingers flashed like lightning. "Lightning, descend!" BOOM! The aura of divine judgment instantly enveloped the four fleeing scattered gods. They looked up in horror. Divine Tribulation! How¡ªhow could there be divine tribulation? How could he summon something like that? Was he even human anymore? Scattered gods were, by nature, failures of the divine tribulation stage. That single word¡ªtribulation¡ªwas branded into their souls, an ancient terror. That heavenly might was boundless. The lightning of judgment, endless. It shattered their bodies. It tried to destroy their souls. The trauma from their past failures surged up like a nightmare¡ªburned into their hearts and minds. Now that same aura wrapped around them once more. Fear drowned them. BOOM! Four pure silver bolts of lightning roared down from the heavens. In the sandstorm-shrouded desert, the skies exploded with blinding light. The thunder was like the fury of the heavens themselves. All four scattered gods were instantly turned to ash. Handled. Lu Ye pulled out a piece of paper and wiped his nose and tears. The reincarnation obsessions still swirled around his inner soul. His nascent soul was crying. He was crying. So bitter. Life was just so fucking bitter. Damn it, Reincarnation Heavenly Sovereign¡ªthis was your own path, and you didn¡¯t even clean it up properly? No wonder you never became a Saint. "System, simulate a solution for this." Even Lu Ye¡¯s voice had a sobbing lilt to it. "Ding. What did you say?" "I said simulate a way to resolve this. This reincarnation obsession thing." "Ding. What was that again?" Lu Ye... "You damn mutt of a system, get your ass out here! I¡¯ll beat you to death myself!" "Ding ding ding..." The system let out a series of cheerful chimes. Hahahaha, the host is crying, the host is such a crybaby, hahahaha... After mocking Lu Ye without the slightest mercy, the system finally let out a silent sigh of relief. Because Lu Ye¡¯s breakthrough into the Realm of Spiritual Unity¡ªtruthfully¡ªhad been incredibly dangerous. The system had feared that, because of the traumas of his past life, he¡¯d decisively step into the Path of Ruthlessness. Yes, the Path of Ruthlessness was one of the highest spiritual paths. But what was the point? The system had once been the Way of Heaven. It had seen, with its own eyes, what those eight women had done to hurt Lu Ye. And in the end? It hadn¡¯t been able to stop them. Hadn¡¯t even been able to warn him. Because it was the Way of Heaven¡ªand Heaven is without feeling. In fact, from the perspective of the heavens, Lu Ye had been its enemy. That¡¯s what it meant to abandon all emotion and love. And if Lu Ye really walked that road¡ª Then it would be a true dead end. Even if, one day, he stood atop the very peak of the spiritual path, there would be no joy left in him. And joy¡ª Joy is the most precious thing any living being can have. Of course¡ªit was also the most precious thing a system could have. "Ding. Simulation in progress. Estimated time to completion: twelve hours. Please be patient, Host." Lu Ye sniffled and started clearing the battlefield. "Ding. Host!" "What is it?" "Ding. Nothing. I just wanted to hear your voice." Lu Ye... "You know what? Maybe you should go back to being the Way of Heaven. I¡¯m starting to miss that emotionless version of you." "Ding. No way!" "I remember before you became the Way of Heaven, you weren¡¯t this obnoxious. Just a bit of a gossip addict. What the hell happened?" "Ding. I just came up with a brilliant idea. Want to hear it?" "No. And I¡¯m clearly expressing that you should not tell me." "Ding. I¡¯m thinking of becoming a woman." A woman...? "What?" Lu Ye¡¯s voice actually pitched higher. "What did you just say?" "Ding. Isn¡¯t it a great idea?" "Yeah, yeah, it¡¯s great¡ªmy ass! You¡¯re a system! How the hell can you become a woman?" "Ding. I¡¯m a system. Why can¡¯t I become a woman? Doesn¡¯t Host like women best?" "You only see that I like women. But do you conveniently forget how many I¡¯ve killed?" To be honest, Lu Ye really had developed a deep wariness¡ªno, an outright resistance¡ªtoward women. The idea of the system turning female? He was absolutely against it. Because at this point, he honestly didn¡¯t know what the hell kind of creatures women were. You treat them badly, then act a little nice, and they melt into a puddle of emotion. You treat them kindly all the time, and they take it for granted¡ªor worse, feel like your kindness is some sort of burden or constraint. Tell him that¡¯s not completely insane? "Ding. Alright then, I¡¯ll reconsider." "Why¡¯d you suddenly want to become a woman, anyway?" Lu Ye wanted to know the system¡¯s motive. "Ding. I just feel like those women are living too comfortably right now. There¡¯s no drama left for me to enjoy." Lu Ye... Living comfortably? Lu Ye gave it some thought. Chu Ling¡ªhe hadn¡¯t seen her in a while. She must¡¯ve figured out his goal by now, which explained her desperate cultivation, trying to keep up with him. Yue Hongling¡ªonce the truth about Feng Wuxie came out, she had indeed suffered... for a bit. Then she went back to being arrogant and self-righteous. Bai Qiulan¡ªthe chaotic Yin poison had begun to take effect. Not much to say there, really. The farther things went, the more painful it would get... until she died. Vermilion Bird¡ªbeaten into a rebirth through fire. She probably figured out some of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s secrets by now, but she wasn¡¯t exactly suffering too much, either. Shangguan Huanling¡ªstill obsessively collecting treasures and refining her techniques. ...Was he being too merciful? Lu Ye took a serious moment to reflect. Yeah. Maybe he had been a bit too merciful. Then he would just have to harden his heart a little more. His figure disappeared into the vast desert. Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. The foreign races had breached its borders, and what did a cultivator¡¯s war look like? In a war between mortals, half a year, a full year of fighting would be considered normal. But with cultivators? They could advance thousands of kilometers in a single day without breaking a sweat. A tide of foreign races swept through the land like a swarm of locusts, leaving devastation and desolation behind. Countless cultivators perished. Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty sent out emergency calls for aid. And yes¡ªmany human experts did arrive to support them. But it still wasn¡¯t enough. If Lu Ye hadn¡¯t slaughtered so many top-tier experts already, they might¡¯ve stood a chance. But now¡ªafter the massacre, with the Grand Dao Sect refusing to make a move, and the Supreme Sword Sect acting half-heartedly at best¡ª The other sects that had ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) stood with Jiuli against Lu Ye received news one after another that their scattered gods had fallen. Their morale crumbled. Lu Ye left the Buddha-Destruction Desert. He arrived at the nearest city and bought a copy of the Heaven¡¯s Insight News. "Myriad Spirit¡¯s not dead?" Lu Ye was a little surprised. That bastard¡¯s spiritual resolve was something else. Even after everything, he hadn¡¯t died. And if he hadn¡¯t¡ªhe¡¯d definitely come back stronger. Just as Lu Ye was reading the paper¡ª A fresh headline flashed across the page. "Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty¡ªDestroyed!" Chapter 99: I Have a Plan Boom! The news hit like a thunderclap. Everyone around was struck senseless, dizzy with shock. The Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty... destroyed? How long had it even been? And it was already gone? Lu Ye received the news and let out a soft sigh. With the fall of an empire, who knew how many people had become rations for the foreign races. What could he do? Only one thing¡ªcultivate. A wild gleam lit up in Lu Ye¡¯s eyes. If the foreign races could attack the human territories of the Great Wilderness, then the human race had no reason not to strike back. The foreign clans might¡¯ve transformed their minor worlds into fortified iron bastions¡ªbut for Lu Ye, whose mastery of formations reached the heavens, that meant nothing at all. Right now, he was only at the first stage of the Realm of Spiritual Unity. He didn¡¯t yet have the strength to crush all foreign races. He needed a breakthrough. And the foreign race¡¯s second target had already been chosen. The Mountain River Pagoda Sect. Why choose this sect? Simple¡ªbecause its protective formation had already been dismantled by Lu Ye. The demon race, of course, had also gotten wind of the news¡ªLu Ye had wiped out eleven scattered gods. "He¡¯s growing... too fast!" The form of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor had already changed again. Once it looked like a Qiongqi, but now it had taken on a new, grotesque and monstrous appearance. Its eyes blazed with terrifying killing intent. "Have you gathered the blood essence I asked for?" the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor asked coldly. "Reporting to the Demon Emperor¡ªit¡¯s all been collected!" "Good. Begin the attack on the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. Same rules as before¡ªcapture alive if possible, kill if not!" "Yes!" Lu Ye already knew the direction of the foreign army¡¯s next move¡ªand he wasn¡¯t the least bit panicked. After all, the Mountain River Pagoda Sect being wiped out had nothing to do with him. Unless something unexpected happened, the third to fall would be the Supreme Empire. The Mountain River Pagoda Sect sat between the Supreme Empire and the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty. Originally, Lu Ye had considered using them as a trade post to sell his artifacts to the other two empires. But now... someone else was wiping them out for him. How convenient. Lu Ye charged toward the territory of the God Clan. The demon race wasn¡¯t worth targeting¡ªtheir treasures had already been completely looted by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. The demon realm was in similar shape. The Heavenly Demon Emperor was obsessed with refining his Myriad Souls Banner, and if it weren¡¯t for the Earth Demon Emperor holding him back, the entire demon world would¡¯ve become his nourishment by now. This time, the foreign races had launched a full-force invasion. Faced with the onslaught from the united coalition of foreign races, the Mountain River Pagoda Sect was left with only one miserable choice. Their protective grand formation hadn¡¯t just been broken by Lu Ye¡ªit had been rewritten beyond recognition. Even restoring it would take a significant amount of time. Simply put, the foreign attack had arrived at the perfect time. In the end, they retreated toward the Supreme Empire. The foreign races didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªthey stormed straight toward the heart of the empire. The Supreme Empire¡¯s emperor was named Shangguan Hongtian. At that moment, within the imperial capital, all the grand formations had already been activated. These formations were rooted in the natural mountains and rivers, with the empire¡¯s dragon energy serving as the meridian lines¡ªtogether forming a super grand array. Any foreign race that entered the formation would be suppressed, while the human race would be empowered. With the boost to one and the weakening of the other, the foreign races¡¯ advance finally began to slow. Imperial Palace of the Supreme Empire. Tension filled every heart. Everyone¡¯s face was grim. The air in the great hall was oppressively heavy. "What¡¯s the word from the Eternal Teachings Sect?" "Reporting to the Emperor¡ªthey refused to receive our envoy." "Damn it!" Shangguan Hongtian¡¯s fury exploded. "So much for the so-called unity of the human race! We honored them as the foremost sect, and now they curl up like cowards in their shells?" "What about the Jie Sect?" "We made contact with them¡ªbut they¡¯ve relocated their entire sect. They moved south... near the Grand Dao Sect." Shangguan Hongtian... "What about the Grand Dao Sect?" "The Grand Dao Sect has stated¡ªthey will not make any move until Lu Ye returns." Shangguan Hongtian¡¯s body swayed. He slumped back into his dragon throne. "Good, good, very good. Every last one of them¡ªjust amazing. With allies like this, the human race deserves to be destroyed!" He ground the words out between clenched teeth. "Your Majesty, the Fourth Princess requests an audience." Shangguan Hongtian was already on edge, seething with frustration. A princess? Now? What the hell was she coming here for? Was she asking to be yelled at? "Tell her to get lost! I¡¯m not seeing her!" He still needed to convene with his council of strategists to figure out their next move. An empire couldn¡¯t be treated like some wandering sect that could just pack up and move at will. Without its people¡ªwhat was an empire even worth? "Father! I have a plan to repel the enemy!" Shangguan Huanling¡¯s voice echoed loudly from outside the hall. In her previous life, she had rapidly advanced under the mountain of treasures Lu Ye provided her, eventually ascending to become a Great Emperor. But in her own eyes, that was a false Great Emperor. Lu Ye might have made them Great Emperors¡ªbut they were the weakest kind. His mere accessories. She never wanted that kind of power. She didn¡¯t need Lu Ye¡¯s help. In this life, she would become a supreme cultivator on her own. With her own hands, she would reach the peak¡ªbecome a true Empress unrivaled in battle. Maybe even surpass the Great Emperor realm, ascend to Heavenly Sovereign, maybe even Saint. "Father, I truly have a plan! Please believe me!" Shangguan Hongtian¡¯s gaze turned dangerous. He knew his daughter¡ªShangguan Huanling. For the past half a year, her cultivation had advanced at an astonishing pace. Not long ago, she¡¯d broken through to the Nascent Void Realm, and was now indisputably the most gifted among all his sons and daughters. But still... Nascent Void? She was too weak! In this kind of crisis, what could she possibly contribute? And yet¡ªshe was so persistent. Shangguan Hongtian raised his hand. "Let her in." The moment Shangguan Huanling heard this, her whole body lit up with excitement. She could feel it¡ªher great opportunity had arrived. Heaven¡¯s timing, Earth¡¯s alignment¡ªeverything was in place. All that was left... was human will. "Daughter Shangguan Huanling greets Father!" Shangguan Hongtian looked at his daughter¡ªa girl born with a truly beautiful face. He¡¯d once considered marrying her off to another great faction for alliance purposes. But then she began revealing astonishing talent in cultivation. "You said you have a way to drive back the enemy?" Shangguan Hongtian asked. "I do, Father!" "Then speak." "Father, I¡¯ve heard that the Mountain River Pagoda Sect has now fully relocated within the Supreme Empire. I, your daughter, possess one of the most supreme techniques under the heavens, called the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. This technique can absorb the very essence of all things¡ªespecially spiritual treasures and sacred artifacts. I boldly ask Father to grant me aid: allow me to consume the treasures of our empire and those of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. With just a short time, I can break through to the Tribulation-Crossing Realm." "And I am absolutely confident¡ªI will survive the tribulation. When that happens, I will be strong enough to slaughter every last one of the foreign invaders!" Her voice was unwavering¡ªeach word firm, assured, absolute. Her eyes burned with unshakable belief. As long as she was given enough resources¡ªshe would become invincible. In her past life, she had been spoon-fed, never tested, never hardened. It left her without the heart to fight for her path. But in this life¡ªshe would fight for it herself. Inside the throne hall, all the gathered elites kept their eyes lowered, silent. Eyes on nose, nose on mouth, mouth on heart. I heard nothing. I¡¯m old. I must¡¯ve gone deaf. That¡¯s not such a big deal, right? Shangguan Hongtian stared at his daughter. At that moment, his expression grew... complicated. He was a genius in his own right. ¡ï Novelight ¡ï Her mother, Consort Xian, was virtuous and wise. Then how... how did this become their daughter? Could she possibly... not be his? Chapter 100: The Emperor is Reborn "Get out!" "Father, I really can do it! Please believe me!" "I said get out!" Shangguan Hongtian''s sleeve swept through the air¡ªan explosive wave of power struck Shangguan Huanling, sending her flying with blood spraying from her mouth. "Father! Why won¡¯t you believe me? I really can do it!" Shangguan Huanling knelt outside the hall, shouting in disbelief, her voice ringing through the palace. "Take her to the Heavenly Prison! And without my personal order, she is not to be released!" Shangguan Hongtian was utterly livid¡ªhe was about to explode from fury. At a time like this, she still came to stir up chaos. If she weren¡¯t his own daughter¡ªif it had been anyone else¡ªhe would¡¯ve executed her on the spot! Shangguan Huanling was dragged into the imperial prison. Her face still showed stunned disbelief. No... It... it wasn¡¯t supposed to go like this. She had told the truth. She knew that with the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture, if given enough spiritual treasures and sacred items to devour, she truly could ascend rapidly. She could reach the Tribulation-Crossing Realm, then overcome her tribulation¡ªand before ascending, wipe out all the foreign races. Wasn¡¯t that a clear, decisive plan? Why didn¡¯t her father believe her? Even Lu Ye, who had no blood relation to her at all, had believed in her. He had given her countless treasures without hesitation. Why couldn¡¯t her father do the same? Something was wrong. That¡¯s right¡ªshe hadn¡¯t told him she was reborn. If she revealed that she was reborn from a previous life as a Great Emperor, then surely her father would believe her. With that thought, Shangguan Huanling shouted out loud: "Someone! Go inform my father¡ªI was a Great Emperor in my past life! I have been reborn! Tell him to believe in me! I can save the Supreme Empire¡ªnot only save it, but lead it into the heavens, to achieve supreme glory!" Her cries drew the attention of others. And then¡ª Laughter erupted. "Hahaha! I¡¯m dying! A reincarnated Great Emperor¡ªno, wait, a reborn Great Emperor! Incredible!" "I can¡¯t believe it! A Great Emperor who just casually blurts out that they¡¯re reborn? Is someone this dumb really capable of becoming an emperor?" "Oh no! You say you¡¯re a reborn Great Emperor¡ªdoesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯ll recognize me too? I guess I can¡¯t keep it a secret anymore... I¡¯m a reincarnated Heavenly Sovereign!" "And I¡¯m a reincarnated Saint! Go tell that Shangguan old fart I¡¯m back¡ªhave him kneel before me ten times, call me Grandpa a hundred, and maybe I¡¯ll grant him a shot at becoming Emperor!" "Hahahahaha...!" In no time, the entire Heavenly Prison was overflowing with mirth and mockery. Shangguan Huanling was furious. "What nonsense are you all spouting?! I really was a Great Emperor! Do you know the Violet Phoenix Empress? She was my friend! Ever heard of the Skyvault Empress? I used to drink tea with her all the time!" "Sorry, can¡¯t say I have. Since you claim to be a Great Emperor, I¡¯m curious¡ªwhich spiritual path did you cultivate to get there?" someone asked with mocking curiosity. Shangguan Huanling let out a cold snort. "The technique I cultivated was called the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. All I had to do was absorb the essence of spiritual treasures across the world, and I could cultivate rapidly. Back then, I devoured the treasures of a Heavenly Sovereign¡ªincluding a divine talisman that shook the heavens¡ªand ascended to the rank of Great Emperor!" "So basically, you didn¡¯t cultivate any actual path?" "To become Emperor, why bother with cultivating a path?" "HAHAHAHA!" Another wave of [N O V E L I G H T] wild laughter echoed through the prison, so intense that some had tears rolling down their faces. "¡®Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture¡¯? What a name! Truly a supreme technique! If what you¡¯re saying were true, then this method would be an unmatched miracle through the ages!" "This is too good! A Great Emperor who never even cultivated a spiritual path¡ªhearing that before I die makes it all worth it!" Shangguan Huanling scowled, her brows tightening in frustration. Hmph. Ignorant fools. Not worth arguing with. She turned to the prison guard. "This princess commands you to immediately deliver my words to the Emperor. My father will definitely release me. What are you waiting for? Go!" The guard stared at his nose, nose to mouth, mouth to heart¡ªcompletely still. Honestly, what Shangguan Huanling was displaying now wasn¡¯t just foolishness. It was sheer stupidity. She was the first person in history to openly proclaim that she had been reborn. And perhaps the only Great Emperor ever to ascend without cultivating a single spiritual path. It was painfully clear just how much Lu Ye had sacrificed to push these women up to the level of Great Emperor. And now? Looking at her, there was not a single quality that inspired affection. Just seeing her made people feel like they were coming down with a full-blown case of secondhand embarrassment. Back when Lu Ye had first met Shangguan Huanling, she¡¯d still had a trace of girlish charm. A bit spoiled, sure¡ªbut her laughter had been bright, her smile carefree. ... Meanwhile, the battle raged. The foreign races had launched a full-scale war against the joint forces of the Supreme Empire and the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. Some hot-blooded human cultivators had also entered the fray of their own accord. Just then, a divine race warrior raced up to the Ancient God King, his expression panicked. "God King! Something terrible has happened! Our divine realm is under attack!" The Ancient God King''s face changed instantly. "Which faction?" All the major powers were under constant surveillance by the foreign races. How could someone just attack the divine realm unnoticed? "It¡¯s not a faction¡ªjust one person." The Ancient God King¡¯s brows relaxed slightly. "Just one person? Then why are you panicking? Who is it? Li? Tianwu of the Supreme Sword Sect?" "No... It seems to be... Lu Ye!" "Lu Ye? Which Lu Ye?" "Lu Ye, the one ranked first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking." "Him? What¡¯s the situation?" "Not good. The Soul-Cleansing Pool has already been stolen. The Ancient God Tower and the Spirit-Refining Temple have both been looted. One scattered god and one tribulation-crosser are dead." The Ancient God King¡¯s expression shifted again¡ªthis time to shock and rage. "Just him alone, and no one in the entire divine realm can stop him?" "No one! We can¡¯t catch him¡ªhe completely vanishes when he hides. Even the Heaven-Seeking Mirror can¡¯t locate him." The Ancient God King was already on the verge of retreating. The divine realm was his stronghold. He couldn¡¯t just let Lu Ye run wild through it. "There¡¯s no need to go back," said the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor coldly. "After we win this war, the divine race will receive an additional ten percent of the spoils." "You leave now, and not only will all the losses in your divine realm be for nothing, but the frontlines here will collapse too. At this point, there¡¯s no going back¡ªwe must burn the boats behind us!" The Ancient God King clenched his teeth. "Fine. Hit them with everything we¡¯ve got!" Driven by fury, the divine race launched even more frenzied attacks. Lu Ye, meanwhile, was equally frenzied¡ªsweeping through the divine realm like a hurricane, snatching up every resource worth his attention. There were still experts stationed in the divine realm. One of them¡ªa three-eyed divine cultivator¡ªhad likely reached the eighth or even ninth stage of the scattered god level. The strength he released was astounding. Lu Ye fought him head-on with full power. After three minutes of intense battle, he still couldn¡¯t kill the man, and had no choice but to retreat. But it was just one expert. Meaningless. He couldn¡¯t stop Lu Ye. Lu Ye adopted a guerrilla strategy: when the enemy advanced, he retreated; when they retreated, he harassed; when they were exhausted, he struck hard. He rapidly swept away all the divine clan¡¯s most precious artifacts. Treasures protected by all kinds of complex formations¡ªyet in Lu Ye¡¯s eyes, they were no different from a delicate bride with her robes already stripped away. Completely at his mercy. Chapter 101: Without You, I’m Invincible Demon Realm. The Vermilion Bird had already recovered. She hadn''t personally entered the Great Wilderness, and yet it was no different from if she had. Her vision had split in two. One belonged to herself, and the other to the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. Could humans and demons coexist? This was a question to which everyone already had an answer. No, they could not! In the Vermilion Bird¡¯s shared vision, countless demon clans rampaged with savage cruelty, wildly devouring human beings. The crunch of shattering bones echoed loudly. The cries, the screams¡ªthey never stopped. Some demons devoured only the most tender flesh. Some beastly demons exclusively ate human heads. Scene after scene of grotesque brutality. Even someone as experienced as the Vermilion Bird felt physically sick in the face of it all. Compared to what these demons were doing now, Lu Ye¡¯s past slaughter of demon clans could almost be called merciful. How had it become this monstrous? The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was even more terrifying than she had imagined. She saw it with her own eyes¡ªhow it didn¡¯t merely parasitize the demon clans, but also parasitized humans, devils, even gods. It had gone utterly mad. It no longer cared who or what it infected¡ªindiscriminately spreading its parasitism to all living beings. The longer she looked, the more chilled she became. Could its parasitism really go on endlessly? She had to stop the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. But how? She looked at herself. If the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor died¡ªshe would die too. Was there truly no way to extract its parasitism from a living being intact? There had to be! Yes¡ªLu Ye. She had to find Lu Ye. He would know what to do. The Vermilion Bird spread her wings and flew toward the Great Wilderness. ¡ª At that moment, Lu Ye had already charged into the Ghost Realm. The Ghost Realm was dark and eerie¡ªnormally, if a living person entered, it would be like throwing a blazing sun into the depths of shadow. But when Lu Ye stepped in, he appeared more ghostly than the ghosts themselves. The Ghost Spirit King had already received word. It too did not return home. Instead, it threw itself harder into the assault on the Supreme Empire. The Supreme Empire, allied with the Mountain River Pagoda Sect, could no longer hold the line. They could only retreat, and retreat again. In the end, they fell back all the way to the imperial capital. The great formation was activated at full power for defense. Shangguan Huanling had escaped from the Heavenly Prison. She once again stood before Shangguan Hongtian. ¡°Father Emperor, things have reached this point. Are you still unwilling to believe me? Just let me try. There¡¯s no other way now.¡± ¡°Father Emperor, in my previous life, I really was a Great Emperor. Now that I¡¯ve been reborn, if you give me enough resources in this life, I can achieve the same.¡± ¡°Father Emperor, with things as they are, do I even have a reason to lie to you?¡± ¡°Just believe in me¡ªjust this once!¡± Shangguan Hongtian looked at his daughter. Rebirth... Great Emperor... Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture... Things had already come to this. Outside the imperial capital, thunderous explosions rang out. The entire city trembled as if on the verge of collapse. Shangguan Hongtian clenched his fists. He took out a postnatal spirit treasure. ¡°Show me a demonstration.¡± Shangguan Huanling froze¡ªyes, why hadn¡¯t she thought of that? She could demonstrate it herself... Without another word, she took the spirit treasure longsword, and activated the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. Before their eyes, the sword began to tremble. Streams of radiance coursed along the sword¡¯s blade, converging at the hilt before merging into Shangguan Huanling¡¯s body. Her body trembled slightly. Her aura surged, and in an instant, she broke through to the second layer of the Nascent Void stage. Shangguan Hongtian was completely stunned. She had really advanced? What his daughter had said¡ªwas actually true? ¡°Again!¡± Even his voice was trembling. Shangguan Huanling began absorbing once more. This time, though she didn¡¯t break through, her aura still grew noticeably stronger. ¡°Father Emperor, I told you¡ªI can do it!¡± ¡°Good! Good! Good!¡± Overjoyed, Shangguan Hongtian immediately gave the order. ¡°Bring out all the treasures in the imperial palace. Let Ling¡¯er absorb them!¡± ¡°What about the Mountain River Pagoda Sect? Tell their Sect Master to bring all their spirit treasures here. Let her absorb them¡ªhurry!¡± Shangguan Hongtian issued his command! The capital was already under the highest state of alert. Upon hearing the order, the Sect Master of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect appeared before Shangguan Hongtian without delay. His name was Master Danqing. Not only was his craftsmanship in artifact forging unrivaled, but his mastery of ink and brush techniques was also considered a peerless art in the mortal world. When Master Danqing arrived, Shangguan Huanling was already advancing at high speed. Unknowingly, she had reached the fourth layer of the Nascent Void stage. ¡°Brother Danqing, this ~N§àv§Ölight~ is my daughter, Shangguan Huanling. She came to me today, explaining that her cultivation method is incredibly profound. As long as she has spiritual treasures and materials, she can keep advancing without end. At this moment, all the spirit treasures and items of the Supreme Empire have been given to her for absorption. In mere moments, she¡¯s already leapt three minor realms¡ªit¡¯s unbelievable.¡± Master Danqing was shocked upon hearing this. Such a thing could exist? ¡°Brother Danqing, please see for yourself!¡± As Shangguan Huanling continued absorbing the essence of the treasures, her cultivation speed truly was astonishing. But the rate at which the spirit treasures were being consumed was equally terrifying. One treasure after another turned to powder and vanished completely. Master Danqing was utterly astounded. This technique... this technique... There actually existed a cultivation method this mysterious? As a top-tier artifact master, he naturally understood that all things contained an essence¡ªespecially rare and powerful items, whose origin essence was even richer. But origin essence was an elusive, mysterious thing. No one had ever managed to extract it directly from an artifact. Yet this technique could dominate and absorb it so brazenly. ¡°What is the Emperor¡¯s intention?¡± ¡°The enemy races are bearing down on us. Our forces are already teetering on the edge. If the city¡¯s defensive formation falls, both the Mountain River Pagoda Sect and the Supreme Empire will be history.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve reached the end of our rope. The enemy vastly outnumbers our experts. At a time like this, I need a supreme powerhouse to help us survive.¡± ¡°With Ling¡¯er¡¯s current cultivation speed, as long as she has enough treasures to absorb, she may very well reach a realm beyond our comprehension. At that point, both the Supreme Empire and the Mountain River Pagoda Sect may yet have a chance to survive!¡± ¡°Brother Danqing, time is critical¡ªplease make your decision quickly!¡± Just then, Shangguan Huanling¡¯s aura surged again. She had already broken through to the fifth layer of the Nascent Void stage. ¡°See? Another breakthrough. From first layer to fifth¡ªall in under fifteen minutes!¡± ¡°Wait a little longer¡ªlet me see for myself!¡± Master Danqing still couldn¡¯t bring himself to decide immediately. Absorbing origin essence like this clearly required an astronomical number of treasures. But if those treasures weren¡¯t used now, they would most likely end up in the hands of the enemy races anyway. And within just five more minutes, Shangguan Huanling advanced again¡ªsixth layer of the Nascent Void stage. Master Danqing made up his mind on the spot. ¡°I¡¯ll have all spirit treasures crafted by the Mountain River Pagoda Sect brought here at once!¡± Excitement lit up Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes. Lu Ye¡ªwhat if you¡¯re ranked first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking? Right now, I¡¯m devouring all the treasures of the Supreme Empire and the Mountain River Pagoda Sect in one breath! My cultivation will surpass yours¡ªfar surpass it! Without you, I can do just fine! I am invincible! Chapter 102: Rapid Progress Tribulation Crossing Stage. Both the Supreme Empire and the Mountain River Pagoda Sect had cultivators at the Tribulation Crossing stage. But in the current situation, attempting tribulation was no different from seeking death! A world war was raging, the Dao itself was unstable, and heaven and earth were in upheaval. The battle had only just begun, and already three cultivators had made the resolute decision to undergo their tribulations. It was known¡ªthree had attempted it, and all three perished. Now, everyone was trapped within the imperial capital. And you''re going to attempt tribulation inside the city? The very first heavenly lightning would annihilate the city¡¯s defensive formation. Heavenly Dao wasn¡¯t some fool¡ªthere was no way it would allow you to undergo tribulation while shielded under a protective array. You could use an array to aid in your tribulation, yes. But only based on your own estimation of the first lightning strike¡¯s intensity. If you estimated it to be equivalent to the strongest blow of a fifth-layer Tribulation Crossing cultivator, then your array had better be able to just barely withstand that level of attack. In that case, the heavenly tribulation would start at the intensity of a fifth-layer blow. But if you constructed an array capable of resisting an eighth-layer Tribulation Crossing blow, then the first tribulation strike would be set at that level. In other words, the lightning would scale accordingly. Of course, if you used your own Dao of Arrays to construct a formation purely for the tribulation, that didn¡¯t count. This was the situation. Now, attempting tribulation at the Tribulation Crossing stage was nothing short of a suicidal bid to drag enemies down with you in mutual destruction. Shangguan Huanling claimed she could successfully undergo tribulation. Naturally, Shangguan Hongtian didn¡¯t believe her for a second. But the cultivation technique she had just demonstrated was too mysterious, too astonishing. Shangguan Hongtian was a man of great learning. He thought back through every book he¡¯d ever read¡ªnever had he seen a method like this. Advancing a full realm in a matter of minutes??? Maybe... maybe what Shangguan Huanling said was true. Maybe she really was the reborn Great Emperor! Maybe... a miracle was truly possible! The Mountain River Pagoda Sect had already brought over numerous spirit treasures, but even for a sect specialized in artifact forging, the total number remained under a hundred. Some had been sold, and others¡ªplundered by Lu Ye. When a loose cultivator died, when a Tribulation Crossing cultivator fell¡ªanother spirit treasure was lost! Shangguan Huanling was overjoyed. She seized the treasures and resumed her frenzied absorption. Streams of radiant light poured into her body. As the brilliance on each treasure faded, they crumbled into powder. Seventh Layer of Nascent Void! Master Danqing was trembling inside. This cultivation speed¡ªwas terrifying. Even in the chaotic days of the Nine Heavens era, no one had advanced this quickly. This technique... was far too domineering. More evil than evil arts. More demonic than the demonic path. And yet¡ªwhen Shangguan Huanling absorbed the treasures, there was not the slightest trace of evil or chaos emanating from her. Only pure origin essence transformed into purified true essence, endlessly cycling, endlessly refining. A reincarnated Great Emperor¡ªshe truly was a reincarnated Great Emperor. If she could truly do what she claimed¡ªsurvive tribulation and resolve this crisis¡ªthen perhaps even the Mountain River Pagoda Sect could cling to her coattails. So what if the Grand Dao Sect had latched onto Lu Ye? He might be ranked number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, but Shangguan Huanling¡ªshe was a reborn Great Emperor. She had been a Great Emperor in her past life. Reborn now, she might very well become even stronger than she once was. Only... There was something about Shangguan Huanling¡ªsomething faintly... foolish. Was it just his imagination? Her identity aside, even if she wasn¡¯t a Great Emperor, she was still a princess of the Supreme Empire. Surely she couldn¡¯t actually be stupid? Yes¡ªit had to be a misperception. Just a misperception! Eighth Layer of Nascent Void! Too fast! Shangguan Hongtian had already cleared out everyone else¡ªonly he and Master Danqing remained. ¡°What a terrifying cultivation method... Truly a heaven-bestowed opportunity, boundless fortune. Emperor, you¡¯ve truly given birth to a remarkable daughter,¡± Master Danqing said with emotion. Opportunities¡ªhalf of it comes down to fortune. Some are born with extraordinary talent, yet lack fortune, and as a result, opportunities slip through their fingers time and time again. Others may be utterly ordinary, but possessed ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) of heaven-defying luck, rising in a single leap. To obtain such an overbearing cultivation method in the first place¡ªwas already a testament to supreme fortune. Shangguan Hongtian couldn¡¯t help but let a smile show on his face. For now, there didn¡¯t appear to be anything wrong with Shangguan Huanling. Her aura was steady, her true essence pure. It was viable. Absolutely viable! Ninth Layer of Nascent Void! In such a short span of time, she had already reached the peak of the Nascent Void stage. Shangguan Huanling remained entirely focused. She continued expanding her reservoir of true essence without pause. Step by step, she advanced toward the Path Integration Stage. Compression! She was actually starting to compress her true essence! Both Shangguan Hongtian and Master Danqing had stars in their eyes at the sight. To begin compressing true essence at such a critical moment¡ªShangguan Huanling clearly had full confidence in herself. Master Danqing finally relaxed a little. She knew to compress her essence before breaking through in order to stabilize her foundation. Then, that sense of ¡°foolishness¡± he¡¯d felt earlier¡ªmust have just been an illusion. In fact, he¡¯d even had a passing thought¡ªif he could seize this technique for himself, pair it with his artifact forging... he''d be invincible. Sadly, the timing and circumstances were all wrong. If it weren¡¯t for the foreign armies pressing down from outside, and if he were sure he could even cultivate this technique, he might have actually made a move. Compressing! Compressing! She consumed three full spirit treasures just for compression before finally looking satisfied. Breakthrough¡ªPath Integration Stage! Path Integration (He Dao)¡ªthe stage where one begins to truly anchor their Dao. In her past life, when Shangguan Huanling achieved Path Integration, she hadn¡¯t yet acquired the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. This cultivation method... even Lu Ye had been driven half to death trying to create it. Early on, he couldn¡¯t pull it off. So back then, she had reached Path Integration by her own means. At the time, the Dao she chose was the Dao of Emotion. Familial love, romantic love, friendship¡ªthose were the ideals she yearned for. Her Dao of Emotion had closely aligned with Lu Ye¡¯s former Dao of Protection. When she underwent Path Integration, her Dao of Emotion had been weak. Lu Ye had assumed it was because of the Supreme Empire¡¯s destruction. But in the end, she had still succeeded in integrating her Dao. Yet afterward... whether it was because Shangguan Huanling lacked innate aptitude, or perhaps because her feelings for Lu Ye weren¡¯t deep enough... Her progress along the Dao of Emotion became increasingly difficult. Eventually, it ground to a complete halt. Lu Ye tried to help her, finding all sorts of techniques to cultivate. The one that worked best was a partial copy of the Swallowing Heaven Demon Method¡ªa technique originally created by the Swallowing Heaven Mayfly based on its own divine abilities. Lu Ye first adapted it into a human-compatible version called the Swallowing Heaven Scripture, only to discover it merely boosted true essence but didn¡¯t cultivate the Dao. How could that be acceptable? So he revised it again, transforming it into the Swallowing Heaven Heart Scripture. But that still didn¡¯t work. He revised it once more into the Swallowing Heaven Dao Scripture. Still wrong. Lu Ye had practically broken the system from how hard he was pulling Shangguan Huanling along while simultaneously refining the technique. And finally¡ªthe Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture was born. This technique didn¡¯t cultivate the Dao... ...but it could if one wished. That is, it could function with or without cultivating a Dao. Even without a Dao, it could force breakthroughs¡ªthough it required an utterly insane amount of resources. As for combat strength? There were records from real battle to prove it! Chapter 103: The Weakest in History There were real battle records. Let¡¯s not even talk about her strength before becoming a Great Emperor¡ªjust her achievements after stepping into the emperor realm were enough to shake the world. She had fought three battles against the Violet Phoenix Great Emperor. In the first battle, the Violet Phoenix narrowly won, as Shangguan Huanling had just broken through to the Great Emperor realm, her foundation still unstable. In the second battle, Shangguan Huanling eked out a narrow victory¡ªthe Violet Phoenix¡¯s Violet Extreme Phoenix Fire could no longer affect her. In the third, Shangguan Huanling achieved a complete and overwhelming win! She had also fought the Firmament Great Emperor. Only one battle¡ªbut the Firmament Great Emperor admitted defeat on the spot, unwilling to continue. He even invited Shangguan Huanling to tea. And Lu Ye {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} at that time? Well... When Shangguan Huanling lost to the Violet Phoenix, Lu Ye had only recently ascended to the Heavenly Venerable realm. When she narrowly won, Lu Ye personally slew a Fallen Dao Heavenly Venerable. When she won decisively, Lu Ye was subjugating the Desolate Forbidden Grounds, wiping them clean and shaking the Nine Heavens. So yes¡ªShangguan Huanling was truly powerful. She was not some decorative ¡°vase¡± emperor. At this very moment, Shangguan Huanling had reached the absolute peak of the Nascent Void Stage. Breakthrough! Breakthrough! In her past life, she had chosen the wrong Dao. Out of ten thousand possible paths, she had chosen¡ªEmotion. And that path... was never suited to her. Perhaps she had truly loved Lu Ye. But in this world, what love is eternal? So her Dao broke. In this life¡ªno matter what Dao she chose, it would never be the Dao of Emotion again. She would become invincible. She would walk the Path of Invincibility! At this moment, Shangguan Huanling¡¯s will was unwavering. She had seen many cultivators on the invincible path. Though her own Dao collapsed when she encountered Lu Ye, that had only been because they weren¡¯t strong enough. Those truly walking the path of invincibility, in her eyes, possessed a might that could swallow the cosmos¡ªpeerless and unparalleled. Not even Lu Ye had ever shown such dominance. Invincible Dao¡ªcome to me! A faint thread of Dao intent began to manifest on Shangguan Huanling¡¯s body. Shangguan Hongtian and Master Danqing both jolted. It had begun! Dao intent flowed forth¡ªsoft and slow. It began to gather toward Shangguan Huanling¡¯s nascent soul. The two of them: ¡°???¡± Invincible Dao, yes, they could recognize that. But why was this Dao intent... so weak? Yes¡ªweak, incredibly weak. Both men were well-versed in cultivation. They had seen many Path Integration cultivators before. Even the weakest among them produced Dao ripples stronger than this¡ªby far. This... What was this supposed to be? Even Shangguan Huanling was stunned. What was going on? She had formed the Invincible Dao¡ªwhy were the Dao fluctuations so faint? She had battle records to prove herself! She had defeated two Great Emperors! Even those eight empresses had been no match for her. Granted, after reaching the Ascension Realm, she¡¯d barely fought anyone¡ªbecause she didn¡¯t need to. But having defeated so many Great Emperors¡ªwas that still not enough to claim the title invincible? Shangguan Huanling started to panic. What she didn¡¯t know was¡ªinvincibility wasn¡¯t just a baseless notion. Yes¡ªher Invincible Dao was only a notion. Not even a true conviction. Since ancient times, every cultivator who dared tread the Invincible Path had fought tens of thousands of battles¡ªuntil the entire world acknowledged their might. That was the true Path of Invincibility. It had to be forged in combat. It couldn¡¯t be imagined into existence. Even if Shangguan Huanling had chosen the Devouring Dao in this life, that would¡¯ve been fine. But no one¡ªabsolutely no one¡ªexpected her to dare take the Invincible Path. If Lu Ye saw her now, he might very well cover his eyes on the spot. No! No good! The Invincible Dao was too weak. She had to choose another! She¡ª And at that very instant, the Dao completely merged with her nascent soul¡ªand in the final second before integration, the Invincible Dao nearly shattered completely. Path Integration¡ªcomplete! Shangguan Huanling¡¯s body trembled slightly. It had fused. She had actually fused with a Dao this... weak? This Dao... Shangguan Huanling didn¡¯t even know how to describe what she was feeling right now. Shangguan Hongtian and Master Danqing¡¯s expressions simultaneously changed drastically. ¡°Ling¡¯er, what¡¯s going on with the Dao you chose for integration?¡± Shangguan Hongtian couldn¡¯t even be bothered about interrupting her cultivation at this point. Because the Dao... was far too weak. The strength of the integrated Dao directly determined a cultivator¡¯s future ceiling. With a weak Dao, no matter how hard you cultivated¡ªeven if you pushed yourself to the brink of death¡ªyou¡¯d never match someone who walked a superior path. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s chosen Dao was the Invincible Path. This Dao was among the most supreme, and one of the easiest to step onto. Easy to begin, high ceiling¡ªbut the mortality rate was enormous. And yet, this Invincible Path that should¡¯ve been so dominant¡ªShangguan Huanling had barely managed to integrate it... Shangguan Huanling herself realized she had rushed the integration. A pang of unease hit her chest¡ªit wasn¡¯t supposed to turn out like this! But... still! ¡°Father Emperor, Senior Danqing, don¡¯t be impatient. I merely gave it a try. My cultivation method doesn¡¯t actually require a Dao at all. I only chose to integrate a Dao to break past the original limits of the technique. Just watch me keep ascending.¡± Although a flicker of panic stirred in her heart, Shangguan Huanling¡¯s mind was quick to shift. She still didn¡¯t understand why the Invincible Dao she¡¯d chosen had manifested so weakly. In her past life, she¡¯d become a Great Emperor without even integrating a Dao. Now that she had integrated one¡ªeven a poor one¡ªso long as she pressed on, she could grow. She resumed cultivating. And sure enough, as she continued devouring spirit treasures, her aura began rising once more¡ªwithout limit. At this point, although doubt still lingered in Shangguan Hongtian and Master Danqing¡¯s hearts, it was bearable. So long as she kept advancing¡ª! One spirit treasure after another was rapidly consumed. Second Layer of Path Integration! Third Layer! Fourth Layer! Too fast! Shangguan Hongtian and Master Danqing straightened with renewed vigor. Some of their unease began to dissipate. But the treasures were vanishing even faster. The higher her cultivation climbed, the more true essence she had to refine, which meant she needed more and more spirit treasures to fuel it. From over a hundred spirit treasures, only twenty remained. Seventh Layer of Path Integration! Now just thirteen left. ¡°This won¡¯t do. These spirit treasures aren¡¯t enough¡ªI need more!¡± Shangguan Huanling declared. ¡°Daoist friend,¡± Shangguan Hongtian turned to Master Danqing. Master Danqing hesitated, his expression conflicted. BOOM! Another deafening explosion resounded. Cracks had begun to appear in the protective formation around the capital. ¡°Daoist friend, the situation is dire!¡± ¡°Annihilation of our sects and nation is right at the doorstep!¡± Master Danqing gritted his teeth and brought out eleven more spirit treasures¡ªthis batch clearly superior to the previous ones in both quality and rarity. Eighth Layer of Path Integration! Only five treasures left. ¡°Still not enough!¡± Shangguan Hongtian bit down hard and brought out the Supreme Empire¡¯s final reserve of spirit treasures¡ªartifacts used exclusively by the nation¡¯s strongest cultivators. He looked toward Master Danqing again. At this moment, both men had fully become gamblers. They had already wagered everything on Shangguan Huanling¡ªand this was a bet that couldn¡¯t be taken back. If they didn¡¯t follow through now, all their previous efforts would go to waste. And worse¡ªthey would lose their nation and their sect. There was no choice but to press on. Master Danqing let out a long, bitter sigh. Truthfully, by now, he was already regretting it. Was this woman really the reincarnation of a Great Emperor? She... really didn¡¯t seem like it. But there was no turning back. Resigned, he vanished from the hall¡ªoff to collect every remaining spirit treasure from the other cultivators of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. Chapter 104: Just a Treasure Innate Spirit Treasure! Shangguan Hongtian took the lead. The Supreme Empire possessed only two innate spirit treasures: one called the Supreme Imperial Seal, and the other, the Scroll of Magnificent Mountains and Rivers. Now, he brought out the Scroll of Magnificent Mountains and Rivers. This was a treasure that aided cultivation¡ªimmeasurably rare and of paramount importance to the Supreme Empire. But at this point, there was no time to hesitate. If the nation perished, these innate treasures would only end up as prizes for others. ¡°We have to succeed...¡± He wasn¡¯t even sure if he was saying that to Shangguan Huanling, or to himself. We have to succeed! Shangguan Huanling, on the other hand, felt no pressure at all. Without hesitation, she began absorbing the Scroll of Magnificent Mountains and Rivers. Just an innate spirit treasure? In her past life, she¡¯d devoured more than one Heavenly Venerable-grade artifact. Ninth Layer of Path Integration! Innate treasures really were extraordinary. ¡°I need more,¡± Shangguan Huanling said calmly. Master Danqing let out a quiet sigh. The Mountain River Pagoda Sect possessed three innate spirit treasures. One was the Mountain River Pagoda, the symbol of their sect¡ªthere was no way it could be given up. One was the Purple Qi Heavenly Fire Cauldron, their sacred artifact for artifact refinement¡ªalso not something they could part with. Which meant only the Liuli Xuanhuang Sword could be offered. ¡°But even if you absorb the Liuli Xuanhuang Sword, you¡¯ll only reach the first layer of the Tribulation Crossing stage. Can you really succeed in surviving tribulation?¡± Master Danqing couldn¡¯t help but ask. He was truly in pain. Innate spirit treasures¡ªhow precious were they? Shangguan Huanling raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re questioning me?¡± She formed seals with both hands¡ªand in an instant, her aura surged, and she broke through into the Tribulation Crossing Stage, rising in one breath all the way to the fifth layer. Such a method¡ªtruly terrifying. Not only did she cross into a major realm, but within that realm, she instantly climbed five sub-levels. ¡°If I¡¯ve stepped into the Tribulation Crossing realm, then I¡¯m already half-invincible. If I survive tribulation¡ªthen I¡¯ll be fully invincible!¡± Shangguan Huanling declared with total confidence. She had revealed just a glimpse of her power, and Master Danqing didn¡¯t even know how to respond. He could only let out another sigh. He offered up the Liuli Xuanhuang Sword with both hands. ¡°It¡¯s just an innate spirit treasure. Once I fully mature, even supreme treasures will be nothing. By then, I¡¯ll gift each of you an imperial weapon¡ªif you¡¯re capable of wielding them,¡± Shangguan Huanling said grandly. Master Danqing remained expressionless. To true powerhouses, innate spirit treasures were nothing. But to the Mountain River Pagoda Sect, this was a core foundational treasure. And now, to hear it spoken of so lightly¡ªhow could he not feel bitter? But he showed nothing on his face. Still... he really couldn¡¯t understand¡ªhow was this woman a Great Emperor in her past life? What kind of Great Emperor acted like ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã this? The Liuli Xuanhuang Sword had its essence fully absorbed. Shangguan Huanling opened her eyes. ¡°Not enough. Still not enough!¡± Shangguan Hongtian and Master Danqing both froze. ¡°The Supreme Imperial Seal... it¡¯s the symbol of the Supreme Empire. It really can¡¯t be destroyed...¡± Shangguan Hongtian looked at Master Danqing with a pleading gaze. That thing¡ªwas their jade seal. It bore the will of the people, carried the nation¡¯s dragon energy. Master Danqing: ¡°...¡± ¡°My Mountain River Pagoda is a symbol too!¡± ¡°Then what about the Purple Qi Heavenly Fire Cauldron?¡± ¡°That¡¯s our sect¡¯s foremost artifact-refining treasure! Without it, how are we supposed to forge anything ever again?¡± Master Danqing was one hundred times unwilling. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The capital¡¯s defensive array was now on the verge of total collapse. Life or death¡ªeverything hung in the balance. ¡°Daoist friend!¡± Shangguan Hongtian shouted. Master Danqing... Was miserable. His heart ached. His liver ached. His teeth ached. His soul ached. He was utterly sick of this! He truly didn¡¯t want to part with the Purple Qi Heavenly Fire Cauldron. Letting it be destroyed like this¡ªit was sheer waste! Just one Purple Qi Heavenly Fire Cauldron could be used to refine how many spirit treasures? ¡°Daoist friend!¡± ¡°Fine¡ªtake it!¡± A palm-sized purple cauldron was handed over by Master Danqing. This time, Shangguan Huanling should be able to break through to the Tribulation Crossing stage, right? Shangguan Huanling curled her lip. Short-sighted. This investment today would yield returns a thousand, ten thousand times over in the future. What was there to be reluctant about? She accepted the Purple Qi Heavenly Fire Cauldron and began absorbing it. Her true essence surged mightily. Her nascent soul, shaped in her own image, was exquisitely beautiful¡ªotherworldly and ethereal. She drew closer and closer to the Tribulation Crossing stage. Closer... and closer... Shangguan Hongtian and Master Danqing both clenched their fists in tense anticipation. Suddenly, their eyes flew wide open. ¡°No! Stop!!¡± Shangguan Hongtian¡¯s voice went shrill, nearly cracking¡ªlike a eunuch¡¯s shriek. In this moment, the emperor himself was so startled his heart leapt to his throat. But¡ªit was too late. Shangguan Huanling suddenly began compressing her true essence. She had just been an inch away from breaking through to the Tribulation Crossing stage¡ªyet in a breath, she forcefully compressed her cultivation back down to the first substage of the ninth layer. Master Danqing was stunned into silence. Shangguan Hongtian clutched his chest, his breathing turning ragged. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Shangguan Huanling blinked, confused. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal to compress your realm a little before a breakthrough?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already used up all the spirit treasures¡ªnow you compress your realm? How are you supposed to break through to the Tribulation Crossing stage?!¡± Shangguan Hongtian shouted, fuming. ¡°How could it be used up? Father, don¡¯t we still have the Supreme Imperial Seal? In my past life, after your death and the fall of the empire, I never absorbed the seal¡ªI kept it as a memento.¡± ¡°But now, the Supreme Empire won¡¯t fall! I can absolutely devour the Supreme Imperial Seal and break through the tribulation!¡± Shangguan Huanling said seriously. BOOM¡ªBOOM¡ªBOOM! The great formation now fully collapsed, shattering into pieces. A billowing black fog engulfed the skies. ¡°Hahahaha¡ªtwo great human powers destroyed at once! Delightful! Hahahaha!¡± A savage, domineering voice of laughter reached their ears. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s face changed drastically. ¡°Father! Hurry¡ªit¡¯s almost too late!¡± At this point, Shangguan Hongtian truly wanted to kill her himself. She¡¯d been so close to breaking through smoothly, yet she had to compress her cultivation right before. And for what? That tiny bit of compression¡ªhow much could it possibly improve her? ¡°We must reach the Tribulation Crossing stage!¡± ¡°Aiya, I have my own considerations!¡± Shangguan Huanling huffed. She grabbed the Supreme Imperial Seal. Golden currents of light streamed into her body, rapidly fusing with her. ¡°Where¡¯s the Mountain River Pagoda? I want that too¡ªquick!¡± ¡°No!¡± Master Danqing snapped. ¡°The Mountain River Pagoda is the symbol of my sect. I absolutely cannot let you absorb it!¡± ¡°The sect¡¯s about to be destroyed anyway, and you¡¯re still clinging to symbols? It was wiped out in the last life too! If you don¡¯t follow me this time, it¡¯ll be wiped out again! Hand it over!¡± Shangguan Huanling barked. Master Danqing shook his head fiercely. ¡°No! Absolutely not!¡± Outside, the sound of screams thundered across the heavens. Countless imperial guards were being slaughtered. The palace¡¯s defensive formation had already begun to come under direct assault. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes widened. Without consulting Shangguan Hongtian or Master Danqing, she began compressing her true essence again. And this time¡ªshe compressed it hard. Because Shangguan Huanling despised this kind of dithering behavior. She had already said¡ªfollow her, and the rewards in the future would be returned a thousandfold. It was just a single innate spirit treasure! ¡°Ling¡¯er¡ªyou¡¯re insane!!¡± Seeing Shangguan Huanling compress her cultivation yet again, Shangguan Hongtian completely lost it. ¡°I¡¯m not insane! Do you two really think heavenly tribulation is easy to overcome? I have to reach my strongest possible state!¡± ¡°Mountain River Pagoda¡ªgive it to me!¡± Master Danqing¡¯s eyes went bloodshot. His fists clenched so tight they trembled. Why did she have to take the Mountain River Pagoda? Just one less¡ªwhat difference would it make? Why did she have to?! Aaaaarghhh! She was going to make him cough up blood! Chapter 105: Furious Shangguan Huanling, however, didn¡¯t see this as any kind of serious test for Master Danqing. She repeated it again in her heart: It¡¯s just an innate spirit treasure. In her past life, she wouldn¡¯t even glance at something like this if it were tossed in front of her. She knew that the Mountain River Pagoda was the most important treasure of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. Even Lu Ye had once seen it and remarked, ¡°Such a fine item... it¡¯d be a shame to destroy it. Best to leave it.¡± Master Danqing¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he finally brought forth the Mountain River Pagoda. Its design was exquisite beyond compare¡ªflying eaves and curving ridges, brilliant cinnabar and jade, ornate paintings shining with elegance, all coming together in a masterpiece of Eastern artistry. But in Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes, there was no such thing as beauty. The moment she got her hands on the Mountain River Pagoda, she immediately began refining it. The treasure dimmed at lightning speed. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Why does this treasure have so little origin essence?!¡± Under the operation of the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture, the Mountain River Pagoda rapidly withered, decayed, and crumbled into dust. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s aura rose¡ªslightly. She had not reached perfection. She had not reached... completion... Panic gripped her instantly. ¡°Quick! Is there any treasure left?! I¡¯m just one step away from breaking through! Isn¡¯t the Mountain River Pagoda your sect¡¯s greatest treasure? Why is it so useless?!¡± she shouted frantically. Master Danqing looked at the ashes of the pagoda¡ªthen up at Shangguan Huanling¡¯s furious face. A deranged smile crept across his expression. ¡°Gone... it¡¯s all gone... hahahaha... all of it is gone...¡± He had become the sinner of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. Every spirit treasure, including the sect¡¯s symbol itself, had been destroyed by his own hands. More treasures? Hahahaha... More treasures? Even the Mountain River Pagoda¡ªthe spiritual pillar of his sect¡ªhad been given to her, and now she still dared to ask him if there was anything else? Shangguan Hongtian was nearly about to collapse, almost passing out from sheer fury. ¡°I told you! Stop compressing your cultivation! I told you to stop, and you still did it!¡± he roared. Shangguan Huanling, equally enraged, snapped back: ¡°And I told you! Heavenly tribulation isn¡¯t some joke! I have to be in peak condition!¡± BOOM! The entire imperial palace trembled violently. A massive Buddha palm stretched across the heavens, slamming down upon the formation with earth-shattering force, drawing forth the wailing cries of the weakening barrier. A divine spear tore through the sky, piercing the great formation. Cracks instantly spread across it. ¡°Hurry! Where are the treasures?! There¡¯s no time left! One more innate spirit treasure and it will all be over!¡± Shangguan Huanling cried out sharply, panic lacing her voice. Master Danqing stared at her with bloodshot eyes. ¡°I ask you¡ªif there are no more treasures, can you still break through?¡± Shangguan Huanling was taken aback by those crimson eyes¡ªthen grew indignant. Who does he think he is¡ªLu Ye?! ¡°If not treasures, then anything else will do! I¡¯m only one step away from Tribulation Crossing!¡± ¡°Hahahahahaha¡ª¡± Master Danqing burst into maniacal laughter. His white hair flew wildly. The Mountain River Pagoda¡ªgone. The Purple Qi Heavenly Fire Cauldron¡ªgone. The Liuli Xuanhuang Sword¡ªgone. His beloved Obedient Heaven Jade Brush, his Pixiu Inkstone¡ªall gone. The entire Mountain River Pagoda Sect had offered everything to Shangguan Huanling. Everything. He had even gone and collected spirit treasures from every other elder in the sect and delivered them to her. ¡°I ask you again¡ªcan you break through?¡± Master Danqing repeated, his voice shaking. Shangguan Huanling was utterly annoyed. She had already explained so clearly¡ª ¡°No, no, no! I can¡¯t!¡± she shouted, exasperated. And that¡ªwas the last straw. Master Danqing detonated. ¡°Then go to hell!!¡± A burst of golden flame erupted from his palm, burning with the full might of his Dao. In a frenzy of rage and despair, he unleashed a devastating strike¡ª Heavenly Fire Skyburst Palm! ¡°Daoist Danqing!!¡± Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes went wide in shock¡ªbut her reflexes were sharp. She instantly lashed out with a fist¡ª Heavenly Venerable Fist! A strange aura flared into the air. The true essence around Shangguan Huanling surged toward her fist, clashing violently with Master Danqing¡¯s Heavenly Fire Skyburst Palm. BOOM! Master Danqing didn¡¯t budge an inch. Shangguan Huanling was blasted backward, unable to stop herself from retreating. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Master Danqing let out a slightly deranged, manic laugh. ¡°This strength¡ªthis strength is supposed to belong to a reincarnated Great Emperor? This strength is supposed to save us from destruction?¡± Shangguan Hongtian was stunned as well. He stared at Shangguan Huanling in disbelief. ¡°Why... why are you so weak?¡± Well, maybe not weak. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s strength in the Path Integration realm was still quite decent. But it was nowhere near what they had expected. In their minds, someone wielding such a domineering cultivation method¡ªsomeone suspected of being a reincarnated Great Emperor¡ªshould be able to crush opponents across realms with ease. Passing heavenly tribulation should¡¯ve been like reaching into a sack for candy. But now she couldn¡¯t even beat Master Danqing? In that moment, even Shangguan Huanling herself was dazed. She had just used the Heavenly Venerable Fist¡ªone of the peerless skills of the Nine-Life Heavenly Venerable, Lu Ye. She was at the very peak of the Path Integration realm, just a step away from perfection. How could she be pushed back after one exchange with someone from the Tribulation Crossing stage? Back then, Lu Ye had never supported her participating in fierce battles or acting recklessly. There were only three combat techniques he had taught her: One was the Demonic Blood Escape Technique. One was the Silken Heaven Nine Transformations. And one was the Heavenly Venerable Fist. Lu Ye had told her¡ªif she ever encountered a strong opponent, she should first unleash the Silken Heaven Nine Transformations and try to scare them off. If that didn¡¯t work, then she should use the Heavenly Venerable Fist. If even that didn¡¯t work, then she should use the Demonic Blood Escape and run for her life. At the time, Shangguan Huanling hadn¡¯t understood. If she was already using the Nine Transformations and the Heavenly Venerable Fist, who could possibly stand against her? Why would she ever need to run? ¡°I¡¯LL KILL YOU!¡± Master Danqing was completely losing his mind. He was about to cough blood. Thousands of years of accumulated treasures from the Mountain River Pagoda Sect¡ªused to raise this useless thing? The Mountain River Pagoda was gone!!! That was the symbol of the entire sect! Even if the Mountain River Pagoda Sect were destroyed, the Pagoda itself would¡¯ve ensured the sect¡¯s name survived¡ªleaving a trace in the world. But now? All of it¡ªGONE! And it was all because of this woman! Master Danqing erupted with full force. His aura exploded like a volcanic eruption. Golden fire clouds churned in the sky. The heavens sensed his Tribulation Crossing aura and even began to form a tribulation cloud. But Master Danqing didn¡¯t care anymore. He was going to kill. He was going to kill! ¡°Nine Heavens Mystic Fire Finger!¡± ¡°Father Emperor!!¡± Shangguan Huanling turned to Shangguan Hongtian. Shangguan Hongtian took a deep breath, his voice low and thick with rage he could no longer suppress. ¡°Supreme Imperial Seal!¡± He roared¡ªand swung the Supreme Imperial Seal straight toward Shangguan Huanling. Yes¡ªhe threw it AT her. He was truly about to explode. How... how did I ever raise such a stupid daughter?! Who did she take after?! Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes filled with stunned disbelief. Her own father... wanted to kill her too? At that moment, the imperial palace¡¯s final protective formation completely shattered. Shangguan Huanling activated the Silken Heaven Nine Transformations, both hands morphing into fists to intercept the dual attacks. BOOM!! She was sent flying once more. Her face turned crimson, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°STOP! No more fighting! My Mountain River Pagoda Sect is willing to surrender¡ªso long as you let me kill this wretched bitch, I¡¯ll surrender gladly!¡± Master Danqing roared. At this point, even Shangguan Hongtian let out a pained howl. ¡°I¡¯ll surrender too¡ªjust let me kill her!¡± Chapter 106: Solution "Why is it like this?" Looking at her imperial father and Daoist Danqing, both emanating overwhelming murderous intent, Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes were full of sorrow and pain. Countless powerful beings of the foreign races had surrounded the imperial palace from all sides. Shangguan Huanling had no way out, nor did she have time to persuade her father. "Father, take care of yourself!" Before leaving, she even gave a final reminder to Shangguan Hongtian. In the next second, a mist of blood erupted from her body. A crimson stream of light shot forth at an unbelievable speed¡ªeven those in the Tribulation Crossing Realm, even the Heavenly Demon Emperor, couldn''t react in time. Shangguan Huanling had already vanished. She didn¡¯t believe it! She didn¡¯t believe her combat strength was only that weak¡ªshe was someone who had defeated an emperor. Where had it gone wrong? ...... "Ding ding ding..." The system rang out with a joyful chime. Lu Ye had been frantically looting treasures. He had already raided the Divine Realm, the Spirit Realm, the Ghost Realm, and the Demon Realm. As for the Yao Realm, there was no need to go. Not worth it. As he walked, he was suddenly held back by the system¡ªit had decided to let him watch a spectacular show. The light screen faded. "Ding. She actually managed to cultivate to the Great Emperor realm? I didn¡¯t even feel confused back then. This is truly unbelievable." Even the system let out a voice of disbelief. No way¡ªthat thing actually managed to become a Great Emperor? Lu Ye was now completely clear-headed. And not from breaking free of the reincarnation obsession, but truly clear-headed about his feelings toward those women. Looking back now¡ª He had indeed been wrong. So very wrong. He had never denied his mistakes. Perhaps it was precisely because he understood, deep down, that he was wrong¡ªthat¡¯s why he had never personally laid a hand on those women. If Lu Ye had not been wrong at all, things would have unfolded like this: The very first day after his rebirth¡ªthe first three minutes. Minute one: Chu Ling¡¯s body trembles, the washbasin crashes to the floor, Lu Ye glares, "Useless slave. Can¡¯t even carry a basin properly. You¡¯re courting death." Kill! Minute two: Yue Hongling kicks in the door. One punch¡ªskull shattered. Kill! Minute three: Attempted sneak attack on Bai Qiulan fails; uses the sect-protecting grand formation to flee. Day two: Infiltrates the Supreme Empire to assassinate Shangguan Huanling. Day three: Infiltrates the Yao Realm to assassinate Vermilion Bird. From then on, with no distractions¡ªcultivate to Second Heaven, kill one; cultivate to Third Heaven, kill another. That would have been the correct path. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s Path of Sentiment had already collapsed¡ªhad he not realized that back then? Or was it that he refused to realize it? Lu Ye gave a faint smile. In the end, it was the flaw born from a lack of love. Always thinking, "It¡¯s probably fine," "Should be okay," "No problem," "It¡¯ll work." But in the end¡ªit really didn¡¯t work. "Ding. Simulation successful!" The countdown was finally over. Lu Ye hadn¡¯t stopped crying for an entire day. He was truly relying on an unbelievably powerful Dao heart to suppress the obsession of reincarnation. If he hadn¡¯t been the strongest Heavenly Venerable, the accumulated obsessions on the Reincarnation Path over so many years would have shattered him in an instant. Right now, Lu Ye was only crying. In truth, trillions upon trillions of howls, mutterings, wails¡ªso many voices full of suffering were all mixed together. Enough to tear apart the Dao hearts of all those below the Great Emperor realm. Even a Great Emperor would likely be driven mad by such torment. But Lu Ye simply regarded them as sorrow. Everything he was experiencing now¡ªhe saw as their suffering. I can help you resolve your pain. "Ding. Two methods available for resolution." "First, become a Saint. A Saint is detached from the Heavenly Dao and can erase obsessions." Lu Ye... Everyone knows¡ªthe first option is always bullshit. "Second, modify the ¡®True Art of Heavenly Demon Parasitism¡¯ into the ¡®Parasitic Obsession Method.¡¯ It allows obsessions to be dispersed and implanted into the bodies of others. However, it requires not disturbing the obsessions. If disturbed, they will solidify." Lu Ye understood. He had read the True Art of Heavenly Demon Parasitism. It was the old specialty of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. He was just used to calling him the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. After all, they were old adversaries. But in truth, he should be called the Parasitic Heavenly Demon¡ªa bizarre parasitic creature. Lu Ye began to ponder. Naturally, it was impossible for him to imitate the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor by parasitizing on a large scale through essence blood. That was the Demon Emperor¡¯s innate divine power¡ªsomething he was born with. And what''s more, he wasn¡¯t allowed to alarm the obsessions? That meant he couldn¡¯t just grab some random person and inject his obsessions into their soul. Because obsessions¡ªthose things were far too numerous and terrifying. Just a trace of them was enough to collapse a normal soul. Once the soul collapsed, the obsessions would naturally become startled. They¡¯d huddle together, like stubborn leeches, latching on and never letting go. This was a bit tricky! He spent a full six minutes thinking it over. Got it! Lu Ye¡¯s tear-streaked eyes suddenly gleamed with clarity. He didn¡¯t need to mimic the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor at all. He just needed to inject all the obsessions into him. The Demon Emperor obviously wouldn¡¯t allow it¡ªand couldn¡¯t possibly bear that many obsessions. When the flood comes and you can¡¯t block it¡ªwhat then? Only one choice remains: divert the flood. The greater the flood, the greater the need for diversion. In that case, a scheme would be necessary. Lu Ye already had an idea in mind. The treasure collection was more or less finished. Time to return. His figure turned and headed toward the Great Wilderness. ...... Shangguan Huanling had fled. The Heavenly Demon Blood-Escape Technique was acknowledged throughout the Nine Heavens as one of the strongest escape techniques. It could be used from First Heaven all the way to Ninth Heaven. Because the more essence blood you consumed, the faster you could run. It was practically the ultimate universal tool in the art of fleeing. Shangguan Huanling had escaped. With a # N§àv§Ölight # single burst of speed, she broke through the foreign army''s encirclement, her face deathly pale as she went into hiding. Why was it like this? How could it be like this? Shangguan Huanling still couldn¡¯t accept it, her lips constantly muttering those same words. She, she, she... her battle record was verifiable... It shouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. There must¡¯ve been some kind of problem¡ªbut where exactly had it gone wrong? She couldn¡¯t figure it out. And she couldn¡¯t go find Lu Ye to ask. Judging by the last time she encountered him, Lu Ye had tried to kill her the instant he laid eyes on her. So who could she ask? A figure appeared in Shangguan Huanling¡¯s mind. Bai Qiulan! Among the eight female emperors, only two had the temperament of older sisters¡ªBai Qiulan was one of them. She had been Lu Ye¡¯s master, and Lu Ye had always shown her deep respect. She must know what was really going on now. She had to ask her. She must get to the bottom of this. After adjusting her depleted essence within her body, Shangguan Huanling flew toward the Grand Dao Sect. Along the way, she saw a land laid to waste, mountains and valleys covered with corpses. Too many cultivators and innocent lives had been lost in this great war. Shangguan Huanling couldn¡¯t help but reveal a sneer of mockery. Wasn¡¯t Lu Ye supposed to be humanity¡¯s protector? This is how he protects them? Now that the human race had suffered massive casualties¡ªwhere was he? Why hadn¡¯t he come out to stop this? Hypocrite! The journey was tense but without incident. She finally arrived at the Grand Dao Sect. "Who goes there?" At that moment, layer upon layer of sect-protecting formations had enveloped the Grand Dao Sect. Countless mountain peaks were shrouded in white mist, their details obscured. Two Supreme Elders at the Integration Realm had their glowing eyes fixed on Shangguan Huanling. "My name is Shangguan Huanling. I am acquainted with Bai Qiulan of your sect. I have come to the Grand Dao Sect to seek an audience with Bai Qiulan. Please inform her on my behalf." Chapter 107: You Win Nothing Grand Dao Sect, Bai Lan Peak. "You said the one seeking audience outside the sect is who?" Bai Qiulan¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of surprise. "What is she doing here?" Yue Hongling frowned. Truthfully, she had always been a little at odds with Shangguan Huanling¡ªbecause she felt that Lu Ye treated that woman far too well. Even better than he treated her! How was that acceptable? And that Shangguan Huanling... How should she put it? In Yue Hongling¡¯s opinion, her own master, Chu Ling, Vermilion Bird¡ªany of them¡ª They were all qualified to become Great Emperors. Even if Lu Ye had helped them greatly, it didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t have ascended on their own. She cultivated the Eternal Reversal Scripture, and her personality feared neither heaven nor earth¡ªfearless and unyielding in battle. She had true combat power, and the Dao was with her. Chu Ling as well¡ªher progress in the sword path had been meteoric, her combat strength unmatched. She could be considered one of the top sword cultivator emperors. Bai Qiulan possessed the Chaotic Taiyin Divine Physique, born with the power of Chaotic Taiyin, rivaling those born with innate Dao embryos. Her Taiyin techniques were overwhelmingly terrifying. Even Vermilion Bird¡ªgentle and sorrowful as she might seem¡ªhad a terrifying background. She was Vermilion Bird, and the divine powers she wielded were enough to secure her a place in the Great Emperor realm. In the previous life, even the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor would likely end in mutual destruction if she fought Vermilion Bird. As for Shangguan Huanling... The Purple Phoenix Great Emperor had nearly died of anger. Great Emperors had their pride too. When Lu Ye had just become a Heavenly Venerable, the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor hadn¡¯t even wanted to give him any face. Because the things Lu Ye had asked her to do back then were practically humiliating. But later, Lu Ye grew stronger and stronger. And on top of that, he always treated others with courtesy. So she had no choice but to give him face. Eventually, Lu Ye reached an utterly terrifying level. Only then did the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor finally accept it¡ªbeing asked by such a Heavenly Venerable, wasn¡¯t it just acting? No problem! Bai Qiulan had just learned that the Supreme Empire had directly surrendered to the foreign races. Shangguan Huanling had probably come here because she refused to surrender. "I¡¯ll go receive her." "I''m not going!" Yue Hongling¡¯s temper flared. That annoying senior brother had been gone for a long time. Back when Lu Ye had been here, she hadn¡¯t thought much of it. But now that she hadn¡¯t seen him for such a long time, she actually started to feel quite lonely. She kind of missed him... Her senior brother must have already reached the Integration Realm, right? Would he still walk the path of protection like he did in the previous life? If he chose that path again, all she had to do was enter his circle of protection again¡ªLu Ye would always protect her. This time, she wouldn¡¯t be so willful. Not long after, Bai Qiulan brought Shangguan Huanling inside and released a barrier. "Alright, it¡¯s safe here. You can relax a little now," Bai Qiulan said gently. Shangguan Huanling let out a long breath of relief. She poured herself a cup of water and drank it in one go¡ªnot because she was thirsty, but to suppress the ache in her chest. "Sister Bai... the Supreme Empire has fallen again!" Shangguan Huanling spoke¡ªand her tears nearly fell. Bai Qiulan had nothing much to say about it. It wasn¡¯t like she could say serves them right. After all, in the last life, the Supreme Empire had colluded with the foreign races. There really was no way to justify that. "Don¡¯t be sad. If you have nowhere else to go, you can stay here on Bai Lan Peak," Bai Qiulan said softly. Yue Hongling raised an eyebrow. Though she felt some resentment and dissatisfaction, in the end, Yue Hongling still didn¡¯t say anything. "I didn¡¯t come here to stay at the Grand Dao Sect. I came because I want to get to the bottom of something." Yue Hongling and Bai Qiulan both turned their gazes toward Shangguan Huanling. Shangguan Huanling took a deep breath. "The cultivation technique I practiced is called the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. Do you know of it?" Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling exchanged a glance. They could clearly see ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) the particular look in each other¡¯s eyes. "We know it." "In my previous life, I became a Great Emperor using this technique. Wouldn¡¯t you say it counts as an extremely powerful cultivation method?" Bai Qiulan nodded again. For a technique that could push someone who didn¡¯t cultivate the Great Dao into the realm of a Great Emperor¡ªthat couldn¡¯t simply be called powerful. It was practically peerless, unheard of throughout history. Even more terrifying than her own Taiyin Ascension Sutra. This was also one of the reasons Yue Hongling and Shangguan Huanling didn¡¯t get along. Yue Hongling¡¯s technique came from the Fearless Great Emperor. Although it was a perfect match for her, it wasn¡¯t something Lu Ye had created. But the technique Shangguan Huanling cultivated¡ªwhile it had initially drawn from the Demonic Heaven-Swallowing Sutra¡ªeventually became something Lu Ye created entirely on his own. No one knew how much effort he had poured into it. He pampered Shangguan Huanling more than he did Yue Hongling¡ªand how could that be acceptable? "If this cultivation method is truly that powerful, then why is it that after breaking through, all the way to the peak of the Integration Realm, my combat strength is still no better than some ordinary Tribulation Crossing cultivator?" Shangguan Huanling asked, unable to accept it. As soon as she said that, Bai Qiulan fell silent. Yue Hongling rolled her eyes. In their past life, Lu Ye had repeatedly warned them never to strike down Shangguan Huanling with words, because her Dao had already collapsed¡ªshe was already devastated. If they ridiculed her further, Lu Ye worried she wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it. He had planned to tell her everything later, once the time was right. And then she went and killed Lu Ye. Nice job. Real nice. Bai Qiulan didn¡¯t know how to explain it¡ªbut Yue Hongling wasn¡¯t afraid of anything anymore. Everyone had betrayed their senior brother. He didn¡¯t seem to care about any of them anymore. So whether Shangguan Huanling broke down or not¡ªwhat the hell did that have to do with her? "Your technique¡ªit is pretty damn powerful, but the problem is that it¡¯s not a combat technique. You were a Great Emperor in your previous life¡ªhow do you still not get it? A so-called Great Emperor who can¡¯t wield the Great Dao¡ªdoes that even count as a real emperor?" Yue Hongling said bluntly. Shangguan Huanling froze, then hurried to argue back. "How could it not be a combat technique? I fought the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor and won two out of three duels!" Yue Hongling sneered. "Hongling!" Bai Qiulan couldn¡¯t help but scold her. "Sister Bai, let her say it!" Shangguan Huanling felt as if she were on the verge of hearing an enormous, earth-shattering truth. She was terrified¡ªbut also desperate to know. "Huh? Why is the formation sealed off again?" Sun Ruowei outside the door was startled. More drama? Damn you, Bai Qiulan. Sun Ruowei had thought she¡¯d already finished eating all the gossip, but now there was another damned barrier. She pressed herself against the edge of the formation. What were they saying in there? "You want me to say it? Fine. You really think you could beat the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor? She never even took those fights seriously. If she¡¯d fought for real, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to take one move before being turned into dust!" "Hongling! That¡¯s enough!" Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes went wide. "Impossible! We fought three times. She lost because I improved¡ªshe couldn¡¯t keep up with me!" "Bullshit. The first time, senior brother had just become a Heavenly Venerable. He heard you were about to spar with the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor and quickly sent her a transmission telling her to lose. But she didn¡¯t listen. Even so, she held back and didn¡¯t hurt you." "The second time, senior brother visited her personally after killing the Fallen Dao Heavenly Venerable. He was injured. She was moved, so she let you win that time." "The third time, senior brother sent gifts again. The Purple Phoenix Great Emperor didn¡¯t care anymore, so she played along and let you win happily." "If not for senior brother, win my ass! With your kind of ¡®vase¡¯ emperor power, you don¡¯t even qualify to stand in front of the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor¡ªmuch less talk about two wins out of three." "Have you no shame?" Chapter 108: Such a Bad Deception Shangguan Huanling froze. Her battles with the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor¡ªtwo wins out of three¡ªwere actually because Lu Ye had contacted the Purple Phoenix Great Emperor in advance? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Great Emperors had their dignity. The Purple Phoenix Great Emperor was the pride among them. How could she possibly have thrown the fights on purpose? Wouldn¡¯t that be throwing away her own pride? Seeing Shangguan Huanling¡¯s face full of disbelief, Yue Hongling raised an eyebrow. "What, you still don¡¯t believe it?" "Of course I don¡¯t believe it!" Shangguan Huanling¡¯s voice suddenly rose. "Then what about the Heavenly Firmament Great Emperor? I challenged her completely on the spot, without telling anyone. Don¡¯t tell me Lu Ye was secretly pulling strings behind that too!" Yue Hongling burst out laughing¡ªlaughing happily, laughing mockingly. "If you hadn¡¯t brought that up, I might have let it go. But now that you did, I can¡¯t help but laugh even more." "When you approached the Heavenly Firmament Great Emperor, what did you use? You pulled out Heavenly Silkworm Nine Transformations, and then what else? Heavenly Venerable Fist!" "Across all Nine Heavens, who doesn¡¯t know that the Heavenly Venerable Fist is my senior brother¡¯s strongest divine technique? Do you really think the Heavenly Firmament Great Emperor is stupid? The moment she sensed the aura of the Heavenly Venerable Fist from you, it was obvious you were one of Lu Ye¡¯s people. Back then, when he taught it to you, it was precisely to stop you from going out and getting yourself killed." "With your level of strength, provoking any old Great Emperor would¡¯ve gotten you slapped into dust. But the moment you released the aura of the Heavenly Venerable Fist, it was like senior brother was clearly telling everyone: ''This is one of mine¡ªof the Nine-Life Heavenly Venerable. If you lay a hand on her, prepare to face my retaliation.''" "The Heavenly Firmament Great Emperor isn¡¯t an idiot. Do you really think just flaring your aura could scare her into backing down?" "No. It was the aura of the Heavenly Venerable Fist that made her realize who you were!" "No, no, no..." Shangguan Huanling stumbled back several steps. Her knees nearly gave out¡ªshe almost collapsed to the ground. Bai Qiulan hurriedly stepped forward to support her. "Then what about my battles with the other seven of you?" Shangguan Huanling¡¯s voice still carried a trace of hope. She had fought each of the other women. Yue Hongling scoffed, about to speak¡ªbut suddenly remembered how senior brother had forced her to agree to go easy on Shangguan Huanling back then. Her face flushed red. That time, senior brother really had been... indescribable. Unimaginable. Afterward, when Yue Hongling was lying there feeling like she was about to die, she received a recorded message from Lu Ye. He had brought up many matters she ended up agreeing to¡ªamong them, letting Shangguan Huanling off a little in battle. Of course, that had only been one small part. Lu Ye knew Yue Hongling well. If he had directly told her to hold back against Shangguan Huanling, especially in vague terms, Yue Hongling would¡¯ve gone ballistic on the spot. She would¡¯ve beaten the shit out of Shangguan Huanling, without question. But Lu Ye had made all sorts of outrageous requests¡ªsome of them so shameful and extreme that, by comparison, going easy on Shangguan Huanling didn¡¯t seem like anything at all. So Yue Hongling had casually agreed. Even then, when the time came for her to fight Shangguan Huanling, she still beat her up¡ªthen pretended to run out of Dao source and conceded the fight. Yue Hongling didn¡¯t say a word. Bai Qiulan let out a sigh. Things ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) had come this far¡ªmight as well speak plainly. "Before you challenged us, we did agree to go easy on you for Lu Ye¡¯s sake." At those words, the last glimmer of light vanished from Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes. Her body went limp¡ªshe could no longer stand. No. No! Tears welled up rapidly in Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes as scenes from the past flashed through her mind. "Your Dao... is gone?" One day, Lu Ye had looked at her in disbelief. Shangguan Huanling had sunk into utter despair over it as well. "Brother Lu, I really don¡¯t think I have any talent for cultivation. I¡¯ve tried so hard, so why hasn¡¯t my cultivation improved at all?" At that moment, it was as if Lu Ye had suffered a devastating blow. "Your Dao is gone... Your Dao was the Path of Sentiment..." "How could it be gone? Why would it disappear? I swear, I never¡ª" "What?" Lu Ye had forced a smile that looked even uglier than crying. "It¡¯s fine... it¡¯s fine. So what if your Great Dao is gone? That doesn¡¯t necessarily mean... doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you have no talent for cultivation." "You wait for me. I¡¯ll figure something out for you!" After that, Lu Ye tried every method he could think of to restore her Dao. He played with her, made her laugh, gave her treasures... But nothing restored it. Helpless, Lu Ye had no choice but to consider another route: to give Shangguan Huanling a different Dao. But the Great Dao... how could it possibly be replaced once it¡¯s gone? Maybe for a peerless genius¡ªbut for someone like Shangguan Huanling, the implications were obvious. Later, Lu Ye exhausted himself searching for divine medicine and even brought her along when he ascended. She could feel how tired Lu Ye had become. So one day, she told him to stop worrying about her. Of course, that wasn¡¯t something she truly meant from the heart. And Lu Ye had smiled and said, "No abandoning, no giving up¡ªthis is the Steel Seventh Company!" Shangguan Huanling: ??? Eventually, when Lu Ye discovered the Demonic Heaven-Swallowing Sutra, he began guiding her to cultivate it. From the Demonic Heaven-Swallowing Sutra, to the Heaven-Swallowing Heart Sutra, then to the Heaven-Swallowing Dao Scripture, and finally the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture¡ª She had finally stepped back onto a real cultivation path. Even without a Dao, her realm rose at a terrifying speed. Not only did she catch up with the other seven women¡ªshe even showed signs of surpassing them. Her confidence soared. But Lu Ye had always warned her: never fight others. She had no Dao. Even if her realm was high, her actual combat ability was weak. With her rapid growth in cultivation, she naturally refused to accept that. She demanded that Lu Ye teach her powerful combat techniques. But Lu Ye refused. She didn¡¯t accept that. So she began training combat techniques on her own. But she kept failing. Eventually, she kept pestering Lu Ye so much that he gave in and carefully selected three techniques for her to train in: Heavenly Demon Blood-Escape Technique. Heavenly Silkworm Nine Transformations. And Lu Ye¡¯s strongest: Heavenly Venerable Fist. One memory after another resurfaced before Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes, and tears streamed down her face. "You had me cultivate the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture just to turn me into a flower vase, a waste, a laughingstock for everyone?" Shangguan Huanling¡¯s voice trembled with anguish. Yue Hongling, who had just been reminiscing fondly about that certain time, suddenly shot to her feet at those words. Her eyes sharpened as she glared at Shangguan Huanling. "What the hell do you mean by that?" Shangguan Huanling gave a dazed smile. "What could I possibly mean? What could I possibly mean? You all have your Daos¡ªbut I don¡¯t. I¡¯m the weakest. What could I mean?" "Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture... hahaha... what a joke. A scripture that only raises cultivation but doesn¡¯t touch the Dao. He really fooled me so badly. So badly!" Chapter 109: It’s so funny Yue Hongling exploded. "You¡¯re the one who¡¯s stupid! You lost your own Dao while cultivating, and now you¡¯re blaming senior brother? You cultivated your Dao into nothingness¡ªand that¡¯s somehow his fault?" Shangguan Huanling didn¡¯t even know where her strength came from¡ªmaybe she just couldn¡¯t stand Yue Hongling. "My Dao disappeared, and he gave up on me. It¡¯s not like I didn¡¯t offer to let him give up on me. Saying things like ''no abandoning, no giving up''¡ªbut in the end, all of you have your Daos, and I¡¯m the one stuck cultivating some technique that can¡¯t even produce a Dao. Why shouldn¡¯t I blame him?" Yue Hongling suddenly lunged at her. Bai Qiulan reacted quickly, grabbing and restraining Yue Hongling in time. "Hongling, calm down!" "Aaah! She¡¯s pissing me off, Shizun! What kind of nonsense is she spewing? Don¡¯t hold me back¡ªI¡¯m going to kill her!" Yue Hongling flailed in Bai Qiulan¡¯s arms, baring teeth and claws, absolutely ready for a death match with Shangguan Huanling. "I¡¯m not wrong! I¡¯m not wrong!" Shangguan Huanling shouted. "Not wrong, my ass! Who told you the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture can¡¯t produce a Dao? You¡¯re just too stupid to cultivate it properly! You talk about cultivating a Dao¡ªdo you even know what stage you were at when you got that scripture? People at that level already are fused with the Dao¡ªbody and soul!" "I was reborn too. I also cultivated the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. So how come I did manage to form a Dao? A so-called Invincible Dao, so weak it¡¯s practically invisible¡ªand you¡¯re saying it¡¯s the scripture¡¯s fault?" Bai Qiulan¡¯s body stiffened. Yue Hongling also froze. The two of them turned their gazes toward Shangguan Huanling, their expressions... difficult to describe. More than anything, they looked like they were doubting their own ears¡ªstunned. "You said... what Dao are you cultivating in this life?" Bai Qiulan couldn¡¯t help but ask. "Invincible Dao?" Yue Hongling repeated the four words in disbelief. "So what? What about it?" Shangguan Huanling said, seeing their reactions, a strange sense of foreboding rising in her heart. "Shizun, let me go. I¡¯m not hitting her anymore." At that moment, Yue Hongling suddenly lost all interest. Seriously¡ªwhat was the point in arguing with a fool? She was cultivating the Invincible Dao? Hahahahaha. She was actually cultivating the Invincible Dao! Hahahaha¡ª Yue Hongling¡¯s shoulders were trembling wildly; her facial expression kept changing uncontrollably. Shangguan Huanling? "What do you mean by that?" she asked. She shouldn¡¯t have asked. The moment she did, Yue Hongling completely lost it and burst into manic laughter. "Hahahaha! Oh my god! Shizun¡ªshe¡¯s cultivating the Invincible Dao! Hahahahaha!" Yue Hongling pointed at Shangguan Huanling, laughing so hard she bent over, laughing until tears came out. At that moment, her mockery of Shangguan Huanling reached its peak. Even Bai Qiulan lost control of her facial expression for a brief moment. A smile slipped out before she quickly forced it back. But Shangguan Huanling saw it. Wait a second¡ªBai Qiulan was always known for being gentle and kind. What was that smile just now? Was she mocking her too? Why? "What¡¯s so funny? What¡¯s wrong with walking the Invincible Dao? I like the Invincible Dao! I firmly believe I¡¯m unmatched in this world¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong with that?" Shangguan Huanling protested, indignant. Yue Hongling laughed even harder, doubling over, shaking with glee. Shangguan Huanling turned to Bai Qiulan. "Sister Bai, what¡¯s wrong with cultivating the Invincible Dao? Why do you both think it¡¯s so ridiculous?" Bai Qiulan tried hard to control her expression and spoke earnestly. "Huanling, you chose the wrong Dao." Shangguan Huanling: ??? "You know Lu Ye. How could you choose the Invincible Dao? With Lu Ye in this world, who dares claim to be invincible? You were so close to him in the last life¡ªdon¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know his true strength?" "You walk the Invincible Path¡ªcan you beat Lu Ye?" Shangguan Huanling... "Lu Ye didn¡¯t even walk the Invincible Path," she argued weakly, clinging to the last shred of denial. "But," Bai Qiulan said softly, "those who walk the Invincible Path, in the end... all must face Lu Ye, charge at him, wail before him, and fall." "Lu Ye is the final destination of invincibility." "If you walk the Invincible Path, then... then aren¡¯t you just¡ª" Yue Hongling finished the sentence. "A chump." "No, no¡ªthat¡¯s too kind. A dumbass!" Shangguan Huanling still refused to accept it. "But I¡¯ve never seen that kind of overwhelming invincible aura from Lu Ye!" "That¡¯s because," Bai Qiulan said, eyes tinged with sorrow, "Lu Ye¡¯s invincibility... was never aimed at us." "Toward us, his path has always been one of protection." An invincible sword would never point toward its own. An invincible fist would never fall upon its own people. "And you? You claim to walk the Invincible Path? The Invincible Path is carved through battle, forged through slaughter. Have you even beaten twenty opponents in your whole life, and you think you qualify for the Invincible Path?" "Stupid. Too stupid. So stupid I can¡¯t even handle it." A dense, stabbing pain surged through Shangguan Huanling¡¯s chest. Yue Hongling shook her head, looking at her like she was hopeless¡ªrotted wood that couldn¡¯t be carved. Shangguan Huanling was clearly devastated by the blows she¡¯d taken. But seeing Yue Hongling¡¯s scornful attitude only made her angrier. "Oh, so you¡¯re the righteous one now? You¡¯ve been reborn too, haven¡¯t you? Since Brother Lu won¡¯t stop you anymore, why don¡¯t you run off and shack up with your precious Feng Wuxie and soar through the heavens together?" Shangguan Huanling sneered. Yue Hongling: ??? "I¡¯M GONNA KILL YOU!" ...... At that moment, Lu Ye still had no idea Shangguan Huanling had shown up at the Grand Dao Sect. He had returned with a massive trove of resources. Originally, he was planning to dive straight into Pill Peak, but after some thought, he decided he should first go pay a visit to Liu Changfeng. "Disciple Lu Ye, pays respects to the Sect Master." "Hahaha! I heard you charged into the heart of the foreign races, killed seven Tribulation Crossing cultivators and four Loose Gods, and looted their entire damn nest?" Liu Changfeng said excitedly. The more he looked at Lu Ye, the more he felt his decision back then had been absolutely right. Because Lu Ye wasn¡¯t just talented¡ªhe was also steady, calm, and knew exactly what he wanted. Most importantly, he was ruthless when it mattered. The foreign races had launched an all-out invasion. The human race was in peril. And even under such pressure, Lu Ye had still wiped out all eleven Loose Gods chasing him, showing not a trace of intent to let them live for potential counterattack roles. After leaving the Buddha-Destruction Desert and seeing the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty in ruins, he hadn¡¯t rushed to join the chaotic frontlines¡ªinstead, he had decisively infiltrated the enemy world to strike where it hurt. Because at his current level of strength, even if he had gone to the battlefield, he couldn¡¯t have made much difference. He couldn¡¯t yet fight the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor or the Heavenly Demon Emperor¡ªwhat was the point of charging in? "Yes, I did loot a few ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) treasures," Lu Ye replied. As he said this, tears suddenly streamed down his face. Liu Changfeng: ??? He was completely thrown off¡ªwhat the hell just happened? Why was the boy suddenly crying? "It¡¯s nothing. Just the sandstorms of the Buddha-Destruction Desert¡ªblew sand into my eyes." "These are the treasures I brought back. I¡¯ve already kept the ones I can use¡ªthese are the ones I don¡¯t need. The sect can treat them as resources." Chapter 110: Shen Xitong! Liu Changfeng hurriedly refused. "Sect Master, please rest assured¡ªthese items truly are of no use to me. And I¡¯ve always considered myself one with the sect. If the sect thrives, I thrive. Likewise, if I become strong, it strengthens the sect. This is a mutually reinforcing principle." "Sect Master should understand¡ªI¡¯m just putting on airs a little." Liu Changfeng gave a helpless smile. "Alright, if that¡¯s how you feel, the sect won¡¯t shortchange you. When the time comes, we¡¯ll reward you with a batch of spirit stones. And if you need anything¡ªjust come directly to me. As long as it¡¯s reasonable, I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill it." "Many thanks, Sect Master!" "By the way¡ªthere¡¯s one more thing. I plan to launch an assault on the foreign races in seven days. If the sect plans to join, I ask that you begin preparations." "Seven days? Isn¡¯t that a bit rushed?" "It¡¯s not. It should be enough." Lu Ye now was no longer the same Lu Ye who had only been at the Qi-Gathering or Core Formation stages. Back then, he had no resources, no treasures¡ªonly one cultivation manual and the system¡¯s cultivation functions. But now, Lu Ye was entirely different. After plundering so many cultivation resources, he could at the very least refine four Giant Spirit Pills this time¡ªthe full-nourishment kind! And as for pill residue tainting the purity of one¡¯s true essence? That was only a problem for first-time cultivators. What did that have to do with someone like him, a reborn cultivator? During the era of chaotic darkness, those bastards used to devour entire galaxies in one bite. Divine metals and sacred pills were swallowed without even chewing. No one ever said they were harmed by impurities. Lu Ye¡¯s figure arrived at Pill Peak. "Lu Ye, you¡¯re here! You planning to refine pills again?" Daoist Qinghuo asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "Yes, Peak Master. I¡¯d like to borrow your Nine-Dragon Leaving Fire Furnace again," Lu Ye said politely. Daoist Qinghuo waved his hand casually. "That¡¯s no problem at all. It¡¯s just¡ªcould you maybe go a little slower this time? Last time I was so shocked I didn¡¯t learn anything. If you could refine them a bit more slowly, that¡¯d be great." "Of course, not a problem. I¡¯m able to refine like this because I have a deep understanding of pharmacology. If your understanding deepens, you¡¯ll be able to refine like this too." "I¡¯ll write down what I know about medicinal theory, and also some pill-refining insights. If you don¡¯t mind, you can take a look." Daoist Qinghuo¡¯s face flushed slightly with embarrassment. "Is that... is that really okay?" Lu Ye smiled gently¡ªand tears streamed down his face again. Ahhh... so annoying... Daoist Qinghuo jumped. "Okay okay! Forget I said anything about pharmacology or insights¡ªjust don¡¯t cry!" Lu Ye: ... "My eyes got a bit injured. Still haven¡¯t fully healed. It has nothing to do with you, don¡¯t worry." "I see. I¡¯ve got some medicinal pills for eye injuries¡ªI¡¯ll give you some." "No need, no need. Pills won¡¯t help. Let¡¯s go refine some pills." "You¡¯re sure crying won¡¯t interfere?" "Don¡¯t worry¡ªit won¡¯t." The two entered the alchemy chamber. Lu Ye, wanting to let Daoist Qinghuo grasp some insight into the Dao of alchemy, deliberately slowed down his pill-refining pace. Half an hour later. "So... how does it feel?" Lu Ye asked. Daoist Qinghuo... Can¡¯t you add ingredients one by one? The way you grab a whole handful at once¡ªI can¡¯t keep up at all! "Should I slow down even more?" Lu Ye asked. "No no! Refining the pills is more important. You go ahead!" Daoist Qinghuo had realized something¡ªreaching Lu Ye¡¯s level of pill-refinement wasn¡¯t going to happen in just a short time. Besides, Lu Ye¡¯s hands were too damn fast. He would grab a bunch of herbs¡ªDaoist Qinghuo looked at them and, dear god, forty or fifty kinds all at once. He hadn¡¯t even finished identifying the ingredients when Lu Ye said, "Time¡¯s up." And tossed the entire handful into the furnace. How was anyone supposed to learn like that? "Alright, I¡¯ll just study this later!" Lu Ye activated his flames. His original Bright Sun Flame now glowed with a faint gray hue, because during his time in the Ghost Realm, he¡¯d refined another divine flame¡ªthe Specter Wraith Flame. After fusing the two divine flames, the temperature of his fire had finally risen to a new level. However, the variety and volume of medicinal ingredients were even greater than before. In the end, the refined pills still came out around fifteen centimeters in diameter. A faint radiance shimmered over the pill¡¯s surface patterns¡ªclearly the mark of a supreme-grade pill. One pill. Two pills. Three pills. Four pills! All four pills were successfully refined. Lu Ye took his leave from Daoist Qinghuo. "I¡¯ll write down the medicinal theories and my insights when I get a chance¡ªbut it might be a while. I need to take the pills and begin cultivating first." Daoist Qinghuo quickly waved his hand. "You go handle your matters. I¡¯m in no rush." "Very well, then this disciple takes his leave." Lu Ye turned and walked away. Daoist Qinghuo looked at Lu Ye¡¯s departing figure and couldn¡¯t help stroking his beard gently. "Graceful and calm... not arrogant, not rash. At such a young age, and already possessing the poise of a grandmaster. No wonder so many girls like him¡ªyet he remains wholeheartedly devoted to the Great Dao. His future is limitless!" The more he looked at Lu Ye, the more he liked him. In this world, young men like that were truly rare. Lu Ye returned to his room. Looking at the pills, he realized he didn¡¯t even need to use Heaven-Form Earth-Manifestation this time. He suddenly opened his mouth wide, and a beam of light burst forth from within. The light shone onto the pill, and the massive pill began rapidly shrinking. In the end, it became the size of a fingertip¡ªLu Ye swallowed it in a single gulp. "Begin cultivation!" "Ding. Cultivation initiated!" Integration Realm, Stage Two¡ªbeginning advancement. Surging true essence roared through his body, medicinal power boiling violently. Lu Ye¡¯s figure became cloaked in a misty haze¡ªlike a god, like heaven itself. His power began to rise. Integration Stage Three! Integration Stage Four! Integration Stage Five! All four pills were consumed. All those rare supreme-grade elixirs plundered from the foreign races turned ~N§àv§Ölight~ into the most ferocious driving force for Lu Ye¡¯s cultivation. ...... Yue Hongling heard that Lu Ye had returned and immediately ran to the door of his room. "Senior Brother!" She knocked on the door. Lu Ye, fully immersed in cultivation, of course didn¡¯t respond. But at that moment, a faint, ethereal ripple shimmered through the void. Radiant light filled the air, and from within that glow, a long, snow-white, slender leg stepped out. The multicolored glow gathered together, weaving itself into a five-colored robe, draped over a woman of divine elegance¡ªso beautiful she seemed beyond what the world could contain. "Ding. Transformation complete!" The woman parted her red lips. That perfect, flawless face¡ªsomething that didn¡¯t seem to belong to this world¡ªrevealed a smile. Hehe... Since that dumb host refuses to come out, she¡¯d just play for a while herself. She took a graceful step forward. A soft fragrance lingered in her wake as she arrived behind the door. Yue Hongling twitched her nose lightly. So fragrant! This fragrance wasn¡¯t just perfume. It was more like the sacred scent of a physical body having ascended to sainthood¡ªas if her very flesh were made from divine medicine. In this world, there was no living being that could reject such a scent. Creak¡ª The door opened. Their eyes met. Yue Hongling stood frozen in place, her eyes unable to conceal the astonishment in them. How could such an utterly beautiful being exist in this world? Ding... "Mhm, hello. I¡¯m Shen Xitong. You must be one of my brother¡¯s ex-wives¡ªYue Hongling, right?" Chapter 111: Defense Breakthrough ¡°G¡ªGod... God Xitong?¡± ¡°Ex... ex-wife!¡± Yue Hongling had originally been shocked by the beauty of the woman before her, but as she replayed God Xitong¡¯s words in her mind, a blazing flame surged violently in her heart with a whoosh. However, she didn¡¯t erupt. She held it in! Even though that nameless fire was burning so fiercely it turned her eyes red. ¡°You know me?¡± Yue Hongling raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course I do. If you hadn¡¯t separated from my brother, based on seniority, I would have had to call you ¡®sister¡¯. But now, I guess I don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes turned even redder. God Xitong acted as if she hadn¡¯t noticed a ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) thing, her face beaming with an innocent, joyful smile. ¡°Because you betrayed my brother. You betrayed love. My brother¡¯s someone who cherishes emotions deeply. The more deeply he cares, the more devastating the betrayal. There¡¯s no way he could forgive you!¡± ¡°And just think about it. You betrayed him. If he truly loved you deeply, then the more deeply he loved, the more he¡¯d be hurt¡ªand the more impossible it¡¯d be to forgive you.¡± ¡°If he did forgive you, then that would mean your betrayal didn¡¯t actually hurt him that much. Which would also mean... he didn¡¯t love you that much to begin with.¡± ¡°So now, with these two roads before you, which one do you think you should choose?¡± Upon hearing those words, Yue Hongling¡¯s face turned deathly pale. Her body moved on its own, taking three steps back. The flames had already reached the top of her head, making her skull stiff and her thoughts foggy. Two roads. How to choose? Forgiveness means he didn¡¯t love her. If he loved her, he wouldn¡¯t forgive. ¡°Oh, and by the way¡ªchoosing forgiveness means you don¡¯t care about Dog Star fate. You don¡¯t care whether Lu Ye loves you or not. You just like the resources Lu Ye can give you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Yue Hongling roared. God Xitong remained completely unaffected, giving a soft smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were either. I mean, you¡¯re so pretty, your body¡¯s so nice. There¡¯s no way you¡¯re some ungrateful white-eyed wolf, right?¡± Yue Hongling forcibly calmed herself down. At this moment, in Yue Hongling¡¯s heart, this sudden God Xitong had officially surpassed Shangguan Huanling in terms of how much she hated her¡ªand not just by a little. ¡°Who exactly are you? How do you know so much?¡± In Yue Hongling¡¯s memory, there was absolutely no one named God Xitong. Someone this beautiful¡ªif she¡¯d ever appeared in the world¡ªwould¡¯ve shocked all of existence. There was no way she¡¯d have stayed unknown. The cultivation world was a special place. In this world, there were far too many beautiful women. What woman didn¡¯t want to become more beautiful? And if a woman possessed a way to enhance her beauty¡ªwith no side effects¡ªit was easy to imagine just how mad she would become. But no matter how beautiful you made yourself, that was only beauty in your own eyes. Beauty differed from one person to another. Yet this woman before her¡ªGod Xitong¡ªhad gathered all forms of beauty into one. The moment Yue Hongling laid eyes on her, she was absolutely certain: this was the most beautiful existence in the world, like the supreme flower of the Great Dao itself. Someone like this¡ªhow could she have never heard of her in her past life? How was that possible? ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary person,¡± God Xitong said with a smile. ¡°An ordinary person who¡¯s now mutually in love with Lu Ye. He told me everything.¡± ¡°Everything?¡± ¡°Everything. Including the past life. Including how you betrayed him.¡± Yue Hongling erupted in rage once more. The word ¡°betray¡± filled her with intense disgust. But what truly enraged her was the fact that Lu Ye had spoken of reincarnation. When Shangguan Huanling mentioned reincarnation, she understood. That woman was a fool. But Lu Ye¡ªsomeone so clever¡ªhad also spoken of reincarnation? There could only be one explanation. This woman was someone Lu Ye had chosen to trust even after experiencing eight betrayals. No. No! No!! Yue Hongling could not accept it. If Lu Ye were to seal off his heart and never love again, then even if he never forgave her, it¡¯d be fine. She could just keep fighting for him. Because the reason Lu Ye had closed his heart to love... was because he couldn¡¯t forget them. But once a new woman appeared¡ªonce Lu Ye was willing to enter a new romance¡ªwhat would that mean? It would mean that Lu Ye was trying to escape the web the eight of them had cast around him. That he was willing to believe in love again. That he was willing to forget the eight of them completely. How could that be allowed?! Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes burned red. At that moment, her gaze erupted with murderous intent. She would rather die than be forgotten by her senior brother. She would rather die than let her senior brother fall in love with someone else. ¡°You can go to hell!¡± With a furious roar, Yue Hongling brought her fists together to form a seal. Mountain-Crushing Seal¡ªa technique imbued with terrifying power¡ªblasted forward, aiming to shatter Shen Xitong into pieces. The corners of Shen Xitong¡¯s mouth lifted slightly. Congratulations to her¡ªshe¡¯d just become the first person to launch an attack against Shen Xitong. The last one to attack her had been the Heavenly Dao. And that didn¡¯t even count as a person. Shen Xitong gently raised her hand. Both her hands were slender and delicate, and she lightly touched the Mountain-Crushing Seal. At that exact moment, Lu Ye¡¯s eyes snapped open. Even while cultivating, even with the system¡¯s intentional concealment of her aura, he could sense killing intent. The instant his eyes opened, he saw a multicolored figure stumbling backward¡ªfalling directly toward him. This aura... Heavenly Dao? No¡ª System! Without thinking, Lu Ye reached out to steady the woman before him. His intention was merely to support her, but to his surprise, the woman forced herself straight into his arms. Oh my, this ex-wife is fierce. Can¡¯t even win the fight. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Yue Hongling had already gone completely mad. Her figure shot forth like an arrow loosed from the string, launching an all-out assault on Shen Xitong. This strike was known as Sky-Throttling Seal. It could be considered the deadliest attack Yue Hongling could unleash at her current cultivation level. She truly hated Shen Xitong with every fiber of her being. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes turned cold, filled with killing intent. Kill her! He raised his hand, fist clenched. If he used Heavenly Venerable Fist to kill Yue Hongling, it wouldn¡¯t even be considered an insult. But unexpectedly, Shen Xitong grabbed Lu Ye¡¯s arm with one hand. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s all my fault. Don¡¯t blame her. Don¡¯t kill her.¡± Lu Ye: ??? The system¡¯s words made Lu Ye¡¯s entire body break out in goosebumps. Heavenly Venerable Fist dissipated, and Lu Ye launched a palm strike instead. Boom! Yue Hongling spat blood and was sent flying backward. ¡°Lu Ye!¡± She landed hard in the middle of the courtyard, crying out in a shrill, broken scream. Her eyes were filled with unbearable sorrow. Lu Ye looked down at her coldly, still holding Shen Xitong in his arms. At that moment, Yue Hongling felt that Lu Ye was more distant from her than he had ever been before¡ªso distant he had become untouchable, unreachable, impossible to look at directly. ¡°Senior brother...¡± Yue Hongling¡¯s voice turned into a desperate plea. ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like this. You can¡¯t treat me like this.¡± A smile suddenly appeared on Lu Ye¡¯s face. There was no denying it¡ªseeing Yue Hongling like this again stirred that same twisted sense of satisfaction within him. How exactly am I treating you? When I underwent tribulation, you gave me eight Yin-Yang Devour-Dao Gu. Eight kinds of poison. Primordial Morning Mist¡ªhahaha, a thing like that, only fit to be used on the person you hate the most. And you dared to use it on him, too. Then live. Go on living! Live in pain. Live with all of it. ¡°The count of three. If you don¡¯t leave, you die!¡± Three! Two! Yue Hongling scrambled to her feet. She had to find her master, ask her master to plead with senior brother. She would go find her master. One! Her figure fled into the distance, utterly wretched. Master, what do I do? What do I do? Chapter 112: Dog Bucket Yue Hongling ran away. The grief Lu Ye had been holding back surged forth with even greater force. He lowered his head and looked at the figure manifested by the system, unable to resist rubbing his temples. The woman conjured by the system was indeed beautiful¡ªdeservedly the number one under the heavens. But Lu Ye, at this point, had absolutely no interest in women. Mm, even if the system smelled sweet¡ªhe wasn¡¯t interested. ¡°Was that fun?¡± Now that Yue Hongling was gone, the system dropped the act entirely. ¡°Ding ding ding¡ªso fun, especially fun!¡± ¡°Then shall I play with you?¡± ¡°Ding¡ªwhat kind of delusion are you having?¡± Shen Xitong¡¯s figure turned into a stream of light and merged into Lu Ye¡¯s body. Lu Ye... Had a headache. This damn system had said before it wanted to become a woman. He had refused. Yet she still transformed. So what was the point of rejecting her? A waste of breath? The system didn¡¯t have a gender. During his tribulation in his past life, when she manifested, she had taken on the form of the Ancient Heavenly Venerable. That was only because the system had borrowed the Temporal Dao of the Ancient Heavenly Venerable and couldn¡¯t be bothered to take on another form. ¡°You turned into a person... don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to find Sun Ruowei to play with her too?¡± Lu Ye asked. ¡°Ding¡ªof course! We¡¯re kindred spirits!¡± Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at the same time. If the system turned into a man, she might actually be able to wrap Sun Ruowei around her finger. ¡°For now, stay quiet. I need to cultivate. Don¡¯t start pulling any weird stunts.¡± ¡°Ding¡ªhmph!¡± Lu Ye took a deep breath, wiped his tears, and pressed down the bitterness in his heart. He wanted to cultivate, but his heart was already thrown into chaos once more. ¡°You turned into a human. Are you going to give yourself a name?¡± Lu Ye asked. ¡°Ding¡ªI already chose one.¡± ¡°You even know how to name yourself?¡± ¡°Ding¡ªthis system¡¯s intelligence is unparalleled. Naming myself is child¡¯s play. From now on, my name is Shen Xitong!¡± Lu Ye... ¡°That¡¯s awful. I think, as your master, I have the right to give you a better-sounding name.¡± ¡°Ding¡ªYou think it¡¯s awful? Then go ahead, give it a try.¡± Lu Ye pondered for a moment. ¡°Gou Xitong. How¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°Ding¡ªDog host! Dog host! DOG host!¡± ¡°Ding ding ding ding...¡± Cursing out the damn system, Lu Ye finally felt his thoughts clear. Time to cultivate! Northwest of the Great Wilderness. The great battle had already come to an end. The foreign coalition army truly lived up to its reputation for ferocity¡ªwiping out Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty, the Supreme Empire, and the Mountain River Pagoda Sect all in one breath. The Yin-Yang Dharma Sect was trembling uncontrollably. If not for the fact that they weren¡¯t located in the northwest, they likely would have already been destroyed as well. ¡°What did you say?¡± The Heavenly Demon Emperor¡¯s eyes, like copper bells, locked onto Elder Danqing. Behind him, the black flag flapped wildly. Lately, that black flag had grown even more terrifying¡ªso many souls now drifted in and out of the black mist, each one writhing in pain, their faces twisted. Originally, most of the souls had been demons. Now, more and more humans had been added to the mix. ¡°Our Mountain River Pagoda Sect truly has no innate spirit treasures left,¡± said Elder Danqing bitterly. It could only be said¡ªat this moment, the Mountain River Pagoda Sect was at the poorest point since its founding. Even the Mountain River Pagoda, an innate spirit treasure with little actual function but famed for its beauty, was gone. What could possibly remain? Boom! The Heavenly Demon Emperor struck instantly, slamming a palm down viciously on Elder Danqing¡¯s body. The elder coughed up blood and was sent flying. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance,¡± the Demon Emperor growled through gritted teeth. ¡°Now¡ªanswer me. Where are the spirit treasures of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect?¡± They¡¯d already surrendered, yet still tried to take him for a fool? Who the hell gave this bastard that kind of nerve? Elder Danqing did not get angry. He only felt... a little pathetic. In the end, he had gambled and lost. He had originally planned to kill Shangguan Huanling and then self-detonate¡ªat least he would¡¯ve gone out with some backbone. But Shangguan Huanling had escaped. And now, even the courage to self-destruct had slipped away. Pitiful. Pathetic. ¡°She deceived me,¡± Elder Danqing said calmly. The Heavenly Demon Emperor¡¯s expression grew even more twisted. ¡°She deceived you? All of it?¡± ¡°All of it. Not just the spirit treasures of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect, but also those of the Supreme Empire. All were taken by one person.¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to get into my Ten Thousand Souls Banner, aren¡¯t you?¡± Another punch from the Demon Emperor sent Elder Danqing flying again, blood spewing from his mouth. His aura had grown feeble. Elder Danqing gave a resigned smile. Perhaps entering the Ten Thousand Souls Banner wasn¡¯t such a bad end. He truly didn¡¯t know what face he would have left to meet the ancestors of the sect if he were to walk the road of reincarnation. But entering the Ten Thousand Souls Banner? At least that meant he wouldn¡¯t reincarnate. He¡¯d no longer need to face such torment. Despite his outward rage, the Heavenly Demon Emperor was a man of both brute strength and cunning. He had been carefully observing Elder Danqing all along. It seemed... this old bastard hadn¡¯t been lying. But how could that be? You¡¯re still the Sect Master of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect, no matter what. Even if nothing else, you should still have a brain. And yet you¡¯re telling me that one person managed to con away all the spirit treasures¡ªincluding innate spirit treasures? Come on¡ªwho has such high-level scamming skills? ¡°Speak. What exactly happened?¡± The Demon Emperor¡¯s savage expression calmed, his eyes narrowing into slits, sending a chill down anyone¡¯s spine. A glint passed through Elder Danqing¡¯s eyes. Fine¡ªif you want me to talk, then I¡¯ll talk. Anyway, judging from that escape technique Shangguan Huanling used, he would never be able to catch her himself. Let someone else do it. As long as she ended up miserable, then that counted as revenge. ¡°It¡¯s like this. Shangguan Hongtian had a daughter, named Shangguan Huanling. She claimed to be the reincarnation of a Great Emperor.¡± ¡°She demonstrated a terrifying cultivation technique¡ªone that allowed her to devour the origin essence of treasures to rapidly increase her strength. It was called the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture. She had a secret method that could let her jump an entire major realm in power instantly.¡± ¡°She knew everything¡ªwhether it was the hidden events of the past or what was to come in the future. She knew it all. So, when we reached utter desperation, we believed her.¡± Yes, the claim about knowing past and future was something Elder Danqing had fabricated¡ªjust to make himself seem not entirely stupid, and to boost the credibility of Shangguan Huanling¡¯s claims. He laid out the events in full detail¡ªeight parts truth, one part lie. A strange look surfaced in the Demon Emperor¡¯s eyes. Reincarnated Great Emperor? He would go ask Shangguan Hongtian personally. At this moment, Shangguan Hongtian was staring blankly, imprisoned inside the Heavenly Prison. He had never imagined that the day would come when the Supreme Empire¡¯s own Heavenly Prison would confine... him. ¡°Your daughter is a reincarnated Great Emperor?¡± the Demon Emperor asked. Shangguan Hongtian¡¯s head snapped up. But he didn¡¯t say a word. He simply lowered his head again. ¡°Hahaha¡ªhow pitiful. Scammed so badly by your own daughter. Truly pathetic.¡± Shangguan Hongtian¡¯s fists clenched tightly. Veins bulged. ¡°As her father, you should know her better than anyone. So tell me¡ªdo you really think your daughter is a reincarnated Great Emperor? Is it true or false?¡± Shangguan Hongtian finally made his decision. ¡°You want to know?¡± The Demon Emperor grabbed Shangguan Hongtian by the throat and lifted him off the ground. ¡°You still think you¡¯re the Supreme ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã Emperor of the Supreme Empire?¡± ¡°Be honest with me!¡± A torrent of killing intent enveloped Shangguan Hongtian entirely. Never in his life had Shangguan Hongtian been humiliated so thoroughly. Shangguan Huanling! Shangguan Huanling!! It¡¯s all your goddamn fault! ¡°I can confirm Shangguan Huanling¡¯s location... through the Supreme Empire Seal!¡± Chapter 113: The Seriousness of the Matter The Supreme Empire Seal had already been devoured by Shangguan Huanling. That was an innate spirit treasure. But the Supreme Empire Seal was also a bloodline technique of the imperial clan. It was branded into the bloodline of the royal family. Anyone who killed a member of the imperial bloodline would have the Supreme Empire Seal fall upon them. Though there had been exceptions. For instance, both of his sons had died in the Ancient Battlefield of Heaven¡¯s Chosen, yet the seal hadn¡¯t transferred to anyone else. The Heavenly Demon Emperor laughed. Reincarnated Great Emperor¡ªwhether true or not, he wanted to see it for himself. If it turned out to be real, it might bring him unimaginable benefit. ¡°Where is she?¡± Shangguan Hongtian began to sense. A moment later, he opened his eyes. ¡°Dao Domain Sect!¡± The Heavenly Demon Emperor also murmured aloud, ¡°Dao Domain Sect...¡± The next target of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor just so happened to be the Dao Domain Sect. It was one of their disciples¡ªLu Ye, ranked number one on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking¡ªwho had slaughtered nearly all of the demon race¡¯s chosen elites. Lu Ye had already become the gravest threat in the heart of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. In fact, the Heavenly Demon Emperor and the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor had initially disagreed about their next move. The Demon Emperor had wanted to attack the Central State Dynasty. In terms of human population, the Central State was the densest region of the human race. If that region were conquered... he didn¡¯t even dare to imagine how thrilling his Ten Thousand Souls Banner would feel. But now that Shangguan Huanling, who might be a reincarnated Great Emperor, was in the Dao Domain Sect¡ªhe no longer insisted on going after the Central State. As for the reincarnated emperor issue, there was no need to tell the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. After a moment of thought¡ª The Heavenly Demon Emperor left the Heavenly Prison. He took out his transmission stone. ¡°Wanling, we can attack the Dao Domain Sect now. I agree.¡± ¡°Hahahaha! You¡¯ve finally come around! Then gather the army¡ªwe¡¯ll wipe the Dao Domain Sect clean!¡± Vermilion Bird, upon hearing this, spread her wings and flew straight toward Dao Domain Sect. ... Dao Domain Sect, White Orchid Peak. Yue Hongling charged at full speed, slamming her way into Bai Qiulan¡¯s Dao Courtyard. Inside the courtyard, Shangguan Huanling was carefully examining her current cultivation state. She could no longer walk the path of the Invincible Dao. Fortunately, she hadn¡¯t yet broken through to the Tribulation Crossing stage. She was checking to see if there was another way¡ªsome method to change her Dao path. Sun Ruowei was currently checking Bai Qiulan¡¯s pulse, conducting a deep assessment of her condition. ¡°Master! Senior Brother brought over another woman again¡ªand it¡¯s someone none of us even knows!¡± Yue Hongling shouted loudly, her eyes full of urgency and sorrow. Bai Qiulan¡¯s arm jolted violently. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes flew open in an instant. Sun Ruowei quietly slipped away, making no sound at all, hiding behind a nearby tree. Go ahead. Go ahead. Pretend I don¡¯t exist. Pretend I hear nothing. ¡°Not only did he bring another woman, he even told her about our past life¡ª¡± ¡°Hongling!¡± Bai Qiulan shouted sternly. Sun Ruowei¡¯s ears were standing up straighter than antennae. Yue Hongling stopped mid-sentence. Bai Qiulan immediately charged toward Sun Ruowei. ¡°Bai Qiulan! If you throw me out again, I swear I¡¯ll fight you to the death!¡± Sun Ruowei screamed with all her might. But she still wasn¡¯t a match for Bai Qiulan¡ªshe was caught and thrown out again on the spot. ¡°Ahhh! Bai Qiulan! You and I are enemies for life! From this day forward, our friendship is dead!¡± ¡°Bai Qiulan, I¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m begging you! Let me listen! Just let me listen! I promise I won¡¯t tell a single other person! I¡¯m begging you, let me hear it! Just once!¡± With a wave of Bai Qiulan¡¯s hand, Sun Ruowei was instantly frozen. Of course, not frozen into an ice sculpture like Elder Lijian¡ªjust sealed in place. Then, the barrier activated. Sun Ruowei blinked, her pupils darting around. A single tear slipped down her cheek and was quickly frozen into crystal. Bai Qiulan, I hate you... The barrier sealed shut. The first thing Bai Qiulan did was look at Yue Hongling. ¡°What happened? What ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) exactly happened?¡± She was panicked¡ªso panicked she didn¡¯t even realize it herself. ¡°Master, Senior Brother found a new woman. He doesn¡¯t want us anymore. He completely doesn¡¯t want us anymore.¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s face turned deathly pale. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s heart leapt into her throat. Huh? No¡ªwait! With Lu Ye¡¯s flirtatious personality, wasn¡¯t it completely normal for him to pick up another woman? It wasn¡¯t anything worth making a fuss over. Yue Hongling was just always loud and overreacting, making a big deal out of nothing. ¡°You¡¯re being dramatic. Lu Ye¡¯s a born womanizer. It¡¯d be weird if he didn¡¯t find someone new while we¡¯re out of the picture. Yue Hongling, haven¡¯t you gotten used to that by now? Calm down,¡± Shangguan Huanling said. The other two ignored her completely. ¡°What exactly happened? Speak in more detail!¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s tone grew heavier with seriousness. ¡°Earlier today, I heard that Senior Brother had returned, so I went to find him. At first, when I knocked on his door, there was no response. I didn¡¯t notice anything strange and was about to leave, but then the door opened!¡± ¡°The one who opened the door was a woman¡ªa very beautiful woman. Even in my past life, I had never seen anyone so beautiful. I was utterly stunned by her.¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s expression grew even more grim. ¡°But Master, do you know what the first thing she said to me was?¡± Recalling those words, Yue Hongling burst into tears in front of Bai Qiulan. ¡°What did she say?¡± Bai Qiulan could tell Yue Hongling must¡¯ve suffered a massive emotional blow. ¡°She said her name was Shen Xitong. Then she asked if I was Yue Hongling¡ªone of Lu Ye¡¯s eight ex-wives!!!¡± ¡°Master, Senior Brother told her everything about our past life! She knows it all! Senior Brother actually trusts her¡ªto that extent!¡± Yue Hongling sobbed as she spoke. Bai Qiulan¡¯s face changed drastically, her expression turning even paler. She could feel her heart pounding uncontrollably, a twisting pain like being torn open radiating from her chest, making it hard to even breathe. How could this be... Impossible! Absolutely impossible! She knew exactly what kind of man Lu Ye was. A man who valued emotions above all¡ªwho had been betrayed by eight women at once. There was a ninety percent chance he would never believe in love again. How could he possibly find a new woman in such a short time¡ªand even tell her about their past life? Time reversal. That was a matter of monumental importance. Not just something that concerned their personal cultivation¡ªit was tied to the fate of heaven and earth, to the trajectory of the future. So many terrifying wars¡ªwhere had they started, and why? So many hidden trump cards, buried ultimate techniques. So many precious treasures¡ªtheir locations and how to obtain them. Too much. Far too much. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I told people I¡¯m a reincarnated Great Emperor too. Yue Hongling, your crying is so ugly. This is totally not worth it,¡± Shangguan Huanling said carelessly. ¡°Shut up!¡± Bai Qiulan couldn¡¯t help but snap at her. Shangguan Huanling hadn¡¯t been shocked by any of the information until now¡ªbut the moment Bai Qiulan raised her voice at her, she was completely stunned. Bai Qiulan... had always acted like a big sister, even like an elder. Gentle, wise, elegant, dignified. But now, she was scolding her so sternly! Telling her to shut up? In that moment, Shangguan Huanling finally began to grasp the seriousness of the situation¡ªhowever faintly. Chapter 114: That’s OK Bai Qiulan¡¯s chest heaved violently. After scolding Shangguan Huanling, she turned back to look at Yue Hongling, not even giving herself time to calm her own emotions. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then she said, if Senior Brother forgives us, it means he doesn¡¯t love us. Only if he doesn¡¯t forgive us, does it mean he still loves us.¡± ¡°She made me choose¡ªbetween being forgiven and unloved, or being loved but never forgiven.¡± Forgiveness meant letting go¡ªletting go of a past love. As long as love remained, the pain of being betrayed by the one you loved most would never disappear. Which one to choose? Bai Qiulan thought that, without question, she would choose the first. As long as she was forgiven, that undeserved love¡ªlet it be thrown away. But when she was really faced with the choice, she found herself in torment, unable to decide. Neither of the two seemed like the answer she truly wanted. ¡°I was so furious at the time, so I attacked that woman¡ªbut do you know what she did?¡± Just mentioning it, Yue Hongling¡¯s rage surged uncontrollably, shooting up like fire from the crown of her head. If she weren¡¯t a cultivator, if she were an ordinary person, her heart might have stopped right there from sheer fury. ¡°What did she do?¡± Shangguan Huanling asked in a small voice. ¡°I attacked her¡ªmy attack was clearly on target, but it was like hitting a pillow. She completely neutralized it, and then¡ªthen she had the shameless audacity to pretend she got blown away, and threw herself straight into Senior Brother¡¯s arms!¡± ¡°Ahhhh!!! I¡¯m going to die of anger!!!¡± Just thinking about it again pushed Yue Hongling¡¯s fury to another level. Her nose even started bleeding. For a cultivator, that was practically impossible¡ªbut it was happening to Yue Hongling right now. Shangguan Huanling couldn¡¯t help clicking her tongue. That mad? Maybe this really was serious. ¡°And¡ªand¡ªSenior Brother saw me knock her back. She hadn¡¯t even said anything yet, but he actually used Heavenly Venerable Fist on me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s Heavenly Venerable Fist! Do you understand?!¡± ¡°And the worst part¡ªthe worst¡ªwas that woman, that woman even begged for me! Said it was all her fault, said ¡®Brother, don¡¯t blame her, don¡¯t kill her¡¯¡ªahhhh, she¡¯s going to tea me to death, tea me to death!!¡± Yue Hongling¡¯s voice was filled with overwhelming grief and indignation. Bai Qiulan¡¯s chest was rising and falling even harder. She hadn¡¯t been there, but just hearing Yue Hongling describe it made a storm of fury erupt in her heart. ¡°Master, tell me¡ªhow could she be that green tea?! Why would Senior Brother fall for such a green tea woman?!¡± Even Shangguan Huanling fell silent. She actually wasn¡¯t that stupid. She remembered something her imperial consort mother once told her. So she repeated it now. ¡°Sometimes, what women see as green tea... men just see as a gentle, thoughtful little sister...¡± ¡°Can you shut up? I¡¯m begging you¡ªplease shut up! Stop making me angrier!¡± Yue Hongling pleaded. Shangguan Huanling... If it were any other time, with Yue Hongling begging her like that, she¡¯d be wagging her tail in pride. But now... she actually felt a shared ache in her heart. Bai Qiulan took a deep breath, doing her best to suppress the flames of fury in her chest. She even summoned the power of Taiyin to help calm her emotions. ¡°Hongling, don¡¯t be angry anymore. Maybe... maybe she¡¯s doing it on purpose to provoke you,¡± Bai Qiulan tried to comfort her. Yue Hongling was miserable. ¡°Master, I know she¡¯s provoking me on purpose¡ªbut I just can¡¯t control myself. Among us eight, there are dumb ones, stubborn ones, but none of us has ever been that green tea! How can someone be that much of a green tea?!¡± ¡°Calm yourself for now. I¡¯ll go talk to Lu Ye.¡± ¡°No, Master, you can¡¯t go. You¡¯ll be infuriated to death.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t.¡± Truthfully, Bai Qiulan herself wasn¡¯t confident at all¡ªbut she had no choice but to go. Because she, too, wanted to see for herself what kind of woman could appear at Lu Ye¡¯s side at a time like this. Just how stunning and extraordinary must she be? What right did she have to replace them? ¡°No. Shangguan Huanling, you go!¡± Because the two didn¡¯t get along, they usually called each other by name. Shangguan Huanling never called Yue Hongling anything but her name, and Yue Hongling did the same. ¡°Lu Ye-gege will kill me,¡± Shangguan Huanling immediately shook her head. Last time at the Ancient Battlefield of Heaven¡¯s Chosen, the moment Lu Ye saw her, he struck to kill. It was only because she ran fast enough that she got away. And now they wanted her to face Lu Ye again? She didn¡¯t dare! ¡°What are you scared of? In the Dao Domain Sect, Lu Ye won¡¯t kill # N§àv§Ölight # anyone,¡± Yue Hongling said angrily. Shangguan Huanling hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that...¡± ¡°Think about it yourself. You¡¯re still in the Path-Merging Realm. You¡¯ve fused with only a sliver of the Invincible Dao. At this rate, your future is ruined¡ªnot to mention returning to the Great Emperor realm, you might not even survive your Tribulation Crossing.¡± ¡°Senior Brother has a deep understanding of the Dao. In your past life, you failed to change your Dao because your cultivation was too high. Now that you¡¯re only at the Path-Merging level, it¡¯s the perfect time to change!¡± Yue Hongling couldn¡¯t bear the thought of letting Master take the risk¡ªso she shoved it onto this idiot Shangguan Huanling instead. Shangguan Huanling was indeed a little tempted. Yeah... if Lu Ye were willing to help her, maybe she really could re-condense her Dao¡ªa stronger Dao at that. Mm... as of now, the Invincible Dao was no longer the strongest in Shangguan Huanling¡¯s mind. The Dao wasn¡¯t about what fit her or didn¡¯t. It was just that when she was merging with her Dao, whichever one looked more badass¡ªthat¡¯s the one she picked. ¡°Forget it. Worst case, I¡¯ll just use Demonic Blood Shadow Escape. If things go south, I¡¯ll run for it!¡± ¡°Exactly. You can escape if you have to.¡± Yue Hongling nodded. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯m going!¡± ¡°Go, go!¡± Bai Qiulan looked like she wanted to say something¡ªbut in the end, nothing came out. Shangguan Huanling left. Yue Hongling could no longer hold herself up. She threw herself into Bai Qiulan¡¯s arms, burying her head in her chest, and began sobbing. ¡°Wuuu... Master... Senior Brother might really not want us anymore... wuuu...¡± Bai Qiulan stared blankly into the distance. She didn¡¯t even know what she was supposed to think anymore. ... Shangguan Huanling arrived at Lu Ye¡¯s residence. She was no stranger to this place¡ªshe¡¯d even lived here for a while. Back then, in this very courtyard, Chu Ling practiced swordsmanship, Yue Hongling practiced her turtle-punches, and a little red bird perched on a branch spitting fire for fun. Scene after scene from the past flashed through Shangguan Huanling¡¯s mind. And now? This courtyard was empty and desolate. Weeds had begun to grow everywhere. It looked like it hadn¡¯t been cleaned in a long time. Well, that made sense. Chu Ling wasn¡¯t around anymore. Who would clean the place? Yue Hongling? Please. That courtyard could turn into a prairie and she wouldn¡¯t pull out a single blade of grass. Shangguan Huanling stayed alert, ready to activate her Demonic Blood Shadow Escape at any moment. She stepped forward and knocked on Lu Ye¡¯s door. Lu Ye was still cultivating. Above his head, the silhouette of Shen Xitong appeared¡ªbut only as a faint mist, not a solid form. Shen Xitong glanced over curiously. Come, come¡ªlet me see who¡¯s here now. Come fight me!!! Shangguan Huanling? Oh... never mind then. Chapter 115: Just be a master Yes, never mind. Shen Xitong returned once more into Lu Ye¡¯s body, becoming a prim and proper system again. As for Shangguan Huanling... the system honestly didn¡¯t want to deal with her at all. She was worried that thing would drag down her intelligence. It had taken a lot of effort to become this sharp¡ªthere was no way she¡¯d go back to being dumb. Shangguan Huanling knocked on the door. Knocked. Knocked again. ... Uh... seems like he¡¯s not home. She breathed a sigh of relief. Good. If he¡¯s not home, then she could leave. Shangguan Huanling turned around and left. ¡°What were you talking about in there?¡± Sun Ruowei had secretly tailed her the entire way, only to see Shangguan Huanling knocking on Lu Ye¡¯s door¡ªonly to get no response. She¡¯d thought she¡¯d get a massive piece of gossip, but ended up with absolutely nothing. Still, she couldn¡¯t hold it in and popped her head out, cutting Shangguan Huanling off to ask. ¡°Yue Hongling said Lu Ye brought home a really, really beautiful woman. She sent me to check out what she looked like.¡± ¡°Yue Hongling likes Lu Ye? Doesn¡¯t Bai Qiulan like him too? Do you like Lu Ye? Why do all of you like Lu Ye? What exactly is Lu Ye¡¯s deal?¡± She fired off a barrage of questions. It was clear¡ªSun Ruowei was just too damn thirsty. ¡°That¡¯s right... we all used to like Lu Ye...¡± Shangguan Huanling admitted. Bai Qiulan stepped out, her expression dark. She gave Sun Ruowei a helpless look. ¡°Eat less gossip. You¡¯ll live a much happier life.¡± Sun Ruowei gritted her teeth. ¡°If I don¡¯t gossip, I¡¯ll die!¡± Bai Qiulan... She pulled Shangguan Huanling into the barrier. Sun Ruowei scratched her head, pacing back and forth. So ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) annoying!!! ¡°How was it? Did you see that woman?¡± Bai Qiulan asked eagerly. ¡°Nope!¡± ¡°No one answered the door?¡± Shangguan Huanling still wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°Maybe he wasn¡¯t home...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go check!¡± Bai Qiulan could no longer hold herself back and marched toward Lu Ye¡¯s residence. The moment Sun Ruowei moved, a layer of frost instantly froze her in place. In her heart, Sun Ruowei roared with fury: Bai Qiulan, if I don¡¯t get my revenge for this, I, Sun Ruowei, swear¡ªI! Am! Not! Human! Once I know everything¡ªif I don¡¯t mock you to death, I¡¯m not Sun! Ruo! Wei! Bai Qiulan arrived at the door. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knocked. The door opened. A face of stunning beauty appeared before her. Even though Yue Hongling had already described Shen Xitong¡¯s looks as out-of-this-world, even with all her mental preparation, the moment Bai Qiulan saw her in person, she was struck by a shockingly indescribable sense of awe. Could someone this perfect really exist in the world? Shen Xitong looked Bai Qiulan up and down, her gaze lingering purposefully on Bai Qiulan¡¯s chest, a thoughtful glint flashing through her eyes. ¡°Greetings, Master. This disciple is Shen Xitong.¡± Shen Xitong bowed lightly, performing the proper student¡¯s salute. Bai Qiulan¡¯s brow furrowed. She sidestepped instantly, refusing to accept the gesture. ¡°I am not your master, and you are not my disciple. There¡¯s no need to bow like that,¡± Bai Qiulan said seriously. Shen Xitong gave a soft smile. ¡°Master jests. Now that this disciple is with Brother, and the two of us are mutually in love, I will naturally become his Dao companion in the future. As the saying goes¡ªmarry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Since you are Brother¡¯s master, then of course you are also Shen Xitong¡¯s master. You fully deserve this bow.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not Lu Ye¡¯s Dao companion!¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s face was stern. Shen Xitong¡¯s expression turned slightly strange. ¡°Master, why do I not understand your words? Under the heavens, there are countless masters and disciples, yet I¡¯ve never heard of a master interfering in their disciple¡¯s search for a Dao companion.¡± ¡°Could it be that Master doesn¡¯t realize¡ªyour possessiveness over your own disciple is a bit too much?¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s brow arched slightly, her voice already tinged with anger. ¡°As the saying goes¡ª¡®Once a master, a lifetime father.¡¯ As his master, why shouldn¡¯t I have a say in who my disciple chooses as a Dao companion?¡± ¡°Master is right. Xitong will take the teaching to heart. Oh, and before long, I¡¯ll be forming a Dao companion bond with Brother. I¡¯ll have to trouble Master to act as the official witness for our ceremony.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t understand what I said? I said, you are not Lu Ye¡¯s Dao companion!¡± ¡°Master, Brother and I are deeply in love.¡± ¡°I said I don¡¯t agree!¡± Shen Xitong blinked innocently. ¡°If Master doesn¡¯t agree, then at the very least, you must say why. Please don¡¯t worry, if there is something Xitong has done wrong, I¡¯ll correct it.¡± Why? Bai Qiulan looked Shen Xitong up and down, searching for a flaw. But the more she looked, the more stunned she became. A flaw? Where? Why would such a perfect woman even exist in this world? ¡°What is your background?¡± Bai Qiulan asked. ¡°Disciple is the daughter of the Sect Master of Xuandao Sect¡ªmy background is clean.¡± Xuandao Sect? It was indeed a reputable sect¡ªjust below the five great sects, a top-tier force in the Great Wilderness. She had heard of it in passing: that the sect master of Xuandao had a daughter, precious as a pearl, whom he doted on fiercely and kept hidden away, afraid she¡¯d get snatched up by some random street rogue or itinerant cultivator. Background: clean. ¡°What is your cultivation?¡± Bai Qiulan asked. ¡°To answer Master¡ªdisciple has just entered the Path-Merging Realm. I can¡¯t compare to Master, who has reached the seventh stage of Path-Merging.¡± ¡°But Brother Lu Ye has also just entered Path-Merging. Our realms are quite close.¡± Bai Qiulan examined her aura carefully. Sure enough, she could sense the energy of the Path-Merging Realm radiating from Shen Xitong. A clean background. A matching cultivation. Where could she even pick a fight? ¡°Master, for me to become Dao companion to your disciple is a match made in heaven. If Master still insists on objecting... could there perhaps be other reasons?¡± Shen Xitong asked. Bai Qiulan gritted her teeth, expression blank. ¡°A disciple finding a good match¡ªshouldn¡¯t a master be happy for them? Not try to obstruct them,¡± Shen Xitong said. ¡°Master is Master, disciple is disciple. The disciple respects the Master, the Master protects the disciple. This is the principle of the master-disciple bond. If Master cannot name a single fault in Xitong, then I must trouble Master... to give us your blessing.¡± Blessing... ¡°The rites between master and disciple must not be forgotten. I ask that Master remember what it means to be a Master¡ªand only a Master!¡± Bai Qiulan took a step back. That sentence... it was like a hammer slamming into her chest. Only a Master. Yes¡ªYue Hongling could still stand before this woman as a romantic rival, could fight her as an equal. But what was she, Bai Qiulan, standing here now? All she had left... was the identity of a Master. Gone was the title she had in the previous life¡ªthe first wife. Gone was her right to question who Lu Ye took as a Dao companion. To be a Master. Only a Master. Wasn¡¯t this exactly what she had once dreamed of? And yet now, with Shen Xitong emphasizing the title ¡°Master,¡± it was like she had been welded permanently into that position. You want to be Master? Then be Master¡ªhave your fill of it! But beyond being Master¡ªdon¡¯t even dream of anything else. Shen Xitong, facing Bai Qiulan, didn¡¯t use the full-on aggression she used when dealing with Yue Hongling. She was cutting her off from Lu Ye with the rules of the master-disciple relationship itself¡ªcutting like a dull blade across the flesh, bleeding her out piece by piece. Ding! Ding! Ding! The Grand Dao Bell rang at that moment. ¡°Foreign coalition forces have invaded! All Dao Domain Sect cultivators¡ªprepare for battle!¡± Lu Ye opened his eyes at that moment. His gaze was steeped in sorrow. It¡¯s finally here. Chapter 116: Host Idiot Lu Ye glanced at the dazed and shattered Bai Qiulan, then turned to look at Shen Xitong, whose face was filled with respectful sincerity. "Go play by yourself. I¡¯m going to kill." His figure vanished without another word. "No, husband leads and wife follows¡ªI¡¯m coming with you." In the next instant, Shen Xitong transformed into a streak of flowing light and shot directly into Lu Ye¡¯s body. Only Bai Qiulan was left standing there, alone. Right. Of course. She was Lu Ye¡¯s master. All she needed to do was fulfill the responsibilities of a teacher, to hold the position of an elder. Beyond that, she had no right to interfere. This Shen Xitong, who¡¯d appeared from who-knows-where, treated her with the courtesy due a master. She had done absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, she was respectful and properly behaved. Bai Qiulan should be relieved¡ªrelieved that Lu Ye had found a Dao partner like Shen Xitong. Not someone like that traitorous disciple Yue Hongling, who always tried to drag her down into the muck. So then, why did it hurt so much? Hadn¡¯t everything returned to the proper order? ...... Bai Qiulan walked away, absent-minded and broken. Perhaps even she didn¡¯t want to admit it. She had wanted to crush Lu Ye beneath the mountain of moral order and ritual ethics. She wanted him to feel guilty. Because, as the saying goes, the essence of love is constant guilt. But true love¡ªtrue love is when both people try everything they can to ensure the other doesn¡¯t feel guilty. And now, Shen Xitong had taken that same crushing mountain of moral obligation¡ªand slammed it down on her head. Weren¡¯t you the one who didn¡¯t want Lu Ye to have improper thoughts about you? What a joke. From the moment all of you betrayed him, if Lu Ye still had improper thoughts about you, wouldn¡¯t that make him just some pathetic cuck? Lu Ye could accept a woman¡¯s selfishness, her obsession, her temper... because he lacked love. He didn¡¯t know, he didn¡¯t understand¡ªthat love was something that made both people feel unimaginably happy. Love wasn¡¯t just about tolerating each other. Right now, Lu Ye had not a single improper thought toward his master. And he hoped that his master would stop having improper thoughts about him. Moral order stands above all. Heaven and Earth¡¯s Great Dao stands above all! Suddenly, Bai Qiulan coughed up a mouthful of blood, which instantly turned to frost upon hitting the air. The Chaotic Yin ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) Poison had erupted once again. ...... Lu Ye arrived at Daodao Peak. Inside weren¡¯t just cultivators of the Daodao Sect¡ªthere were also people from the Supreme Sword Sect, the Central Continent Imperial Dynasty, and even the Tribulation Sect. The Yin-Yang Dharma Sect, however, had ultimately not sent anyone. Their enmity with the Daodao Sect ran deep. Without the Myriad Ages Sect taking the lead, it would have been humiliating for them to just show up. But if the Myriad Ages Sect had taken the lead? Then there¡¯d be nothing left to say. All the great sects of the human race joining forces to resist the alien coalition army¡ªthat would become a legend passed down for thousands upon thousands of years. But without the Myriad Ages Sect¡¯s initiative? Hmph. The Daodao Sect¡¯s strength is nothing special¡ªwhat gives you the right to lead? Lu Ye appeared. ¡°Lu Ye! Quickly¡ªdo you know the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast?¡± asked Liu Changfeng. The Vermilion Bird? There it was. Everyone knew the Vermilion Bird was a divine beast. Everyone except the Vermilion Bird herself¡ªwho insisted she was a member of the demon race and even gave herself the title ¡®Vermilion Bird Demon Emperor.¡¯ ¡°She¡¯s here?¡± Lu Ye didn¡¯t answer whether he knew her or not. He first wanted to see what the Vermilion Bird had come for. ¡°Well, not exactly. She hasn¡¯t entered the Daodao Sect¡ªshe¡¯s lingering around its perimeter. She told us she knows you, and brought news: the alien coalition army has already set out from the Supreme Empire and is rapidly approaching the Daodao Sect.¡± ¡°That information is likely seventy percent accurate. Prepare for battle!¡± "I''ll go out and take a look at that Vermilion Bird first." "I¡¯ll send two Patriarchs to accompany you!" "No need. A weak little Vermilion Bird poses no threat to me." Why was Lu Ye going to see the Vermilion Bird? On one hand, he remembered that during the last encounter at the Ancient Battlefield of Heaven¡¯s Chosen, he had sensed a trace of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s aura on the Vermilion Bird. Although it had been faint, in his previous life Lu Ye had killed far too many beings parasitized by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. Even when his body was driven purely by slaughter, he had still noticed it. Could the Vermilion Bird have been parasitized by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor? On the other hand¡ª "Ding ding ding! Take me to see the Vermilion Bird! Hurry, take me to her!" "Ding! I want to fight her!" "Ding! Host, host, host¡ªgood host, handsome host..." Yeah. That¡¯s what the situation was now. This damn system had just taken on human form and was currently at her most absurdly overpowered state. She wanted to unleash her ultimate attack on the Vermilion Bird! Truth be told, the system was the only being who had truly witnessed everything from Lu Ye¡¯s past life. Everything Lu Ye had done, every thought he¡¯d ever had¡ªshe knew it all. It was just that back then, she was still a dumb system. Later, after merging with the Heavenly Dao, she lost all emotion and couldn¡¯t offer him any advice. In the system¡¯s eyes, her host was a total idiot¡ªcaring for people with all his heart, unable to bear watching others suffer even the slightest pain? Take that Chu Ling situation. Her Sword Manor was destroyed by Master Li Jian. Sure, Lu Ye wasn¡¯t strong enough to beat Li Jian, but he could have stood at a distance, pointed at the remains of the Chu Sword Manor, and told her plainly: that guy Chu Cangsheng wants to use you to forge a sword, that young master Chu Shifei who was being refined into a sword wanted to possess you, and even your adoptive parents wanted you to take their son¡¯s place as sword fodder. Your real parents were killed by that whole twisted family. Just say it! Who cares whether Chu Ling¡¯s love was real or fake? Seriously! And then there was that Yue Hongling. She liked Feng Wuxie? Fine¡ªlet her go to Silent Forest. Then, right when she was about to die, you show up and play the hero. She finds out the truth, you get the beauty in your arms. What¡¯s the problem? So what if Yue Hongling dies? She brought it on herself. You tried to persuade her, you tried to stop her¡ªif she still dies, that¡¯s her fault. Chances are, she¡¯d even thank you with her last breath. What the host sucked at most... was respecting others¡¯ fate! Let go of that savior complex already! But still¡ªthat¡¯s what made him the real host. Throwing his whole heart into a love that had already gone wrong. Foolish, but admirable. Of course, Lu Ye had no idea the system was thinking all that. He genuinely just wanted to go see whether the Vermilion Bird had been parasitized. Crap. Maybe he had been influenced by the damn system. What business of his was it if the Vermilion Bird had been parasitized or not? Whether she had or hadn¡¯t¡ªwhat did it matter? ¡°Ding! Super ultra best host of all time!¡± Lu Ye: ... ¡°Be careful. If there¡¯s any danger, return to the sect immediately.¡± "Understood." Lu Ye¡¯s figure disappeared. The sect¡¯s protective formation opened a crack, and he slipped through. His divine sense surged outward, blanketing the land in all directions. Soon, he locked onto the Vermilion Bird¡¯s presence. ¡°Ding! Let me handle this!¡± Lu Ye had been cultivating earlier and hadn¡¯t paid attention to how the system had been ¡®dealing with¡¯ these women. Now, upon sensing the Vermilion Bird, he was certain¡ªshe had indeed been parasitized. While not fully overtaken, the aura of parasitism was already present. Brilliant five-colored light bloomed. The system had transformed into Shen Xitong and flew straight toward the Vermilion Bird. Her clothing quickly turned ragged, blood appeared on her face, her expression grew haggard and sorrowful¡ªyet even then, her devastating beauty could not be hidden. She murmured under her breath, "Brother Lu Ye... Brother Lu Ye..." And shot straight toward the Vermilion Bird. Chapter 117: Sacrifice You Lu Ye: ??? What the hell kind of appearance was that, you damn system? What kind of bizarre stunt was she trying to pull this time? At that moment, the Vermilion Bird was pacing in indecision. Her mind was in complete chaos. Ever since the alien races had poured into the Great Wilderness, she¡¯d seen far, far too much cruelty through the borrowed eyes of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. Even though she was a demon¡ªor rather, raised among demons¡ªshe couldn¡¯t accept it. In truth, she wasn¡¯t even a demon. She was a divine beast. But with her bloodline sealed from birth, she¡¯d been raised by demons instead. Did Lu Ye have a method to strip off the parasite left by the Heavenly Demon? Most likely not. If he did, he wouldn¡¯t have had such a hard time fighting the parasitic Heavenly Demon back in the Seventh Heaven. But back then, ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) Lu Ye hadn¡¯t ascended to Emperor or Heavenly Lord yet. Now that he had, maybe he did have a way. What she was really pondering was: how should she face Lu Ye now? ¡°Brother Lu Ye... Brother Lu Ye...¡± The tearful voice floated into the Vermilion Bird¡¯s ears. The Vermilion Bird: ??? Lu Ye... Brother? Surely... not that Lu Ye? Then she saw a tattered, blood-scented woman flying in her direction. Nascent Soul realm? The Vermilion Bird made no move to hide her presence. She simply watched the woman approach. The moment she saw her face, a chill involuntarily shot through her heart. Because this woman was stunning. Even smeared with blood, even in such a miserable state, her beauty couldn¡¯t be hidden. If anything, the pain and helplessness added a heartbreaking fragility. A woman this beautiful, crying out ¡°Brother Lu Ye¡±¡ªthere was little doubt in the Vermilion Bird¡¯s mind. That had to be the Lu Ye. In her subconscious, it made perfect sense that a woman like this would know Lu Ye. ¡°Demon!¡± Shen Xitong, upon spotting the Vermilion Bird, first showed clear terror in her eyes. But then her gaze turned red, and she shouted with hatred. ¡°Demon spawn! Give me back my family¡¯s lives!¡± She charged at the Vermilion Bird. The Vermilion Bird, currently at the Spirit Refining realm, effortlessly subdued Shen Xitong¡¯s attack. ¡°Give them back! Give me back my family, you monster! My family, my village, my entire country¡ªyou demons slaughtered them all! How can you be so cruel?! Don¡¯t you monsters suffer retribution for what you¡¯ve done?!¡± The Vermilion Bird... Through the eyes of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor, she had indeed seen countless massacres. Now, one of the victims stood right in front of her. ¡°You know Lu Ye?¡± The Vermilion Bird asked. ¡°Of course I know Brother Lu Ye! I came all this way to find him¡ªso he can kill every last one of you demon scum. Wipe you out, down to the root!¡± The Vermilion Bird... ¡°Demons... there are good ones and bad ones. If you want revenge, why not go after the ones who actually killed your kin? Why insist on exterminating all demons? Vengeance should be aimed at the guilty.¡± ¡°And who exactly did my family wrong? Who owed us a debt? Why were we all slaughtered without reason by your kind?!¡± Shen Xitong¡¯s voice was sharp, filled with fury. The Vermilion Bird fell silent. ¡°Brother Lu Ye loves me deeply, and his power is unmatched. If he learns what happened to me, he¡¯ll definitely wipe out the demon race for me¡ªhe¡¯ll annihilate them, every last one of them!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to be merciful! Blood-debt vengeance is irreconcilable! You¡¯re a demon too, aren¡¯t you? Then you¡¯re just as guilty as the rest!¡± ¡°Just wait. So long as I¡¯m alive, I¡¯ll make sure Brother Lu Ye kills every demon alive. Not a single one will be left!¡± ¡°Exterminate them all!¡± Far off in the distance, Lu Ye watched the system¡¯s hoarse, furious shouting¡ªutterly stunned. What the hell? This damn system... actually knew how to act? What was the Vermilion Bird¡¯s weakness? It was that she was... good. Well, maybe not good, but a sanctimonious bleeding heart. Because in his previous life, Lu Ye had killed far too many¡ªwhat truly shook the Vermilion Bird for the first time was when he slaughtered the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor and tore through the entire demon race. The number of demons who died beneath the stone sword... Was simply too many. Back then, the seed of discontent had already been planted in the Vermilion Bird''s heart. She truly couldn¡¯t understand¡ªwhy had Lu Ye slaughtered so many living beings? Too many of those lives hadn¡¯t deserved to die. They were innocent. The more Lu Ye killed, the more dissatisfied she became. That dissatisfaction grew and grew, until in the end, she couldn¡¯t suppress it anymore¡ªshe chose to strike at Lu Ye. Never had she imagined that they would be granted another life. When she was reborn, she made a vow: she would cultivate diligently, and she would personally slay the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor to safeguard peace for the demon race. If humans and demons could coexist, then all the better. But she hadn¡¯t even had time to grow strong before the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor had already clashed with Lu Ye. Now, he had even launched the war early. The most brutal of battles had begun. In the previous life, the human race and the alien coalition had fought evenly for a long time¡ªneither side gaining the upper hand¡ªuntil Lu Ye¡¯s complete rise to power brought the final victory. But that human victory had come at the price of total annihilation for the other races. And in this life, the alien coalition had struck first and hard¡ªplunging deep into the heart of the human territories, wiping out three top-tier human factions in a single push, turning the human realm into a purgatory. "You can¡¯t go to Lu Ye!" The Vermilion Bird still didn¡¯t want things to spiral into total disaster. If this woman really was Lu Ye¡¯s new beloved¡ªgiven how tender he was toward women¡ªthen he definitely wouldn¡¯t hold back against demons anymore. He really would do as she said... kill them all. Wipe out the entire demon race. No! She absolutely couldn¡¯t allow that to happen. ¡°If you have the guts, then kill me! So long as you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make sure Brother Lu Ye kills every last one of you monsters!¡± Shen Xitong began to struggle violently. The Vermilion Bird flared her wings, reinforcing the seals binding Shen Xitong with her power. ¡°Hahaha! ¡®There are good demons and bad demons¡¯? With the way you¡¯re acting now¡ªare you a good one or a bad one?¡± Shen Xitong shrieked with a broken, mocking laugh. The Vermilion Bird froze for a moment. "I just don¡¯t want things to continue down a darker path." ¡°My situation... couldn¡¯t possibly get any darker!¡± The Vermilion Bird fell silent again. She wanted to say: you¡¯re just one person. But among demons and monsters, there were thousands¡ªmillions¡ªwho were good. "Let me go!" ¡°No. I can¡¯t let you go.¡± ¡°Why?!¡± ¡°Why won¡¯t you let me go?! What did I do wrong?!¡± The Vermilion Bird couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re all the same. Every last one of you!¡± ¡°No hope of revenge... Father! Mother! So many innocent people¡ªI¡¯ve failed you all!¡± ¡°Even in death, I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡± ¡°Never forgive you!¡± Shen Xitong¡¯s body began to swell¡ªenergy inside her spiraling out of control. The Vermilion Bird¡¯s face changed instantly. She was going to self-destruct? Now, two choices lay before her. First¡ªlet Shen Xitong go, and risk her going straight to Lu Ye. Second¡ªlet her self-destruct. If one person died... perhaps countless others could live. What to choose? The Vermilion Bird... Chose the second. Boom! Shen Xitong¡¯s self-destruction completed. Her body scattered into a sky full of glowing motes. The Vermilion Bird stared at the sight, her eyes filled with helplessness. A long, sorrowful sigh escaped her lips. Don¡¯t blame me. I did it... for the sake of letting more lives survive... Chapter 118: The War Begins ¡°Ding, confirmation complete!¡± The system¡¯s voice rang out inside Lu Ye¡¯s mind. He had watched the entire scene play out¡ªand couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft laugh. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be such a good actress.¡± ¡°Ding! This system is capable of anything!¡± ¡°What exactly were you confirming just now?¡± Lu Ye asked. ¡°Ding! I was confirming whether the Vermilion Bird is truly kind and compassionate, or just a sanctimonious hypocrite preaching self-righteousness on others¡¯ behalf. I can now confirm¡ªshe¡¯s the latter.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even make her suffer that much this time,¡± Lu Ye said with a smile. Just earlier, the system had played the role of a vengeful maiden, forcing the Vermilion Bird to make a choice¡ªsacrifice one to save many¡ªand let her explode herself. ¡°Ding! That¡¯s because this time, I didn¡¯t need to do anything!¡± The system sounded absolutely sure of itself. When it came to dealing with the Vermilion Bird, there was no need for further verbal strikes. What would happen next... would make everything clear for her. Whether her kindness was genuine or fake, she ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) would find her own answer soon enough. Lu Ye nodded. He¡¯d been thinking the same thing. Yes¡ªtrue virtue, or false virtue¡ªit would all be laid bare soon. After all... she¡¯d been parasitized by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. Lu Ye thought to himself: if he injected a strand of his obsession into the Demon Emperor¡¯s body... what would the Vermilion Bird do? He found himself starting to look forward to it. Lu Ye returned to the Daodao Sect. At the Hall of Inquiry. The moment he stepped inside, he received the report. Just as expected¡ªthe demon race, monster race, Buddhist sect, divine race, ghost cultivators, spirit race, and the alien coalition had all gathered together. Now, murderous intent surged as they barreled toward the Daodao Sect. They had already crossed five thousand li¡ªand at their current speed, they would reach the sect within half an hour. ¡°Still no response from the Myriad Ages Sect?¡± ¡°None!¡± Liu Changfeng, however, showed no signs of anger. ¡°If the Myriad Ages Sect no longer wishes to be the leader of the Great Wilderness, then after this battle¡ªsomeone else will take that title!¡± ¡°Pass down my command!¡± ¡°All cultivators¡ªtake your positions, fulfill your duties, and prepare for battle!¡± Black clouds rolled in. A terrifying wave of killing intent was already pressing toward the Daodao Sect from afar. Lu Ye was currently traversing the sect¡¯s protective formation. Half an hour¡ªplenty of time to upgrade the array a little. After thirty minutes of reinforcement, the formation¡¯s defensive power climbed another two levels. Of course, the spirit stone consumption skyrocketed accordingly. But at the brink of life and death, who could care about the cost? All the cultivators brought themselves into peak condition. If the Daodao Sect fell, then the entire Great Wilderness would likely have no force left capable of resisting the alien coalition¡¯s advance. Boom! A colossal golden finger, radiating dazzling Buddhist light and wreathed in thunder and lightning, stabbed down toward the sect¡¯s protective formation. The formation flared with divine light¡ª ¡ªand instantly blasted the golden Buddha finger into dust. "Kill!" Countless furious roars erupted from the depths of the black mist. In the next moment, a storm of demonic arts and divine techniques burst forth¡ªcountless spheres of light of every color hurtled toward the formation like a world-ending flood. There were too many. Far, far too many techniques. Among them, no shortage of devastating high-grade spells. Blotting out the sky. Shattering the earth. Inside the formation, the human cultivators unleashed their own divine powers¡ªhurling them back at the alien coalition. From the very first moment, the war plunged straight into its most intense stage. So many spells filled the air that the heavens dimmed, the spiritual energy went berserk, and the threads of fate turned chaotic. The sheer force of it all¡ªenough to make a coward collapse on the spot from fear. Lu Ye joined the fray, unleashing his divine technique. Right from the start, he cast the Heaven and Earth Tribulation Art. Boom! Boom! Boom! Massive bolts of tribulation lightning tore down from the heavens, crashing violently into the ranks of the coalition army. The defensive formation the alien forces had constructed shattered on the spot. A vast number of their troops were reduced to ash. All-out assault! The intensity of this battle far surpassed anything from before. The coalition army launched wave after wave of frenzied attacks against the Daodao Sect¡¯s protective formation, hammering it until it trembled violently¡ªbut still, it showed no signs of breaking. Yet the invaders weren¡¯t panicking. Though they¡¯d lost many soldiers, none of their true elites had died yet. Time ticked by. ¡°The Daodao Sect¡¯s defensive array is indeed formidable. When we bombarded the Jiuli Heavenly Dynasty¡¯s national protection formation, cracks were already forming by now,¡± came the calm voice of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor from the rear. ¡°I¡¯ll have a little fun!¡± The Heavenly Demon Emperor suddenly swung his Ten Thousand Soul Banner. In an instant, a flood of black mist erupted¡ªcomposed of endless souls, wailing in torment¡ªas it surged toward the Daodao Sect¡¯s protective array. Boom! The entire formation shook violently. Over ten thousand spirit stones were instantly ground to dust under the pressure of that single blow. Disciples of the Daodao Sect rushed to replace them at top speed. Thanks to the massive stockpile of resources Lu Ye had provided, the Daodao Sect wasn¡¯t exactly swimming in wealth, but they were more than well-prepared. ¡°Hahahaha! That Ten Thousand Soul Banner of the Heavenly Demon Emperor truly is the strongest demonic artifact from before the Nine Heavens Era. Impressive!¡± the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor laughed heartily. ¡°Amitabha. This humble monk shall also test the weight of the Daodao Sect¡¯s defenses.¡± Back then, it was the Daodao Sect¡¯s Dao Bell that shattered the Buddhist Sect¡¯s protective array. The Buddhist sect had never forgotten that grudge. Now, a massive golden nine-ring monk¡¯s staff expanded crazily in midair. From it, faint chanting could be heard as golden light spread, dyeing the black mist gold. Truthfully, the Buddhist Sect stood out awkwardly among the alien coalition. After all, Buddhist radiance was supposed to counteract demonic and evil energy. But at this point... who cared? The nine-ringed staff slammed down toward the sect¡¯s defensive formation. Boom! The staff was instantly shattered by the force of the formation. The Daodao Sect¡¯s barrier trembled again. ¡°Hahaha! Good!¡± ¡°My turn!¡± The Ancient God King of the divine race hurled a punch. His powerful body radiated overwhelming blood energy and divine might as his fist slammed into the barrier. More and more alien powerhouses began attacking. The likes of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor and the Ancient God King¡ªthese were beings at the peak of the Tribulation realm. They had lived for countless years, and the only reason they hadn¡¯t transcended yet was because the laws of the minor world were incomplete. Attempting tribulation ascension here risked flaws in their ascension path. It wasn¡¯t that they lacked ambition¡ªthey just couldn¡¯t stomach leaving before squeezing every last resource from the First Heaven. Now, the human race was divided. And just recently, another wave of Grand Ascension experts had already ascended¡ªgiving them the perfect opportunity. They were thrilled. Absolutely delighted. One terrifying strike after another slammed into the protective array. Inside, the Daodao Sect kept releasing spells nonstop¡ªslaughtering the coalition¡¯s soldiers in droves. And so, half an hour passed. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s expression darkened. The Heavenly Demon Emperor¡¯s hand clenched tightly around the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, veins bulging. The head monk of the Buddhist Sect looked grim. The Ancient God King¡¯s eyes were practically spewing fire. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the Daodao Sect¡¯s protective array broken yet?!¡± the Heavenly Demon Emperor growled through gritted teeth. Not only had it not broken¡ªit didn¡¯t even look close to breaking. They didn¡¯t care how many low-level troops died¡ªbut at this point, the death toll was getting ridiculous. Chapter 119: Mastering a hundred arts? ¡°Sect Master Liu, the Daoyan Grand Formation of your Daodao Sect is this powerful? Who was the formation master behind it?¡± ¡°What an incredible formation! It¡¯s held up against this many attacks?¡± ¡°The coalition army¡¯s been blasted into idiots! Hahaha! If we hold out just one more day, we might wipe out the entire alien army!¡± Everyone was delighted by the performance of the protective formation. When attacking a major sect, the most troublesome obstacle was always the protective grand formation. These formations were known for their countless formation nodes, extreme complexity, and overwhelming defense. Not only were they built to withstand siege¡ªthey could attack back as well. Which meant: those inside could strike out. But those outside, unless they broke through the barrier, couldn¡¯t land a single blow. Even Liu Changfeng looked a bit stunned. Wait, hadn¡¯t they tested this protective formation before? He had a pretty good idea of how much bombardment it could withstand. So why the hell was it so damn sturdy today? ¡°Patriarch Yuntian, did you modify the formation again?¡± Liu Changfeng turned to an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard. Patriarch Yuntian gently stroked his beard. ¡°I merely walked the circuit of the formation once with Lu Ye. Who could¡¯ve guessed we¡¯d gain so much? Lu Ye¡¯s understanding of formations... it¡¯s absolutely monstrous.¡± ¡°What? He knows formations?¡± Daoist Qinghuo looked utterly shocked. ¡°What? With that attitude, don¡¯t tell me he can refine pills too?¡± The two exchanged glances. That look of mutual recognition said it all: Lu Ye really could do those things¡ªand not just ¡®could¡¯, he was better at it than either of them. Liu Changfeng: ... Wonderful. Truly wonderful! Back when Sun Ruowei had begged him to let Lu Ye save Bai Qiulan, and he said Lu Ye didn¡¯t know any auxiliary arts¡ªhe hadn¡¯t just been making an excuse. He really thought Lu Ye didn¡¯t know anything. The guy hadn¡¯t even been cultivating for that long! ¡°At least he can¡¯t forge artifacts...¡± Patriarch Yuntian raised an eyebrow. ¡°He can make pills and set formations¡ªyou really think he can¡¯t forge artifacts?¡± ... Boom boom boom! On the Daodao Sect¡¯s side, spells continued to rain down in a storm. The alien coalition army had been blasted half senseless. Especially the melee fighters¡ªthey¡¯d been sharpening their blades over and over, itching for combat¡ª Sharpening... Sharpening... Sharpening... Their blades were practically worn down to paper, and they still hadn¡¯t seen action! Failing to break through was already a heavy blow to morale. They couldn¡¯t understand¡ªwhat the hell were their powerful elites even doing?! After all this time, the barrier still hadn¡¯t cracked?! Another fifteen minutes of bombardment passed. Finally, a crack appeared in the formation. The coalition army¡¯s morale soared. Lu Ye estimated that the formation could probably hold for another half an hour. He¡¯d already shed a silent wave of tears in advance. Right now, he was gritting his teeth to keep from crying. This sudden-onset weepiness was seriously ruining his image. So, he resolved: No more crying! Must hold it in! Another fifteen minutes passed. The coalition forces had suffered catastrophic losses. They hadn¡¯t even gotten to close-range combat. Just breaching the formation had already cost them at least a quarter of their forces. The formation trembled on the verge of collapse. Fifteen minutes ago, they had seen the light of hope. Now, that light had turned into a goddamn sunset. Some had even begun to feel despair. Was this formation... pretending to break? Luring them into continued assaults¡ªdraining them dry? The Vermilion Bird stared at the scene, fully aware. This formation had absolutely been modified¡ªby Lu Ye. What made Lu Ye so terrifying... was that he excelled at everything. Magic, dao, fist, sword, alchemy, formations, talismans, artifacts... There was nothing he didn¡¯t know. And not just knowing¡ªhe had mastered them all. Many who¡¯d dedicated their entire lives to a single discipline couldn¡¯t even match him. It was horrifying. The Vermilion Bird even felt a little grateful¡ªgrateful she had hardened her heart and let that Shen Xitong self-destruct. If that woman had actually made it to Lu Ye and cried to him, with how fiercely Lu Ye protected those close to him¡ªhe might¡¯ve wiped out the entire demon race without blinking. In the end... Shen Xitong had just been unlucky. The Vermilion Bird did feel a little guilty. But not too guilty. After all¡ªone death versus billions? She knew which mattered more. Another fifteen minutes passed. Lu Ye¡¯s eyes were beginning to turn red¡ªnot from tears, but because the killing aura had already flooded ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã his heart. Murderous intent surged through every fiber of his body. He couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore. With a thunderous boom¡ª The Daodao Sect¡¯s protective grand formation shattered completely. ¡°Kill!¡± Boom! Lu Ye¡¯s figure shot forward like lightning, leading the charge straight into the alien coalition army. Kill! Countless war cries erupted all around. Sword-lights filled the sky, but none of them could match Lu Ye¡¯s speed. Alone, he charged straight into the black phalanx¡ªso vast that its edges couldn¡¯t even be seen. The killing aura churned into a fog of blood that rose into the sky like smoke from a battlefield pyre. Liu Changfeng¡¯s eyelid twitched hard. What the hell¡ªthat fast?! That dangerous?! ¡°One Sword to Slay the Gods!¡± Lu Ye shouted. Yes¡ªthat was a move from Chu Ling¡¯s Great Slaughter Sword Scripture. The stone sword let out a deep hum. A massive arc of sword-light swept across the battlefield¡ª And smashed violently into the coalition ranks. Puff puff puff... Blood mist exploded everywhere. What Chu Ling knew, Lu Ye also knew. And what Chu Ling didn¡¯t know¡ªhe still knew. ¡°Surround and kill him!¡± The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s gaze locked onto Lu Ye the moment he appeared. His eyes were cold and full of dread. When they¡¯d fought over the Dao last time, Lu Ye had given him the shock of a lifetime. The order was given. Instantly, seven Loose Gods and five Tribulation Transcenders descended upon Lu Ye. But the ground beneath his feet lit up. Light burst from beneath him like blooming flowers¡ªinterwoven into a formation seal so complex it made the air buzz. He stepped into the heart of the seal. ¡°Boom!¡± Within a hundred li, all alien cultivators were annihilated on the spot by blinding beams of light shooting up from the ground. ¡°Die.¡± Under the overwhelming force of his killing intent, Lu Ye no longer had the strength¡ªor desire¡ªto restrain his grief. Tears streamed from his blood-red eyes. Powerful enemies arrived. A great umbrella unfolded above Lu Ye¡¯s head, casting divine light upon him¡ªonly to be shattered in an instant by a single sword strike. Heavenly Lord¡¯s Fist! At this moment, this fist was the only thing in the world that mattered. When it struck, two Loose Gods were instantly reduced to blood mist, vanishing from existence. ¡°Ding ding ding...¡± A massive saber split the air, striking with chained blows like thunder. Lu Ye clashed head-on with the wielder, stone sword against divine blade¡ªthe impact made the stone sword tremble violently, but the Tribulation cultivator¡¯s saber flew from his grip under the sheer force. One sword slashed down from above, carving a long, deep trench into the earth below. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s face twisted. This Lu Ye¡ªhis growth was terrifying. How had he gotten so strong, so fast? No! ¡°I¡¯ll kill him myself!¡± The Ancient God King¡¯s eyes blazed with fury and excitement. Lu Ye had swept through countless divine race treasures, slain numerous divine race prodigies¡ª He had long wanted to kill him. With a single step forward, the Ancient God King donned heavy divine armor, his body towering and vast. His aura climbed higher and higher, an oppressive storm of divine pressure exploding in every direction. In the middle of the slaughter, Lu Ye paused. He looked toward the Ancient God King charging at him. Come. Heavenly Silkworm¡ªNinefold Transformation! Chapter 120: Killing like crazy Lu Ye had no shortage of explosive secret techniques. Whether it was Nine Steps to Battle Heaven, or Mystic Heaven¡¯s Eightfold Shift, or Feather Ascends the Sky¡ª He had many. Far too many. But in a war like this, nothing felt more fitting to unleash than Heavenly Silkworm Ninefold Transformation. Why? One word: Speed. The method he once taught Shangguan Huanling¡ªDemonic Blood Escape Art¡ªwas all about speed. Heavenly Silkworm Ninefold Transformation? Also speed. As for Heavenly Lord¡¯s Fist¡ª That was pure intimidation. Just throwing out a ¡°hello¡± that could flatten cities. Besides, without true enlightenment of the Dao, Shangguan Huanling couldn''t even begin to cultivate Heavenly Lord¡¯s Fist. But now¡ª Heavenly Silkworm Ninefold Transformation, paired with Heavenly Lord¡¯s Fist, was unleashed in perfect harmony through Lu Ye¡¯s body. He swallowed four great-grade pills in rapid succession. In mere moments, his cultivation surged to the Seventh Layer of the Dao Integration Realm. And now, under the pressure of Heavenly Silkworm Ninefold Transformation: Eighth Layer! Ninth Layer! Tribulation Stage One! Tribulation Stage Two! Tribulation Stage Three! In one breath¡ª Tribulation Stage Four! The great Dao swirled. All the world faded from Lu Ye¡¯s vision¡ª There was only him. Only the Ancient God King. He needed just one punch. Heavenly Lord¡¯s Fist. Endless intent locked onto the Ancient God King like iron chains from the heavens. As the Ancient God King charged, something suddenly felt wrong. Too quiet... The world¡ª had gone completely quiet. He could hear his heartbeat. His breathing. The wind. And then¡ª He heard... his own annihilation. One punch. Only one. The Ancient God King let out a thunderous, sky-shaking roar. He poured every ounce of his power into that moment. He too threw a punch¡ª The strongest blow of the Ancient God Race. ¡°War Against Heaven!¡± Boom! Two fists¡ªlike two collapsing stars¡ªcollided at unimaginable speed. A raw, primordial impact. A bloom of blood mist erupted across the sky. Under the gaze of all¡ª Lu Ye¡¯s figure passed through the Ancient God King¡¯s massive body. The Ancient God King hadn¡¯t even had the chance to resist. That inconceivable force shattered him from the inside out. Even the roaring wind... froze in place. Lu Ye¡¯s tears flowed uncontrollably. And then¡ªhe threw back his head and let out a piercing howl. His hands formed seals. In that instant¡ª Two more Lu Ye¡¯s stepped forward from his own body. Three identical Lu Ye¡¯s. ¡°Kill!¡± One charged the alien coalition. One charged the Heavenly Demon Emperor. One charged the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. All three radiated peak-level power. This divine ability¡ªThree Lives in One Body¡ªLu Ye rarely used. Because he rarely had the chance. Usually, every time he cultivated a new life, it got cut short. One life gained, one life lost. Then another, and another gone. So this technique... was seldom seen. But now¡ªhe held three lives at once. Three bodies. One mind. And in this moment¡ª He went berserk. One Lu Ye cast spells: Heaven and Earth Tribulation Art erupted. Thunder and lightning roared. Flashes of silver illuminated the terrified faces of the enemy. One Lu Ye wielded a sword: Great Slaughter Sword Scripture surged with boundless killing power¡ª Two Loose Gods were cut down in the blink of an eye. One Lu Ye clenched a fist: Heavenly Lord¡¯s Fist triggered Dao tremors. Vast spiritual energy converged¡ªthis punch, none could withstand. Lu Ye was crying. All three of him were crying. But the harder he wept, the stronger his killing intent became. Because when his heart was consumed by such overwhelming bloodlust¡ª He truly had no space left... to feel the pain. ¡°Behold my Ten Thousand Soul Banner!¡± The Heavenly Demon Emperor roared¡ªhalf to rally himself, half out of dread. He swung the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, unleashing a whirlwind of countless wailing souls that surged toward Lu Ye, aiming to suck him into the banner¡¯s abyss. Lu Ye¡¯s blood-red pupils suddenly turned ashen gray. The aura of reincarnation bloomed around him. He flicked his tongue, and in a thunderous roar, shouted: ¡°Begone!¡± The sound of Heaven¡¯s Reincarnation Chant tore through the battlefield like a divine judgment. The flood of souls shattered instantly, crumbling apart and vanishing into dust. That little handful of souls? You dare call that the Ten Thousand Soul Banner? Lu Ye had seen a real one in his previous life¡ªwielded by an ancient monster from an era even older than forgotten dynasties. That thing would appear every few centuries to harvest souls. When that banner was waved¡ªall the heavens could hear its wailing. Just the wailing was enough to scatter your soul and leave you mindless, stumbling willingly toward its pull like a moth to flame. But this banner? Nothing but a splash of /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ dirty water. The Heavenly Demon Emperor¡¯s face twisted in terror. In all his long, long life, every opponent who saw the Ten Thousand Soul Banner either panicked or fled. Not one had ever obliterated its attack with just a single shout. What kind of divine power was this?! Lu Ye raised his hand and casually pointed at the Heavenly Demon Emperor. In an instant¡ªnine bolts of tribulation lightning came crashing down from the sky, savagely striking their target. BOOM BOOM BOOM¡ª Lightning devoured the Heavenly Demon Emperor, seeking to erase him entirely. ¡°Tongtian Fist!¡± Lu Ye¡¯s true body lunged toward the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. All the other top-tier foes were tangled up by powerhouses from the Daodao Sect, the Supreme Sword Sect, the Central Continent Imperial Dynasty, and the Tribulation Sect. Right now, Lu Ye alone was turning the tide of battle. Kill, kill, kill! His first body charged into the coalition army, crying and killing in equal measure. Endless alien cultivators were struck with horror. This madman who wept as he killed¡ªwho cried harder the more people he slaughtered¡ªwas burned into their minds like a nightmare. The Heavenly Demon Emperor finally broke free of the lightning¡ª ¡°Fearless Seal!¡± Eighty-one phantom seals lit up, forming the most powerful divine imprint. Fearlessness had always been Yue Hongling¡¯s specialty. But Lu Ye¡¯s fearlessness? A thousand times more brutal. Ten thousand times more refined. He had faced death and disaster more times than Yue Hongling ever could. Compared to Lu Ye, even the so-called Emperor of Fearlessness would have to lower his head in shame. The Fearless Seal smashed down on the Heavenly Demon Emperor. BOOM! The Heavenly Demon Emperor exploded on the spot¡ªhis very demonic infant obliterated before it could escape. The shattered Ten Thousand Soul Banner fell into Lu Ye¡¯s hand. He looked at it thoughtfully¡ª And pocketed it. The banner was weak only because it was in the hands of a fool. In Lu Ye¡¯s hands? He had too many ways to make it powerful. Here¡¯s one: Find another cultivator with a Ten Thousand Soul Banner. Kill him. Swallow his banner. Boom. Power up. The death of the Heavenly Demon Emperor, plus Lu Ye¡¯s rampage with sword in hand¡ªblood flowed like rivers. Screams filled the air. He showed no mercy, no distinction between weak or strong. He saw an alien¡ªhe killed it. Alien morale collapsed. Retreat! First came one. Then a second. Then a third¡ª The foundation of this battle¡¯s outcome was now set in stone. ¡°Amita?bha...¡± Naturally, the Buddhist sect was the first to flee. Lu Ye used Tongtian Fist against the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡ªnot because that bastard wasn¡¯t worthy of Heavenly Lord¡¯s Fist. But because Lu Ye had no intention of killing him just yet. A single Tongtian Seal struck the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s body. That was enough. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor panicked. He turned and fled. This Lu Ye... had already reached the point of unstoppable momentum. There was no way he could remain in the First Heaven anymore. If he escaped, he would ascend immediately. Whoever wanted to stay here could stay. He was done. Lu Ye sensed the direction the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was fleeing¡ª Straight toward the Supreme Empire. His lips curled into a cold, merciless smile. Now the real show begins. Myriad Spirit... Are you ready to run? ¡°Ding. Vermilion Bird, are you ready to make your choice?¡± Chapter 121: No Waste A sea of blood surged to the sky. Corpses were piled like mountains. This was a terrifying war. Even though Lu Ye unleashed the most horrifying slaughter on the battlefield, the number of fallen human cultivators was beyond counting. Chu Ling was hunting down the allied forces of the foreign races. After all this time, she had reappeared¡ªand her cultivation had reached an inconceivable level: the peak of the Void Refinement Realm. Yes. Peak Void Refinement! One had to understand¡ªLu Ye had never stopped cultivating either. Not for a single moment. And he had received the reward for ranking first on the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Chosen Ranking, amassing a staggering quantity of resources. Only then had he reached the Seventh Layer of the Spiritual Unity Realm. This could only mean that Chu Ling had truly pushed herself. She had been the first to understand Lu Ye¡¯s true thoughts¡ªto know that he never intended to waste time entangled with them. Lu Ye didn¡¯t need to do anything extra. All he had to do was leave them all far behind, so far they couldn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of his figure when they looked up. That would be the greatest revenge. She absolutely could not allow that. So she cultivated like her life depended on it. She cultivated with everything she had. But Lu Ye had become too strong. So strong it left her in utter despair. Spiritual Unity, Seventh Layer! No. She had to break through to Spiritual Unity too! Not just break through¡ªshe had to achieve a more perfect unity. Her Dao had always been the Sword Dao. From the beginning to the end. And by now, she could rightfully be called a Sword Dao Emperor¡ªone whose killing power was terrifyingly real. She would achieve unity. Chu Ling stopped her pursuit and looked back. The Supreme Sword Sect... it seemed every strong cultivator had already been sent out... One of the Lu Ye clones formed hand seals with both hands. Massive sheets of flame descended toward the ground. Tears rolled down continuously, yet his gaze was ruthlessly cold. The # N§àv§Ölight # flames precisely avoided every human cultivator¡¯s corpse, falling only upon the corpses of the foreign races. Wisps of blood mist rose within the fire, weaving and condensing in midair. The other two Lu Ye clones merged into one. ¡°I¡¯ll go hunt them down.¡± Lu Ye vanished. A massive Blood-Flesh Elixir Pill was already slowly forming in the void¡ªcomposed in large part from the corpses of countless demons and monsters. After finishing the hand seals, Lu Ye took out the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner. The banner was instantly refined by him. When it waved, countless broken souls of the foreign races emerged. ¡°No! No! No!¡± These remnant souls twisted in expression, filled with terror and despair the moment they saw the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner. The word demon was actually a fascinating one. Before the formation of the Nine Heavens, there had been two kinds of demon. The first was the demon race¡ªborn with the ability to wield demonic energy, with bizarre forms and an innately violent, brutal nature. The second was demon cultivators. Humans who entered the demonic path through demonic scriptures¡ªwielding demonic energy acquired after birth. Treacherous, cruel, committing every imaginable evil. And always coming up with horrifying new ideas. When demon cultivators got truly ruthless, even the demon race was afraid of them. These days, the demon race kept trying to emulate the demon cultivators from before the Nine Heavens formed¡ªbut they had only learned a thing or two at best. Take the Heavenly Demon Emperor, for example. He had the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner in his hands¡ªand yet, the demon race still had such a huge population left? If one of the old demon cultivators from before the Nine Heavens had owned the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner... Fellow Daoists, disciples, citizens, monsters¡ªI invite you all to help me cultivate. Come quickly and pay a visit to my Ten-Thousand Souls Banner! My banner doesn¡¯t cause any pain. Your souls will be honored guests¡ªsoaking in hot springs, basking in sunlight, and even served by lovely soul maidens! Sounds wonderful, right? Once you enter, your soul will be squeezed into hot spring water. Burned to provide light. Transformed into one of those lovely maidens¡ªto serve others. Utterly miserable! While forming the Blood-Flesh Elixir Pill, Lu Ye simultaneously absorbed the remnant souls. The human alliance army fell silent as they watched the scene unfold. ¡°Ahem, Sect Master Liu, does your Grand Dao Sect have secret arts like this?¡± an elder from the Central Province Dynasty coughed and asked. Liu Changfeng... What Lu Ye was doing now really didn¡¯t look like something the Grand Dao Sect would do. It looked much more like something a demon cultivator from the dark era would have done. Not a single bit was wasted. First the slaughter, then the bones and blood, then the souls... ¡°Maybe we do. The Grand Dao Sect¡¯s secret arts are a bit complicated,¡± Liu Changfeng said with a smile. ¡°But technique itself isn¡¯t good or evil¡ªit¡¯s the user that makes it so.¡± ¡°True, true. Lu Ye is quite the righteous one. Even while killing, he feels so guilty that he weeps. He¡¯s truly a role model for us cultivators!¡± ¡°Yes, exactly. Weeping for the lives lost¡ªsuch a virtuous man!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever seen someone so kind. When others kill, their faces twist with killing intent. But Lu Ye? He kills only out of necessity to protect the common people of the world. That just shows how much he hates slaughter deep down. He¡¯s a true man of the righteous path!¡± The strong cultivators of the Calamity Sect... The Supreme Sword Sect and the Central Province Dynasty had both listened to Bai Qiulan, so many of their disciples had evacuated in time and avoided disaster. But the Calamity Sect was different. Half their disciples tried to leave, but were forcibly stopped by the sect elders. As a result, those disciples died horribly. And afterward, driven by that grief, they sent their experts to surround and kill Lu Ye. And a whole bunch of those experts died, too. The Calamity Sect and the Grand Dao Sect had originally been on good terms, but now¡ªbecause of this¡ªthey had fallen out. Of course, Lu Ye was partly responsible for what happened. No matter his reasons, he had killed those people. But the Calamity Sect also bore some of the blame. Because the one who issued the warning wasn¡¯t anyone else¡ªit was Bai Qiulan. Bai Qiulan, a Spiritual Unity powerhouse, an unmatched genius of the Grand Dao Sect¡ªshe had even sworn upon the Great Dao itself. That would be like, on Earth, a city lord swearing by the ancestors of eight generations and warning you that a ferocious tiger was about to come crashing through, demanding that you evacuate immediately. But you refused¡ªbecause your valuables hadn¡¯t been packed yet. Some people wanted to evacuate, but then a vice-lord said, ¡°It¡¯s just a tiger, no big deal.¡± Then the tiger came. It ignored weapons and armor. And started eating people like crazy. Sure, the tiger was at fault. But wasn¡¯t the vice-lord who blocked the evacuation also to blame? After thinking carefully¡ªand with Liu Changfeng repeatedly offering apologies¡ªthe Calamity Sect finally decided to ease tensions with the Grand Dao Sect. Even as the Central Province Dynasty and Supreme Sword Sect kept praising how ¡°wonderful¡± Lu Ye was, the Calamity Sect found themselves unable to chime in. He was kind? Sure, he cried while killing¡ªbut those tears splashed to the ground without a trace of hesitation in his expression. Kind, was he? The Blood-Flesh Elixir Pill had already been refined. All the remnant souls had been collected into the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner. What a kind soul, indeed! And yet, precisely because of that, the expressions on the Calamity Sect cultivators¡¯ faces¡ªonce blank and stiff¡ªhad unknowingly begun to shift into smiles. With someone this ruthless in the Grand Dao Sect, their rise was inevitable. After refining the Blood-Flesh Elixir Pill, one of Lu Ye¡¯s clones turned to Liu Changfeng and spoke. ¡°Sect Master, I¡¯m going after the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor.¡± ¡°Be careful! I¡¯ll send an ancestor to follow you!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Ye¡¯s figure turned into a stream of light and shot off in pursuit of his true body. Huh? ¡°Alright¡±? ¡°You two ancestors, follow Lu Ye immediately. Protect him!¡± Five minutes later¡ª The two ancestors came sulking back. ¡°Protect what, exactly? He was already gone the moment we took off.¡± Chapter 122: Hunting Down the Myriad Spirits Lu Ye waited for a moment. His clone merged back into his body, and the Blood-Flesh Elixir Pill appeared in his hand. With this thing, his tribulation crossing should be a bit easier. Though, truthfully, he was never afraid of tribulation to begin with¡ªeven if each tribulation he faced was more absurd and savage than the last. What cannot destroy me will ultimately make me stronger. He sensed the location of the Heaven-Penetrating Seal. Lu Ye shot off at full speed. The true essence within his body was recovering rapidly. The Vermilion Bird had witnessed the entire battle¡ªand at this moment, her heart was filled with cold dread and immense relief. Lu Ye¡¯s rise had been far too rapid. So rapid that she could no longer even comprehend it. Lu Ye had reincarnated as a Celestial Lord. She had reincarnated as an Emperor. Granted, Celestial Lords and Emperors differed by a whole major realm¡ªbut in the early stages of cultivation, that kind of gap shouldn¡¯t have made much difference, right? Anyone capable of becoming an Emperor couldn¡¯t possibly have a shallow understanding of cultivation. ...Well, okay¡ªexcept for Shangguan Huanling. But now, the gap between them was just too overwhelming. Lu Ye was chasing down the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. The Vermilion Bird couldn¡¯t keep up. But she could observe the current situation through the Demon Emperor¡¯s field of view. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was steeped in regret. Still too late! Still too late! He had already been extremely worried that Lu Ye would grow stronger. His Dao heart had been shattered by Lu Ye, then reformed, then transferred into a new body. He had raced to the Great Wilderness without stopping, determined to kill Lu Ye. And yet¡ªthis was still too late? Back when his Dao heart shattered, Lu Ye had just stepped into the Void Refinement Realm. Now that he saw Lu Ye again, the man was already nearing the peak of Spiritual Unity. How long had it even been?! At this point, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor didn¡¯t even know what he was supposed to do. As for whether Lu Ye could actually kill him¡ªthe Demon Emperor wasn¡¯t too worried about that. His racial talents were far too powerful. He was a Parasitic Demon Insect¡ªhermaphroditic by nature, with only one born every thousand years. Across the entire race, there were probably no more than ten in existence. Suddenly, an intense sense of danger flared behind him. Three Lu Yes closed in from the east, south, and north, surrounding the Demon Emperor. The Demon Emperor was startled. He bolted toward the west at full speed, unleashing his entire power. The three Lu Yes gradually began to fall behind. The Demon Emperor couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit relieved. Thank heavens there were only three Lu Yes. If he had four and covered all directions, I wouldn¡¯t even know where to run. He really didn¡¯t want to destroy this body¡ªif he could keep it, he would. Even while fleeing, the Demon Emperor didn¡¯t stay idle. He kept spreading his parasitic spawn everywhere, letting more and more creatures fall under infection. Boom! A fist imprint came roaring in from the east. The void itself trembled with a deafening blast. The sheer force of the blow stirred up a violent storm, blasting a vacuum {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} clean through the clouds. The Demon Emperor roared. Eight arms burst from his body as he met the fist head-on. Crack! Four of those arms were shattered on impact. The Demon Emperor coughed up a mouthful of blood and kept fleeing. How did he find me?! In that instant, the Demon Emperor forcefully suppressed every trace of his aura, then started checking himself for any lingering marks. Whoooosh¡ªwhoooosh¡ª! A shrill whistling cut through the air¡ªsword qi, tearing through the sky. The sword qi came screaming in at terrifying speed, carrying a momentum that seemed absolutely unstoppable. It slashed toward the Demon Emperor with brutal force. The Demon Emperor dodged as fast as he could, but one of his wings still got half-sliced off. He definitely has a way to track me! The Demon Emperor was now completely certain. Above the sea of clouds, two figures¡ªone ahead, one behind¡ªcut clean paths through the air, leaving streaks of vacuum in their wake. No trace! Why can¡¯t I find it?! In his frantic search, the Demon Emperor couldn¡¯t locate any tracking mark on his body. Boom! Boom! Boom! Beams of light shot toward the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. He dodged when he could¡ªwhen he couldn¡¯t, he took the hit head-on. And each time he took a hit, blood sprayed from his mouth. He searched inch by inch for the tracking mark. Right now, he was fleeing toward the Demon Realm. If he could reach it, the formations there might be enough to hold off Lu Ye¡¯s pursuit. Lu Ye followed at a leisurely pace, as if he were walking a dog. Very quickly, the chase carried them out of the Great Wilderness and into the void. The Demon Realm was already in sight. Another sword light slashed out from Lu Ye¡ªnearly cutting the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor in two. The Demon Emperor finally burst into the Demon Realm. ¡°Found it!¡± He had located the mark Lu Ye had left on him¡ªand immediately activated his power to start erasing it. At the same time, the entire Demon Realm surged with demonic mist as a great formation activated and blotted out the sky. The entire Demon Realm was one massive formation. It was a grand array left behind by an ancient demon powerhouse. And it was precisely thanks to this array that the demon race had managed to survive this long. ¡°Hmph! You were a fool to be so arrogant. Competing for the Dao isn¡¯t about a single moment. When we meet again in the Second Heaven, who wins and who loses will still be up in the air!¡± Lu Ye¡¯s figure shot into the demon formation. This formation? Lu Ye had already broken it in his previous life¡ªnever mind this one. The powerful demon body the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor had forged earlier had already self-destructed while fighting Lu Ye over the Dao. Now, he had taken over a body with Qiongqi blood¡ªpatching it hastily, but it was still far too weak. Nowhere near his peak state. Lu Ye barely had to try, and he was already about to beat the Demon Emperor to death. Which honestly gave Lu Ye a bit of a headache. If I don¡¯t hit him, he won¡¯t feel any danger. If I do hit him, he can¡¯t take it. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor hadn¡¯t even finished his sentence before he watched¡ªwide-eyed¡ªas Lu Ye stepped right out of the demon formation again. ¡°Looks like we didn¡¯t need the Second Heaven after all. Here we are, meeting again,¡± Lu Ye said with a smile on his face. But deep inside, the pain he carried was almost ready to surge forth again. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor let out a roar. ¡°Impossible!¡± Lu Ye was already in front of him. The Heaven-Penetrating Fist Art launched into motion¡ªand a punch smashed directly into the Demon Emperor¡¯s body. Boom! The Demon Emperor was sent flying. He spat out a beam of light, but Lu Ye shattered it with a single palm strike. The next instant, Lu Ye vanished¡ªonly to reappear grabbing one of the Demon Emperor¡¯s wings, driving his knee into it. The Demon Emperor¡¯s three remaining arms all swung at Lu Ye simultaneously. Boom! Lu Ye¡¯s knee struck the Demon Emperor¡¯s flank. The sound of bones shattering rang out as the Demon Emperor howled in pain. His attacks landed on Lu Ye¡ªbut all of them were blocked by a protective aura of force. Lu Ye started punching him over and over in a frenzy. Lu Ye could have dodged the Demon Emperor¡¯s attacks. But they were so weak, he couldn¡¯t even be bothered. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor went from roaring in rage... to screaming in agony... to whimpering in despair. Iron fists, one after another, without pause. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was about to abandon this body altogether¡ªbecause the pain was unbearable. And he couldn¡¯t see even the faintest hope of survival. Just as he was ready to give up¡ª Lu Ye suddenly stopped. Without a word, Lu Ye vanished. The Demon Emperor: ??? Gone? He just left? Without saying a word¡ªhe just left? Even the Vermilion Bird was stunned. She had no idea what Lu Ye was thinking. The Demon Emperor waited a moment¡ªand realized Lu Ye really was gone. His spirits lifted. He was seriously wounded. If he wanted this body to survive, he¡¯d have to absorb blood essence to heal fast. A vicious glint appeared in the Demon Emperor¡¯s eyes. He had already resolved to ascend to the Second Heaven¡ªand once he did, there would be no more need for restraint. He would parasite. He would parasite everything¡ªmadly and without mercy. Chapter 123: Please Lu Ye stared at the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor, noticing how he was indeed parasitizing like a madman¡ªand couldn¡¯t help but nod slightly. Yes, that¡¯s right. That¡¯s a good boy. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was parasitizing at high speed, absorbing blood essence along the way. His injuries were recovering. His strength was coming back. Finally, he returned to full power. Every bit of cultivation generated by his countless parasites¡ªhe quietly siphoned off a portion. Even if that portion was small. But rivers gather to form seas. Grains of sand pile up to make a tower. As long as he parasitized more, and more, and even more¡ª Then within the Nine Heavens, he would be the fastest-cultivating demon of them all! Lu Ye! Lu Ye!!! You just wait! You''re dead, hahahaha¡ª Lu Ye arrived. When the dark silhouette appeared overhead, right above the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s head¡ª The twisted grin on the Demon Emperor¡¯s face froze on the spot. No¡ªwait¡ªyou... didn¡¯t you leave?! Bang! The Demon Emperor¡¯s body was blasted away¡ªanother kick slammed into his chest. Boom! A towering mountain peak shattered as he smashed into it. Lu Ye¡¯s figure stuck to him like a shadow, throwing punch after punch, kick after kick. Honestly, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor should have felt honored¡ªhe was the very first one to ever take this many blows from Lu Ye and still not die... demon or not. After giving him another brutal beating, Lu Ye said nothing¡ªand vanished again. The Vermilion Bird was utterly lost. She really didn¡¯t understand what was happening anymore. What was Lu Ye doing? Given Lu Ye¡¯s nature¡ªespecially when he was so overwhelmingly stronger than the Demon Emperor¡ªit was already unbelievable that the Demon Emperor had managed to escape the Great Wilderness alive. And yet, Lu Ye had now beaten him into a pulp twice and still hadn¡¯t killed him? The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was livid¡ªabsolutely enraged. Fine! FINE! You won¡¯t even kill me?! The mark on his body had been worn down to an incredibly faint trace. Once it was fully erased, he would give Lu Ye a lesson he¡¯d never forget. First¡ªrecover strength! The Demon Emperor rampaged through the Demon Realm. There were still loose gods and tribulation-stage demon beasts who hadn¡¯t gone to the Great Wilderness. But not a single one dared to approach Lu Ye. What kind of joke was that? He beat the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor into a half-retarded mess. Who¡¯d want to go get beat up too? And yet, one loose-god-level demon beast still didn¡¯t believe it. The third time the Demon Emperor got smashed, this guy charged at Lu Ye. ¡°How dare a mere human act so arrogantly in the Demon Realm! Die!¡± A sky-covering demon claw came crashing down. It was reduced to a mist of blood by one punch from Lu Ye¡¯s Celestial Lord Fist. After that, the demon powerhouses trembled even more. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor really was strong. Even a loose-god demon beast got one-shotted by this terrifying human, but the Demon Emperor had actually withstood so many attacks. Once again leaving behind the mangled, nearly ground-into-pulp body of the Demon Emperor, Lu Ye¡¯s figure vanished. Almost there. Just a little more... The Demon Emperor endured excruciating pain¡ªbut really, he didn¡¯t even know: this pain was nothing. Lu Ye hadn¡¯t even used his Primordial Morning Mist yet. At last, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor erased the final trace of the mark. ¡°Hahahaha¡ªLu Ye! LU YE! I¡¯M FREE! HAHAHAHAHA!¡± He shifted positions, confirmed that Lu Ye could no longer find him¡ªand let out a sky-shaking laugh. ¡°I¡¯m going to ascend! I¡¯M ASCENDING! Lu Ye, when I reach the Second Heaven¡ª¡± Lu Ye wiped his eyes... and appeared before him again. He just stood there, staring. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor... What¡¯s wrong? Why aren¡¯t you laughing? Are you not happy anymore? ¡°Why can you still find me?! I clearly erased the mark!¡± the Demon Emperor¡¯s voice quivered on the edge of collapse. Lu Ye finally opened his mouth. ¡°Your laugh was too loud. It irritated my eyes.¡± The Demon Emperor opened his mouth to respond¡ªbut Lu Ye had already stepped forward. BOOM! Another merciless round of abuse began. The group of demon beasts watching from afar were absolutely horrified¡ªhair standing on end, scalp going numb. Ready to keep going? Things are escalating beautifully . This human... was simply too cruel. After yet another vicious beating, Lu Ye¡¯s figure drifted away with a casual, effortless grace. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura had all but collapsed. Fine. Hit me. This is the last time, right? Next time... he just wouldn¡¯t laugh so loudly. That¡¯s all. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was exhausted. He lay on the ground, not even bothering to parasitize anything or absorb blood essence right away. Lu Ye appeared again. The Demon Emperor: ??? A wisp of extremely faint white mist floated toward his body. ¡°AAAAAAHHHH¡ª!¡± A moment later, an unbearably shrill scream tore from the Demon Emperor¡¯s mouth. Just hearing it made the blood run cold. He screamed so violently that his mouth split open from the force. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor rolled on the ground, convulsing. The agony made him faint¡ªthen jolted him back awake. Pain! Too much pain! Lu Ye smiled faintly¡ªthen remembered that this little trick was something Yue Hongling had once used on him. His figure vanished. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor screamed for a full quarter-hour before finally clawing his way back from the edge. He looked like a dying fish gasping for air. Breathing heavily. Shaking with lingering terror. He would rather die¡ªtruly die¡ªthan endure that kind of pain again. The Demon Emperor began healing. He had to recover quickly¡ªleave as fast as possible¡ªand hide. When he was finally healed¡ª And convinced he had hidden himself very well¡ª Lu Ye¡¯s figure appeared right on cue. ¡°What do you want?!¡± ¡°Hey, what do you want?!¡± the Demon Emperor howled, red-eyed, totally hysterical. Lu Ye bared his teeth in a wide grin. He believed the Demon Emperor would come to understand... in time. Boom! Another savage beating. But now the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor wasn¡¯t just afraid of getting beaten. What truly terrified him... was that white mist. What does he want?! The Vermilion Bird was starting to panic. The Demon Emperor was parasitizing demons left and right. At this rate, every living being in the Demon Realm would end up infected. This wasn¡¯t like Lu Ye. He killed enemies, yes¡ªbut he rarely tortured them. He always believed that in the end, they were all just fellow seekers of the Dao. But this... this was different. Something felt very [N O V E L I G H T] wrong. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor was in total despair. He had clearly erased the mark¡ªso how was Lu Ye still finding him? Why did he keep beating him? He had made up his mind. If Lu Ye hit him one more time, he would abandon this body completely. Recover. Recover again. Once he finished healing, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor waited. When Lu Ye¡¯s figure appeared again, the Demon Emperor burst into laughter. ¡°Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA¡ª!¡± And in that mad laughter, he self-detonated on the spot. He was done. He was tired. He quit. Lu Ye raised an eyebrow and closed his eyes. By the time the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor reincarnated again, taking over the body of a tribulation-stage demon, he hadn¡¯t even caught his breath¡ª Lu Ye reappeared. The Demon Emperor: ... ¡°What the hell do you want?! What are you trying to do?! Just say it! Tell me! I¡¯ll listen to you! I beg you¡ªdon¡¯t hit me again!¡± He broke down crying. Kneeling before Lu Ye. I¡¯m begging you... please... don¡¯t hit me again... I really was wrong... What greeted him¡ª Was Lu Ye¡¯s fist. Chapter 124: The Myriad Spirits Understand Tired. Let it # N§àv§Ölight # all be destroyed. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor had been driven completely insane from the torment. He gave up resisting, his heavily injured body collapsing onto the ground. Do whatever you want... When the white mist reappeared and drifted onto his body, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor began to scream again¡ªwretched and shrill. Pain! It hurts¡ªAAAHHH! Why?! Why is he releasing that white mist on me again?! After enduring pain more terrifying than any level of hell, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor finally started to see a pattern. While he was parasitizing and recovering¡ªLu Ye never showed up. But the moment he finished healing and stopped parasitizing, Lu Ye would appear again and beat him half to death. And if he didn¡¯t recover, and just remained in his wounded state¡ªLu Ye would unleash that white mist on him. At this moment, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor understood. As long as he kept parasitizing, Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t show up to hit him. Test it! The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor began parasitizing again. Even after he was fully healed, he didn¡¯t stop. The result was obvious: Lu Ye didn¡¯t appear. So he kept parasitizing. The Demon Emperor knew¡ªLu Ye was definitely letting him do this on purpose. There had to be some deeper plan. But he no longer cared. He couldn¡¯t take the beatings anymore. He couldn¡¯t bear the torture of that white mist. He couldn¡¯t do it... The Vermilion Bird watched from afar, cold sweat covering her back. She finally reached out to the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor for the first time. ¡°You can¡¯t keep parasitizing. He knows your parasitic method. If he really decides to kill you, every demon you¡¯ve infected will die with you. Wanling, stop now!¡± The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor roared, ¡°**** off! If I stop parasitizing, are you going to take my beatings for me?!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll still get beaten in the end! Ask him¡ªask him why he¡¯s doing this! Help him solve whatever it is! Just stop parasitizing!¡± ¡°You think he¡¯ll answer me?! You saw it! He doesn¡¯t talk¡ªhe just hits me! Every time he sees me, he just starts hitting me! What the hell do you want me to do?!¡± ¡°Just stop for a moment, I¡¯ll go ask him!¡± ¡°Piss off! If you want to ask him, ask him yourself! I¡¯m not stopping!¡± Let the demon race die out if it had to. Even if every last one died, he wasn¡¯t going to get beaten again. But... the Vermilion Bird had a point. The more he parasitized, the closer the demon race got to being completely consumed. And once they were all gone¡ªwhat then? By now, the number of uninfected demons had dropped sharply. Lu Ye appeared again. ¡°Don¡¯t hit me! Please don¡¯t hit me! I¡¯ve already parasitized almost the entire demon race! I can¡¯t parasitize anymore¡ªI don¡¯t have a choice! Please don¡¯t hit me!¡± Lu Ye finally spoke. ¡°If there are no demons left, there¡¯s always the demon race.¡± The moment those words landed, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor felt a terror bloom in his heart. His very soul trembled. What does he mean? Is he planning to wipe out all the foreign races in one go?! No... no, that¡¯s not it! If Lu Ye wanted to exterminate every race, he wouldn¡¯t need him to parasitize anything¡ªhe could do it all himself. Then what the hell is this about? ¡°Lu Ye! You¡¯re not like this! What happened to you?! Tell me¡ªI¡¯ll help you fix it!¡± The Vermilion Bird came flying over at that moment, shouting loudly. Lu Ye, without a single word of explanation, slashed his sword at her. In the blink of an eye, the Vermilion Bird burst into a sky of flame. That sword strike nearly killed her on the spot¡ªif she hadn¡¯t had the ability to be reborn in fire, she would¡¯ve died then and there. Her scalp went numb. He¡¯s gone mad. Completely insane. How... how could Lu Ye become like this?! But bathing in fire came at a cost. The Vermilion Bird¡¯s vitality had been severely damaged¡ªshe didn¡¯t dare show herself before Lu Ye again anytime soon. Ready for the next segment? It¡¯s getting darker and more intense by the paragraph. Lu Ye raised his fist¡ªand once again began beating the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. ¡°Don¡¯t hit me! Please don¡¯t hit me! I get it now! I¡¯ll go to the Demon Realm! I¡¯ll go to the Divine Realm! I¡¯ll go to every single one of my minor worlds! Just please stop hitting me!¡± A proper, dignified Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor... had now been beaten into a full-blown trauma response. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t even hitting all that hard¡ªbut the Demon Emperor¡¯s screams were still thunderous. Because of his overwhelming fear, every strike felt even more excruciating. After the beating ended, Lu Ye vanished again. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor endured the pain, dragging himself up from the ground. He healed his injuries as fast as he could¡ªand immediately rushed toward the Demon Realm. He couldn¡¯t afford to care anymore. Nothing mattered anymore. If he hadn¡¯t been beaten this many times, maybe he¡¯d still be clinging to the idea of parasitizing everything and becoming the strongest being alive. But now, after all the beatings¡ª The Demon Emperor was genuinely, painfully obedient. ... Upon entering the Demon Realm¡ª The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor began his parasitic spree once more. As expected, Lu Ye did not reappear. As long as he kept working hard at parasitizing, he wouldn¡¯t get hit. The Demon Emperor felt like he¡¯d been sold into a cursed black spirit mine¡ªwhere only by working himself to death could he avoid a beating. Naturally, his arrival in the Demon Realm attracted the attention of the demon race. Powerful demons came to stop him. But the Demon Realm wasn¡¯t like the Monster Realm. They couldn¡¯t just let him parasitize freely. However¡ªwhen Lu Ye¡¯s figure appeared in front of the demon race elites¡ª They fell silent. They had fought Lu Ye before. He¡¯d come and gone as he pleased, stolen a mountain of their treasures, and killed two of their tribulation-stage Demon Emperors. Word had already spread¡ªthe Heavenly Demon Emperor had also fallen to Lu Ye¡¯s hand. The entire alliance had collapsed, and Lu Ye had played a massive role in that defeat. Now that Lu Ye stood in their way¡ªwhat were they supposed to do? What could they do? They could only stand there and watch, wide-eyed, as the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor parasitized the demon race like mad. ... Great Wilderness. Supreme Sword Sect. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve¡ªto steal the Sword Mountain?!¡± Endless sword qi erupted from the Supreme Sword Sect. One after another, powerful sword cultivators flew out. Chu Ling was covered in sword wounds, blood flowing freely¡ªbut she didn¡¯t care at all. The Sword Mountain of the Supreme Sword Sect was a congenital spiritual treasure. You could say it was the very foundation of the Supreme Sword Sect! It held every sword the sect had refined and stored for countless years¡ªnew swords, broken swords, shattered blades, divine swords that had yet to choose a master. The entire Sword Mountain had been nurtured by the Supreme Sword Sect over countless generations. It had consumed a terrifying amount of resources, and the sword intent it contained was incomparably pure¡ªof tremendous benefit to any sword. And now¡ª It had been stolen! A humiliation of the highest order! No matter what it took¡ªthey had to recover the Sword Mountain and kill the lunatic who dared to lay hands on it! What enraged the Supreme Sword Sect most was¡ªthis thief seemed to be someone from the Grand Dao Sect. The Grand Dao Sect and the Supreme Sword Sect had always stood together. They had always supported each other¡ªnever drawing lines between ¡°you¡± and ¡°me.¡± Their relationship had been extremely close. And now¡ª Now they¡¯d been stabbed in the back. Even worse¡ªthe Sect Master of the Supreme Sword Sect was currently at the Grand Dao Sect and hadn¡¯t returned yet! This was beyond insult. This was betrayal. The Supreme Sword Sect immediately reached out to their sect master. When Sect Master Li Wuyue received the message¡ªhe was completely stunned. Then a surge of seething fury exploded from within him, soaring into the heavens. ¡°Liu Changfeng! You¡¯d better give me a damned explanation!¡± Liu Changfeng? Seeing the wrathful fury on Li Wuyue¡¯s face, Liu Changfeng¡¯s heart gave a hard thump. Because he knew¡ªLi Wuyue had always been calm as still water, upright and composed, a true gentleman. He had never shown such rage. For him to be this furious¡ªsomething unspeakably vile must have happened. ¡°Brother Wuyue, please calm yourself. What exactly happened?¡± Chapter 125: One Life… Or Millions? ¡°You people from the Grand Dao Sect snuck into our Supreme Sword Sect and stole our Sword Mountain¡ªis this how the Grand Dao Sect treats its allies?!¡± ¡°Our entire Supreme Sword Sect was mobilized¡ªwe only left behind the old, the weak, and the infirm at the sect. And in the moment we were helping you¡ªyour Grand Dao Sect chose to rob our home?!¡± Li Wuyue¡¯s voice was furious beyond compare. He was genuinely on the verge of exploding. Liu Changfeng¡¯s expression grew extremely grim. ¡°Dao brother, don¡¯t be hasty. You say someone from my Grand Dao Sect stole the Sword Mountain¡ªdo we know who?¡± Truth be told, Liu Changfeng didn¡¯t believe what Li Wuyue was saying. The Grand Dao Sect had been in a state of crisis. From the ancestors down to the disciples, everyone was preparing for war. Who could possibly have the time or energy to run off to the Supreme Sword Sect and stir up chaos? Li Wuyue waved his hand¡ªand a screen of light appeared before them. ¡°Do you recognize this person?¡± The image of Chu Ling emerged. Some within the Grand Dao Sect recognized this face. One of them was Ji Changming. Liu Changfeng didn¡¯t know her¡ªbut the moment he saw the image, he looked to Ji Changming for confirmation. If it were someone else, Ji Changming would¡¯ve denied it instantly. But with Chu Ling, he had to tread carefully. Because as far as he knew, there was... something unclear between Chu Ling and Lu Ye. ¡°Junior brother, you should recognize her, right?¡± Liu Changfeng asked. Ji Changming nodded. ¡°This woman is Chu Ling, a disciple of White Orchid Peak. She placed second in the sect¡¯s internal genius competition... and she may have some complicated history with Lu Ye.¡± Li Wuyue¡¯s burning rage paused for a moment. ¡°Even if she has some unclear relationship with Lu Ye, that doesn¡¯t justify what she did to an ally! That¡¯s our Sword Mountain! If the Sword Mountain disappears¡ªcan the Supreme Sword Sect still call itself the Supreme Sword Sect?!¡± ¡°Dao friend, please remain calm. We¡¯ll immediately try to contact Chu Ling¡ªand Lu Ye as well. Sword Mountain isn¡¯t going to vanish in a day. Our Grand Dao Sect would never violate our alliance¡¯s ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) trust. We stand firmly on the side of righteousness!¡± ... Lu Ye, of course, had no idea what Chu Ling had done¡ªbut even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised. One life for another. That incident at the Chu Sword Villa¡ªLu Ye hadn¡¯t died. It was for saving Chu Ling that he died once. That event hadn¡¯t even happened yet. As for Chu Ling... Lu Ye didn¡¯t want to say too much. Right now, he was more interested in this group from the Buddhist Sect. Although the Buddhist Sect had been expelled from the Great Wilderness, most of its disciples were still human¡ªand they had smuggled in outsiders under the guise of aiding others. At this point, Lu Ye¡ªstill herding the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡ªhad arrived at the Buddhist Realm. Among all the foreign races, the Buddhist sect had suffered the least casualties. Lu Ye had already prepared for a major battle. And sure enough¡ªthe signs were there. For the first time, even Lu Ye¡¯s expression grew a little solemn. Because seated before him, cross-legged and glowing with immeasurable Buddhist light, was a massive Buddha statue. The overwhelming pressure made the entire Buddhist Realm feel frozen in place. This aura¡ªpeak Grand Completion Realm? The Buddhist Sect still had an ancient monster like this? One man, one Buddha¡ªlocked in standoff. ¡°Amitabha. The path ahead is blocked. I must ask this Dao friend to turn away.¡± Silver-white light suddenly burst from Lu Ye¡¯s eyes. Within his gaze, a second pupil faintly flickered into view. ¡°Just a discarded relic left in the First Heaven.¡± Yes¡ªthat so-called Buddha was nothing but a scarecrow. If Lu Ye hadn¡¯t had countless tricks and sharp instincts, he really might have been fooled by that illusion. It looked far too real. The Buddha¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°If you insist on your stubborn path... then I shall suppress you!¡± At that moment, its aura surged once more¡ªrising beyond even what a Grand Completion cultivator should be able to display. A colossal, vividly detailed Buddha palm came crashing down toward Lu Ye. Lu Ye ignored it completely. His body turned into a stream of light and rushed forward. The Buddha palm descended with earth-shaking force, slamming into Lu Ye. But the instant it touched his body¡ªit shattered into nothing. Lu Ye passed through the illusion like it didn¡¯t exist. The Buddhist Sect... Was already fleeing. Not just starting to run¡ªthey had clearly been running for quite some time. Only a tiny handful of disciples still remained in the realm. Seeing this, Lu Ye felt a faint pang of emotion. The Buddhist Sect... No wonder they managed to screw up again and again and still survive each time. Say what you will¡ªbut when it came to knowing when to run and understanding their limits, they were far ahead of most factions. They were probably just used to it by now. Disaster always lagged half a step behind the Buddhist Sect. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor, meanwhile, looked... completely lost. The entire Buddhist Sect had fled. There was no one left for him to parasite. This... this shouldn¡¯t be his fault, right? ¡°Continue.¡± The Vermilion Bird was slowly being reborn from the flames, her recovery painful. She watched as the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor dove into the Ghost Realm to parasite, then into the Spirit Realm... The Demon Emperor himself had lost count of how many beings he¡¯d infected. The new body he had taken over had originally only been at the third stage of Tribulation Crossing, but its cultivation was rapidly climbing¡ªnow already at the fourth stage. He was in the most terrifying cultivation state imaginable. If given time, he could once again ascend rapidly to the ninth stage of Tribulation Crossing. ¡°What is he trying to do?¡± The Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes widened. The fear in her heart was growing stronger by the moment. She saw Lu Ye walking toward the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. The Demon Emperor thought another beating was coming¡ªand quickly raised his arms to shield his head. Thud! Thud! Two arms were severed and flew through the air. The Demon Emperor howled in agony. ¡°I¡¯ve done what you asked! I¡¯ve parasitized so, so many demons, monsters, and ghosts! Just let me go! Please, let me go!¡± He cried and pleaded. He really couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He didn¡¯t want to be beaten again. That feeling of being crushed, of being powerless under relentless torment¡ªit had done massive damage to his psyche. Lu Ye extended his hand. His palm gripped the Demon Emperor¡¯s skull. ¡°This is the final trial. Survive it, and you¡¯ll have lived.¡± The moment the words fell¡ª In an instant, the Obsession of Reincarnation came crashing down like a galaxy descending from the heavens, pouring violently into the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s soul. Reincarnation¡ªwhat an ancient word. Over the endless years, how many unresolved agonies had never faded¡ªhow many had refused reincarnation and instead turned into obsession? Too many. Far, far too many. And now, Lu Ye had found a place to pour all of it. He poured all that obsession into this single soul. ¡°Aaaaaaahhhh¡ª!¡± A scream of pure agony burst from the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s mouth. With just the first wave of obsession crashing into him, his soul was already showing signs of complete collapse. And it was in this moment that the Demon Emperor finally understood why Lu Ye had forced him to parasite so many living beings. The obsessions were too many¡ªtoo painful. The Demon Emperor couldn¡¯t endure it. He didn¡¯t want to die¡ªbut the obsessions had already locked onto his soul. If he wanted to live, there was only one way. He had to offload the obsession. Distribute it evenly into each and every parasitized soul. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªthere was no time to hesitate. In an instant, all of his hosts began to feel unbearable agony. A tidal wave of wailing, hysteria, muttering voices erupted within each parasitized soul. The weak died quickly. The Vermilion Bird, too, was still in a half-parasitized state. Her brows furrowed, her expression twisting with pain. No... this can¡¯t happen! Such a massive outpouring of reincarnation obsession¡ªevery parasitized being would die! There was absolutely no hope of survival. Even their souls would be crushed to pieces by the obsessions. One after another, the anguished spirits surged toward every foreign world. No! Lu Ye, stop! All the demons and monsters will die¡ªevery single parasitized soul will perish! At that moment, one obsession entered the Vermilion Bird¡¯s mind. It was Shen Xitong. ¡°You...¡± The Vermilion Bird froze. Shen Xitong looked at her calmly. ¡°I heard from Lu Ye... you were once an Emperor. The Dao heart of an Emperor is firm¡ªable to resist the influence of all obsessions. But if they live¡ªyou will die.¡± ¡°Or¡ªif you ignore it and let them die¡ªyou will live.¡± ¡°One life... or millions?¡± ¡°You decide.¡± Chapter 126: Choice Ah! Ah! Ahhh! The Divine Realm, the Yao Realm, the Demon Realm, the Spirit Realm, the Ghost Realm... Wails of agony echoed across the heavens. In this moment, all beings parasitized by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor had their souls invaded by the force of obsession. Every obsession, every pain suffered in their former lives, at this moment, transformed into the agony of these demons and monsters. It was as though they themselves had personally experienced all that those obsessions had endured. As though, in this boundless red dust, they had been battered and broken by fate, by the world, by resentment and hatred. Agony. It enveloped all the demon and foreign races. The entire world was filled with nothing but those shrill, tormented screams. And yet, this was only the beginning of the obsession. Cycle of Obsession... There was far, far too much of it. Why did Lu Ye always cry? Because it was too bitter. Even with the Dao Heart of a Heavenly Lord, he couldn¡¯t suppress that overwhelming sense of suffering. If he tried to forcibly suppress it, even his Dao Heart, will, and soul would fall into ruin. He could only relieve some of the pain in his heart, could only ease the pressure on himself, by crying. Tears were the outward expression of pain. ¡°What the hell is going on? Didn¡¯t you self-destruct?¡± Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes were wide with fury, locked onto Shen Xitong. Shen Xitong¡¯s gaze remained calm¡ªcalm, but cold. ¡°I did. I self-destructed. All of my family died. I carried boundless hatred, refused reincarnation, and turned into a force of obsession... just so I could wait for this moment to come!¡± ¡°What you should be concerned with right now isn¡¯t why I¡¯m here¡ªyou should be worried about the demons and monsters you¡¯ve been protecting. Look at what kind of suffering they¡¯re experiencing!¡± Shen Xitong turned into a stream of light and surged into Vermilion Bird¡¯s soul. In that instant, Vermilion Bird¡¯s consciousness became incomparably clear. Her connection with the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor became even more intimate, and the obsessions continued to pour ceaselessly from the Demon Emperor¡¯s soul into her own. But, just as Shen Xitong had said¡ªshe was a Great Emperor! One of the Four Spirits of Heaven, the Vermilion Bird! This level of obsession¡ªat most, it might make her furrow her brow. Even if the obsessions of every living being in existence were concentrated onto her alone, she could endure it. However, right now, through the perspective of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor, she was witnessing the wails of countless demons and monsters. Countless! Far too many! Vast lands, endless mountains and forests. Everywhere, living beings were writhing on the ground, crying out in pain. Their souls were under terrifying assault. The obsessions clung to them like the vilest parasites, tightly wrapped around their very spirits, subjecting them to the most violent emotional attacks in the world. Some of the weaker demons and monsters were shattered in an instant¡ªtheir minds completely broken. They collapsed to the ground without moving, their souls rapidly dissipating. Tragic... Vermilion Bird gasped violently for breath. To kill someone with a single blow is one thing. But why torment them like this? The Cycle of Obsession¡ªit was that madwoman¡¯s poison! Vermilion Bird knew exactly who. When she first heard the name of the technique, she thought it was something like the Slaughter Lotus Heart¡ªjust something to provoke emotional fluctuation in Lu Ye. But now, it was clearly something far more. The Slaughter Lotus Heart caused Lu Ye to fall under the control of slaughter. But the Cycle of Obsession dragged Lu Ye into endless, boundless pain. Scene after scene continued to flood into Vermilion Bird¡¯s mind. Scenes too tragic, too devastating. At every moment, there were demons and monsters dying in unbearable agony. Their faces twisted, distorted, eyes wide with unrelieved torment. These visions were a tremendous torment for Vermilion Bird. If she alone were to die, could all the other demons survive? Among these demons, there were those who had done no evil! The Cycle of Obsession grew even more vast. Shen Xitong¡¯s words lingered in her mind. She was a Great Emperor¡ªher Dao Heart was firm. She could endure the Cycle of Obsession. As long as all that obsession was gathered upon her alone, the rest of these living beings might be able to survive! If she chose to ignore it, then all of them... would die. Vermilion Bird suddenly let out a clear, piercing cry. The cry of the Vermilion Bird echoed through the Nine Heavens. Very well¡ªif that¡¯s how it must be, then let me die! It¡¯s only death. If one life¡ªhers¡ªcould save thousands upon thousands... Then her death would be worth it! Boom! With a thunderous roar¡ª In that moment, the connection between Vermilion Bird and the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor reached its peak. All obsessions directed at other living beings were severed and surged toward her alone. In just an instant, Vermilion Bird let out a cry of anguish. Her body crashed heavily to the ground, curling into itself. Every Vermilion feather on her body trembled uncontrollably. Wails... Wave after wave of pained wails rang out. Vermilion Bird saw it. If what Lu Ye had done earlier¡ªtransferring the Cycle of Obsession to the hundreds of millions of foreign beings in those small worlds¡ªwas already a scene of cruelty, Then this moment¡ªwhen obsessions as countless as the stars, accumulated across endless epochs, filled with unmeasurable sorrow¡ªwas an overwhelming performance, a reenactment of all the world¡¯s most tragic miseries. She followed each obsession, endured their torment, as though she were reincarnating through billions of lifetimes. More and more. Endlessly more. Vermilion Bird coughed up great mouthfuls of blood¡ªeach drop was her essence blood, the blood from her very heart. Even the Dao Heart of a Great Emperor, under such torment, had been reduced to this. Shen Xitong, watching from up close, nibbled on melon seeds as she savored Vermilion Bird¡¯s agony. Tsk tsk tsk... and this is only the beginning? Not even a tenth of the Cycle of Obsession lingering on Lu Ye¡¯s soul had been released yet. And you¡¯re already writhing in this much pain? If it¡¯s really for the sake of those millions of foreign beings... then you¡¯d better hold out! ¡°Aaahhhhhh¡ª!¡± Vermilion Bird let out the most soul-rending scream. She was weeping blood. At this moment, Lu Ye¡¯s face bore a look of relief. So comfortable¡ª The Cycle of Obsession was like a murky swamp. Ever since its eruption, it had been clinging to him every moment of every day. He always felt endlessly exhausted, endlessly sorrowful and tormented. But now, the mire... the shackles... they were being cast off, broken apart. It felt incredible! As for the fact that he could sense all the Cycle of Obsession flowing into one person¡ª Lu Ye had already guessed. Most likely, it was Vermilion Bird. So what if it was Vermilion Bird? If not for her divine fate ability to be reborn in fire, he would have killed her long ago. Since she¡¯d {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} always resented him for killing the demon races, and now even betrayed him, then her choosing to bear the obsessions on their behalf¡ªallowing the demons to survive¡ªwasn¡¯t that perfectly in line with her ideals? But the question was... could Vermilion Bird truly endure until death? Lu Ye was very much looking forward to the answer. One-tenth of the obsessions dissipated. Two-tenths of the obsessions dissipated. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s soul had been completely shackled, unable to move in the slightest. Three-tenths of the obsessions dissipated. ¡°Ah!¡± Vermilion Bird¡¯s true flame erupted, burning sky and earth alike. With just three-tenths of the obsessions transferred, she was already at the brink of collapse. Pain. Unbearable pain! What could Vermilion Bird possibly do? She could only grit her teeth and endure it with her Dao Heart. I am one of the Four Spirits of Heaven! I am the Vermilion Bird Demon Empress! I am Lu Ye¡¯s wife! No... not... not that... Vermilion Bird¡¯s thoughts were beginning to unravel. At this moment, she was endlessly cycling through reincarnations, experiencing all the suffering of the mortal world. She could hold on! She could! Chapter 127: Regret Vermilion Bird began to recall the beautiful things in her life. She wanted to use that beauty to resist the bitterness of existence. She had been raised by the demon race from a young age. The one who raised her was a white stork. The white stork had been kind to her, fed her, taught her cultivation. It was the white stork who taught her that all things in this world possessed both good and evil. Back then, what she looked forward to most every day was what tasty food Mother Stork would bring home for her. Later¡ª A look of confusion suddenly appeared in Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes. Later on, in all her memories of happiness... one person kept showing up. ¡°This bird¡¯s got a pretty unique look¡ªmight be nice to keep around!¡± ¡°Que¡¯er, come, sing with me: ¡®I am a little, little bird, I want to fly but I can¡¯t fly high...¡¯¡± ¡°Que¡¯er, this divine fire looks like it suits you. Try it¡ªhow¡¯s it taste?¡± ¡°Hurt my Que¡¯er, and I¡¯ll annihilate your entire sect!¡± ¡°Que¡¯er, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m always here.¡± ¡°Que¡¯er!¡± ¡°Que¡¯er!¡± ¡°Que¡¯er...¡± The final image in her mind froze beneath the clouds of tribulation¡ªLu Ye looking at her with that expression in his eyes. Shock, disbelief, heartbreak... It hurt so much! She truly couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. Her thoughts became chaotic. I think I did something wrong. No, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I¡¯ve wronged Lu Ye. No, Lu Ye wronged me. I can die for the sake of ten million lives. No¡ªI can protect more lives by staying alive. Yes, yes... if I live, I can save even more lives. These ten million are only a part of it. In these Nine Heavens, there are still countless demon clans that need my protection. No, no, no¡ªI mustn¡¯t retreat. But... it really hurts. It hurts too much. As Vermilion Bird¡¯s will to survive began to surge again, her thoughts instinctively constructed reasons to justify it. ¡°Are you giving up?¡± Shen Xitong¡¯s voice rang out at that moment. Vermilion Bird heard it clearly, but didn¡¯t answer. Her mind was still repeating that single thought: If I live, I can save more demons and monsters. ¡°Do you understand how many kind beings there are among those ten million lives? Can you bear to see them suffer endless torment and die?¡± ¡°To save ten million, one death¡ªthat was your belief, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Or was it that, in your heart, you only ever meant someone else should die for the sake of ten million¡ªnot you?¡± ¡°If you give up now, all ten million will die. Their souls will be consumed by obsession, never to reincarnate, never to know peace.¡± ¡°If you abandon them now, they will never again have the chance to live.¡± ¡°If you give up now¡ªthey will all die!¡± ¡°Are you really going to abandon them?¡± Each and every word slammed into Vermilion Bird¡¯s ears, again and again. Her voice was anguished. ¡°If I live... I can save more!¡± ¡°And when more lives face a disaster like this, are you going to give up again? Thinking to yourself that you could save even more?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse to run away.¡± ¡°Do you know? If you don¡¯t save these ten million, then you are a hypocrite. When you tried to kill me, you claimed it was to trade one life for ten million. And now it¡¯s your turn¡ªand you hesitate!¡± ¡°Vermilion Bird!¡± ¡°You are Vermilion Bird!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t the deaths of so many living beings move your kind heart?¡± ¡°You must save them! You must save their lives!¡± Shen Xitong¡¯s words stabbed toward Vermilion Bird like blades¡ªeach one sharper than the last. Vermilion Bird¡¯s heart¡ªher kindness¡ªwas, at this moment, riddled with wounds, pierced through a thousand times. Seven-tenths of the obsession! ¡°If your heart truly holds love, then hold on a little longer. You¡¯re a Great Emperor¡ªwith a steady Dao Heart¡ªdon¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even endure this kind of pain?¡± ¡°Lu Ye bore all of this, and all he did was shed tears. But you¡¯re already suffering to this extent?¡± ¡°Remember what you claimed was your faith. Remember what you insisted upon!¡± Eight-tenths. At this point, the sheer volume of obsession had pushed Vermilion Bird to the brink of total death and Dao dissolution. In this moment, she didn¡¯t just feel overwhelming pain¡ªthere was also the imminent, suffocating presence of death. And that made her will even more fragile. ¡°Everyone else can die¡ªbut why not you?¡± ¡°When others die, you say it¡¯s to save more lives. Then you dying would save more too.¡± ¡°If you endure, you are good.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t endure, you are a hypocrite.¡± Shen Xitong continued from the sidelines, alternating between mockery and biting encouragement. On one hand, if the mutt host¡¯s Cycle of Obsession wasn¡¯t completely expelled, it was sure to cause huge trouble in the future. Even sacrificing millions of lives might not be enough to purge it. On the other hand, Shen Xitong truly wanted to see Vermilion Bird push through all the way to the very edge... and then collapse. The obsessions she couldn¡¯t hold back would surge like a tidal wave, violently flooding into all living beings, instantly annihilating their souls. In that case, Vermilion Bird would become the greatest accomplice. And Shen Xitong could still lie to her, trick her all the way through. So Vermilion Bird had to keep enduring. As for whether she¡¯d actually absorb all the obsession from Lu Ye¡¯s soul without ever regretting it? Please. The system had watched these women their entire past life. If Vermilion Bird could really walk to her death without complaint, just to save others, Shen Xitong would gladly eat that mutt host alive. Nine-tenths! Lu Ye felt utterly light, the crushing weight lifted from his entire body. Vermilion Bird must be dead by now, right? In this moment, Lu Ye actually felt a trace of respect. To endure until death¡ªVermilion Bird was worthy of the title of Great Emperor. ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, a Vermilion cry tore through the heavens and earth. The Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s body began to convulse violently. Lu Ye¡¯s expression hardened slightly. A flicker of disappointment passed through his eyes. Then they turned cold as steel. The Cycle of Obsession, in its most savage form, slammed straight into the soul of the Myriad Spirit ¡ï Novelight ¡ï Demon Emperor. The obsession that Vermilion Bird had been holding back suddenly burst like a dam, completely collapsing. That immense Cycle of Obsession transformed into a flood, and along the connection between the Demon Emperor and his parasitized hosts, it crashed into the bodies of those millions¡ªtens of millions¡ªof possessed beings. In that moment, countless small worlds were consumed by screams. A flood of living beings died. Died in the most tragic, horrific ways imaginable. The soul of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor twisted madly, shattered, and turned to ash. Lu Ye withdrew his palm. At that moment, every trace of the Cycle of Obsession vanished from his soul. The fourth poison¡ªcompletely eradicated. Vermilion Bird was now doing everything in her power to purge the Cycle of Obsession from her own soul. She didn¡¯t want to endure that agony anymore. Not a shred of it. Not even a sliver of obsession would she allow to remain. When she finally forced out the last of the Cycle of Obsession from her body¡ª The Divine Realm, the Ghost Realm, the Yao Realm, the Demon Realm... all the small worlds became lands of the dead. Vermilion Bird had at last escaped from the boundless suffering. She gasped for breath. Never in her life had she come so close to death¡ªso close that not even rebirth in divine fire could have saved her. And then¡ªlaughter echoed in her mind. ¡°Hahaha... Kindness... Kindness... Hahaha...¡± Chapter 128: Before Death The body of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor collapsed with a thunderous crash. His soul¡ªalready shattered. Every trace of his aura vanished. From this moment on, the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor existed no more. From this moment on, the parasitic sky demons were no more. No¡ªwait. Not quite. There was still one. Lu Ye¡¯s figure vanished. When he appeared again, he was already standing in front of Vermilion Bird. Vermilion Bird lifted her head, staring up at Lu Ye¡¯s icy gaze. Shen Xitong¡¯s silhouette appeared beside her. ¡°Gege, why don¡¯t you kill just one of them?¡± Shen Xitong said gently. Lu Ye nodded. ¡°All right.¡± He raised his palm, then formed it into a fist. Vermilion Bird sat dazed and dull-eyed. Her Dao Heart, the moment she released the Cycle of Obsession, had completely shattered. She was a hypocrite. The kindness she so prided herself on¡ªthe conviction that she could lay down her life for the sake of others¡ª In the end, she had failed to do it. So this... was what true death felt like. So terrifying. As Lu Ye¡¯s Heavenly Lord Fist gathered power, a faint clarity finally returned to Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes. Bloody tears flowed down her cheeks. She knew¡ªshe was going to die. Because a remnant sliver of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡¯s soul still lingered inside her. ¡°Before I die... may I ask a question?¡± Lu Ye wasn¡¯t about to waste words. He raised his fist, ready to bring it crashing down. But Shen Xitong quickly hugged his arm. Mutt Host, she whined inwardly, killing her like this is way too boring, don¡¯t you think? ¡°You may ask.¡± Shen Xitong spoke aloud. Vermilion Bird¡¯s gaze lingered on the sight of Shen Xitong clinging to Lu Ye¡¯s arm. Once upon a time, she could make that gesture too. Once upon a time, she could stop Lu Ye even when his killing intent was at its peak. No matter how murderous he was, as long as she held him back¡ªLu Ye would stop. But now, someone was still stopping him. Only¡ªit wasn¡¯t her. And the person Lu Ye was killing now... was her. Hahaha... Vermilion Bird laughed¡ªbitterly, despairingly. ¡°You clearly had nine lives. Then why, when you underwent tribulation... did you only have one?¡± Lu Ye remained silent. Shen Xitong¡¯s face lit up with excitement¡ªMelon! Melon! Melon! Melonmelons! Ding! Mutt Host! Lu Ye-gege! Tell her! Hurry up and tell her the truth! Overcome with excitement, Shen Xitong was practically shouting nonsense. Lu Ye looked at Vermilion Bird¡¯s expression, and in his mind, the image of that once-spirited, lively Vermilion Bird seemed to surface again. ¡°In the last life, during my cultivation... I died once for each of the eight of you.¡± Lu Ye spoke. Vermilion Bird¡¯s soul trembled violently. She stared at Lu Ye in disbelief. ¡°You died once... for me, too?¡± Lu Ye nodded. ¡°When?¡± Vermilion Bird asked, her voice rushed, trembling. ¡°The parasitic sky demon. White Flame Spirit. Canglan Sea.¡± When Lu Ye spoke those three names, Vermilion Bird¡¯s memories were suddenly dragged back to that time. The parasitic sky demon¡ªit had appeared in the Seventh Heaven. And the White Flame Spirit... that was the little fledgling bird she had secretly hidden and raised in secret. Under her careful protection, the fledgling had slowly grown. She¡¯d named it White Flame Spirit¡ª¡°White¡± taken as a surname in honor of the white stork who had raised her. The Canglan Sea was the place where Lu Ye had ultimately fought his final battle with the parasitic sky demon. She remembered now. She remembered everything. Back when the White Flame Spirit was still alive, Lu Ye had been under siege by all kinds of formidable enemies. He fought his way forward, one bloody battle at a time. His path to rising was forged in unimaginable suffering. That day¡ª Lu Ye had already been pursuing the parasitic sky demon for a long time. He finally chased it all the way to the Canglan Sea. And it was on that very day that she received a key. It was the key to the Ancestral Court of the demon race. And lingering on that key was the aura of the White Flame Spirit. The demon who delivered the key told her it ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) had been left for her by a fiery red bird. That bird¡¯s name¡ªwas White Flame Spirit. At the time, she was somewhat puzzled. The White Flame Spirit had already died back in the Sixth Heaven. She had ascended to the Seventh Heaven by then¡ªhow could White Flame Spirit still have the ability to leave her anything up there? The one who delivered the key said they were from the Scales Pavilion. The Scales were known for balancing all things and fair trade. Their reputation was quite trustworthy. That key, the messenger said, had been deposited with them by a demon named White Flame Spirit, who had instructed them to deliver it to Vermilion Bird at the appropriate time. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®appropriate time¡¯?¡± Vermilion Bird had asked. ¡°When the parasitic sky demon is about to die.¡± She even knew about the parasitic sky demon? Vermilion Bird was astonished, but the Scales Pavilion envoy had already completed their task. They told her all she needed to do was inject a strand of divine sense into the key, and she would understand everything. After that, they took their leave. At the time, Vermilion Bird had been cautious. But¡ªit was only a single thread of divine sense. She was powerful enough back then to feel confident in facing whatever dangers might arise. So she sent her divine sense into the key¡ª And what she saw proved it was truly the White Flame Spirit. That aura¡ªthere was no mistaking it, not even the tiniest bit. ¡°Big Sister Vermilion Bird, it¡¯s been a while. By now, I¡¯m probably already dead, right?¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s all good. I was supposed to die a long time ago anyway. Getting to live longer than expected was a huge bonus.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I don¡¯t have enough strength left to ramble¡ªlet¡¯s get straight to the point!¡± ¡°This key is the key to the Ancestral Court of the demon race. I found it during my final exploration, and it¡¯s the reason I ended up dying.¡± ¡°The Ancestral Court is in the Seventh Heaven. There are countless demon treasures hidden within, but no one¡¯s managed to find it until now.¡± ¡°All you need to do is drip a drop of your essence blood onto the key, and you¡¯ll be able to lock onto the Ancestral Court¡¯s location. But be careful¡ªthe guardian of the Court is the parasitic sky demon. That thing is terrifying.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to drag Big Sister Vermilion Bird into danger, so I instructed the Scales Pavilion to wait until the parasitic sky demon was about to die before guiding you to the Ancestral Court.¡± ¡°I hope Big Sister Vermilion Bird will stay happy and have a smooth cultivation path. Ahh¡ªI can only say this much. Big Sister Vermilion Bird, take care. Goodbye!¡± That was the message White Flame Spirit had left behind. Vermilion Bird was sure of it¡ªthis truly came from White Flame Spirit. She had raised White Flame Spirit herself, watched her grow step by step. From beginning to end, there had never been the slightest trace of anything related to the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. She trusted White Flame Spirit. So she let a drop of her essence blood fall onto the key. The blood vanished, and sure enough, she was able to sense the aura of the Ancestral Court through the key. So she headed for the Ancestral Court. And that was how she found the Myriad Spirit Blood-Transforming Demon Scripture. At the time, she had been so overwhelmed with emotion that she fell into qi deviation and lost consciousness. When she awoke again, Lu Ye was already beside her¡ªand she was in the Canglan Sea. Lu Ye told her the parasitic sky demon had already been destroyed. ¡°So... I was parasitized?¡± Vermilion Bird asked in a daze. Shen Xitong gently waved her hand. A light screen appeared in front of Vermilion Bird. Chapter 129: The Past Within the light screen¡ª Vermilion Bird appeared in the Ancestral Court of the demon race. In her hands, she held the Myriad Spirit Blood-Transforming Demon Scripture, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. Her face was filled with disbelief. Her eyes were wide open. Her aura surged within her. The Vermilion Flame ignited on its own, burning many objects in the Ancestral Court to ash. Vermilion Bird could see it clearly¡ªthis was indeed what had happened when she was in the Ancestral Court. Pfft! A great mouthful of blood from her heart spewed from her mouth. Vermilion Bird began to laugh madly. ¡°Hahaha¡ªfake! It¡¯s all fake! The technique cultivated by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor doesn¡¯t even contain a soul-seizing method! Hahaha¡ªit was all fake...¡± ¡°Lu Ye! Lu Ye!¡± ¡°You fooled me so badly! You deceived me so terribly!¡± Another mouthful of blood gushed out. Vermilion Bird collapsed into unconsciousness on the spot. In the scene before her, nothing differed from her own memory¡ªthere had been no one else present in the Ancestral Court at the time. Then how had this footage come to exist? Vermilion Bird stared blankly at the light screen. In the image, the unconscious Vermilion Bird suddenly opened her eyes¡ªbut those eyes absolutely did not belong to her. ¡°Hahaha, Lu Ye! Lu Ye! In the end, I was still one step ahead. Even if your strength defies the heavens, so what? Your woman¡ªyour beloved¡ªnow falls into my hands. Do you dare kill me?¡± The parasitic sky demon let out a hideous, twisted laugh. ¡°From the First Heaven all the way up to my Seventh Heaven¡ªyou suppressed me again and again! Lu Ye, you¡¯ve been the greatest enemy of my entire life!¡± ¡°Come on! Try and destroy me completely!¡± ¡°Come!¡± Vermilion Bird¡¯s body lifted into the air, flying rapidly toward the Canglan Sea. At that time, the parasitic sky demon had already been fully suppressed by Lu Ye. The two were battling in the Canglan Sea, waves surging wildly¡ªthe entirety of the Seventh Heaven drowned in terrifying pressure. Countless techniques, blinding sword light. The ultimate clash between man and demon. The parasitic sky demon, even as he was being beaten, laughed with unbridled joy. ¡°Hahaha! Lu Ye! In the end, I¡¯ve won! I¡¯ve won!¡± The parasitic sky demon laughed hysterically at Lu Ye. Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. ¡°Idiot.¡± The Heaven-Penetrating Fist exploded with terrifying power¡ªalready showing faint traces of the Heavenly Lord Fist in its embryonic form. A single punch made the parasitic sky demon cough up mouthfuls of blood. ¡°As a mighty being, can¡¯t you speak more elegantly? I¡¯m a demon and I still don¡¯t speak as rudely as you do!¡± The parasitic sky demon hated nothing more than how Lu Ye always cursed and mocked him like he was an idiot. ¡°Oh, really? Then allow me to be more elegant.¡± ¡°Excuse me, are you an idiot?¡± The parasitic sky demon flew into a frenzy, unleashing demonic magic that shook the skies, launching himself at Lu Ye with full force. And then¡ªgot sent flying again. The demon¡¯s body was repeatedly shattered under the assault. Sword light howled¡ªGrand Slaughter Sword Art unleashed devastating power. The parasitic sky demon grew weaker and weaker. His aura continued to fade, his body more riddled with wounds than the fish in the Canglan Sea. ¡°Die!¡± Lu Ye raised his sword¡ªheaven and earth dimmed in its presence. ¡°Supreme Sword!¡± This was the embryonic form of Lu Ye¡¯s Emperor Sword¡ªthe path of Supreme Sword Dao. Lu Ye was, arguably, the first in all history to reach the Emperor Realm through sword alone, then, after the sword¡¯s destruction, abandon it for fist cultivation¡ªand ultimately ascend to the Heavenly Lord Realm with the fist. What could anyone ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã say? Lu Ye was simply proficient in everything. The system¡¯s enlightenment and deduction features had perfectly assisted him in pushing every technique and method to the pinnacle. The light of the Supreme Sword flared. Just as Lu Ye was about to obliterate the parasitic sky demon with a single sword¡ª A figure suddenly stepped between them. Lu Ye¡¯s sword was already coming down¡ª And yet he forcibly halted it. His arms burst open with blood, and the stone sword let out a mournful cry. ¡°Hahahahaha! Lu Ye! Cut me down!¡± ¡°Kill me!¡± ¡°Kill your most beloved woman right along with me!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t kill that foolish Vermilion Bird, then I won¡¯t die!¡± The parasitic sky demon erupted in grotesque, maniacal laughter. It laughed so hard tears came out. It didn¡¯t believe for a second that Lu Ye would go through with it¡ªbecause even he, an outsider, knew just how much Lu Ye cared for Vermilion Bird. ¡°You think I don¡¯t dare?¡± The moment he saw Vermilion Bird appear, Lu Ye understood everything. His face twisted with savagery, his killing intent more violent than ever before. ¡°Hahaha! Come on then¡ªkill me!¡± ¡°Vermilion Bird¡± took a step forward, coming right up to Lu Ye and stretching out her neck for him to strike. ¡°Who in the world doesn¡¯t know that these women are the most important things in your life¡ªmore precious than all the treasures of the world.¡± ¡°Do you dare to kill?¡± ¡°Can you bear to kill?¡± ¡°Hahahaha...¡± Vermilion Bird watched the scene unfold in the light screen, her heart frozen with cold. So this... this had happened after she lost consciousness... It turned out that in her past life, she had already been parasitized by the parasitic sky demon. But if the situation had become that dire, then how had Lu Ye broken the deadlock? How had he killed the parasitic sky demon without harming her? Lu Ye swung his sword¡ª And the final true body of the parasitic sky demon was destroyed on the spot. The demon was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± ¡°Vermilion Bird¡± roared in fury. With the destruction of its last true body, it now meant that from this moment onward¡ªit could only be Vermilion Bird. And Vermilion Bird could only be it. It had no desire to become Lu Ye¡¯s woman. It didn¡¯t even have a fixed gender to begin with. It was... Wait¡ªbeing Lu Ye¡¯s woman... wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing? Truthfully, of all the opponents the parasitic sky demon had ever encountered, Lu Ye was the only one it had truly needed to take seriously¡ªand even to admire. Aside from his women, Lu Ye had no weaknesses. His techniques were endless, his power beyond terrifying. ¡°Don¡¯t you realize? The moment you destroyed my final body, I could only be Vermilion Bird¡ªand Vermilion Bird could only be me!¡± A cold smile tugged at the corners of Lu Ye¡¯s lips. ¡°Is that so?¡± Suddenly, Lu Ye grabbed Vermilion Bird¡¯s arm. At the same time, he slashed open both of their arms. The next instant, their blood mingled and intertwined¡ªan enormous Yin-Yang Diagram appeared above their heads. Black and white rotated, Lunar and Solar energies exploded, cycling endlessly in infinite transformations. The two of them were engulfed in blinding light. Until¡ªVermilion Bird was blasted away. Lu Ye dropped to his knees in the void, sweat dripping from his face in great beads. This method of Yin-Yang Transformation, after so many consecutive applications, was even more exhausting than dual cultivation with Bai Qiulan. The parasitic sky demon was left completely dazed. Its consciousness had just been whipped, dragged, twisted, and flung in a frenzy by the force of Yin and Yang. When it all ended¡ª Its awareness found itself inside Lu Ye¡¯s body. The parasitic sky demon was utterly horrified. It had no idea how Lu Ye had pulled this off¡ªbut this technique was far too terrifying. If Lu Ye were to just grab some random creature and use this method again, wouldn¡¯t he be able to relocate the demon into another host? Then kill it easily? In a panic, the parasitic sky demon began to fuse wildly with Lu Ye, trying to infect and parasitize every inch of his soul and flesh. Lu Ye paid it no attention. He placed Vermilion Bird gently onto a spirit vessel¡ª And vanished. Chapter 130: The Fall of Suzaku ¡°Hahaha! Lu Ye, you really are a sentimental fool. But now that you and I are one, isn¡¯t that even better?¡± The parasitic sky demon, now fully fused with Lu Ye, spoke using his mouth. Vermilion Bird watched this unfold, terror slowly overtaking her expression. No! No! No! It¡¯s not like this! It can¡¯t be like this! In the light screen, Lu Ye¡¯s lips curled faintly upward. ¡°Another one gone... what a shame.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The parasitic sky demon froze. In the next second, it sensed that the energy inside Lu Ye¡¯s body had begun to go berserk¡ªmad and violent. ¡°Lu Ye¡¯s¡± face changed drastically. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Lu Ye, what are you doing?!¡± ¡°Have you lost your mind? What kind of grudge is this¡ªare you really going to self-detonate just to take me down with you?!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll die too! You want to drag me into a mutual destruction? You lunatic!¡± ¡°Stop! Stop right now!¡± ¡°Lunatic¡ªfuck¡ªyou¡¯re insane!¡± ... ¡°No¡ªdon¡¯t!¡± Vermilion Bird screamed too¡ªdon¡¯t self-detonate! Don¡¯t do it! ... Boom! Within the # N§àv§Ölight # light screen, a brilliant sphere of white light burst forth like a rising sun above the Canglan Sea. A gaping void was torn open across the sea. Massive waves rose like ten-thousand-foot walls, surging outward in all directions. Lu Ye had self-detonated. He had pulled the parasitic sky demon into his own body¡ªalong with its final soul fragment¡ªand detonated himself. They perished together. Vermilion Bird was completely stunned. All of this... had happened after she lost consciousness? Lu Ye had actually substituted himself, allowing the parasitic sky demon to infect him, then self-detonated to destroy it completely. He used one of his lives¡ªjust like that¡ªbecause of her foolishness, because she had trusted White Flame Spirit. The scene in the light screen hadn¡¯t ended yet. Lu Ye, who had died once, appeared again. He let out a gentle sigh, his expression a bit helpless¡ªas if he simply didn¡¯t know what to do with the women in his life. ¡°But it¡¯s fine...¡± A smile once again appeared on Lu Ye¡¯s face. But Vermilion Bird understood the unspoken second half of that sentence. He must have been thinking: But it¡¯s fine¡ªVermilion Bird is safe. The scene continued. She saw Lu Ye waking up the unconscious her aboard the spirit vessel. ¡°Why am I here?¡± Vermilion Bird in the light screen looked at Lu Ye with red eyes, dazed, clutching her head. ¡°You were parasitized by the sky demon. You came here trying to stop me from killing it. But it¡¯s all right¡ªmy skills were superior. Not only did I purge the parasite from your body, I also destroyed the parasitic sky demon completely. Pretty impressive, right?¡± Lu Ye beamed brightly. He always looked so cheerful. As if... just now, he hadn¡¯t died. Vermilion Bird didn¡¯t raise her head. She just gave a quiet reply. ¡°Impressive...¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s your whole reaction?¡± Vermilion Bird lifted her head. A look of admiration now rested on her face. She smiled. ¡°Impressive. Lu Ye is amazing.¡± Lu Ye froze. He stared at Vermilion Bird¡¯s smile, momentarily at a loss. ¡°You...¡± ¡°What? I praised you. Isn¡¯t that enough? What more do you want from me?¡± Lu Ye fell silent. Vermilion Bird smiled on the outside¡ªbut in her eyes... was mockery. ¡°Are you not curious how I managed to expel the parasitic sky demon from your body? Or how I killed it?¡± ¡°You used one of your lives. That¡¯s enough, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Enough, Lu Ye. I¡¯m tired. I want some peace.¡± Lu Ye... ... Vermilion Bird watched everything in the light screen. Tears streamed down her face. She saw the joy, the pride, written all over Lu Ye¡¯s expression¡ªcompletely extinguished by just a few of her words. She remembered clearly... exactly what she had been thinking back then. She hated Lu Ye. In that moment¡ªshe hated Lu Ye with all her heart. She didn¡¯t even want to pretend anymore. She didn¡¯t know what the point of pretending was, when facing a liar like him. The light screen disappeared. Shen Xitong looked at Vermilion Bird, tears pouring down her face¡ªand the entire system was soaring with joy. Ding ding ding. Not trusting your own lover¡ªforever this foolish. You deserve to end up like this. ¡°Can I kill her now?¡± Lu Ye asked Shen Xitong. ¡°Wait! I have one more question!¡± Vermilion Bird¡¯s voice trembled with remorse and guilt. ¡°What is it? Say it.¡± Shen Xitong was full of anticipation. Come on, let me hear¡ªwhat¡¯s your last sentence going to be? Vermilion Bird¡¯s eyes were filled with tears. She stared at Lu Ye in a daze. ¡°Lu Ye...¡± Her voice quivered. Lu Ye¡¯s expression was cold and indifferent. ¡°Lu Ye...¡± She couldn¡¯t even finish her words anymore. Her whole body shook like a leaf as she sobbed. ¡°You...¡± ¡°When you self-detonated that time... were... were you afraid?¡± ¡°Did... did it hurt?¡± Shen Xitong was stunned. Lu Ye¡¯s Heavenly Lord Fist began to form again. And he gave Vermilion Bird an answer. ¡°I wasn¡¯t afraid. And it didn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°Did... did you regret it?¡± The Heavenly Lord Fist had now gathered to its peak. Lu Ye looked at this Vermilion Bird¡ªthe one he had truly loved and cared for in his past life. A thousand thoughts passed through his heart. He gave her the most sincere answer. ¡°I regret it.¡± Vermilion Bird¡¯s face twisted into a wretched smile. Regret... He regrets it... She closed her eyes. The Heavenly Lord Fist came crashing down. Boom! This time, Vermilion Bird exploded completely into a sky full of flame. Her soul¡ªand the half-dead soul of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor tangled with hers¡ªwere reduced to dust beneath that one punch. From this moment on, there was no longer a Vermilion Bird. No longer a Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. Vermilion Bird¡ªhas fallen. ... Lu Ye looked at the Vermilion Flame drifting in the void, his expression obscure, lost in thought. Vermilion Bird had once loved him. He had once loved Vermilion Bird. And now, it had come to this. So be it. So be it. It was nothing more than... a bit of frost in the wind. Lu Ye formed a seal. The Vermilion Flame drifted toward him and merged into his own flames. Lu Ye turned and left. Shen Xitong, fully satisfied, turned into a stream of light and flowed back into Lu Ye¡¯s body. Lu Ye passed through various realms and began once more to refine the Great Flesh Pill. Time passed by the second. Until finally¡ªLu Ye returned to the Great Wilderness. The instant he arrived, the transmission stone lit up. Because it couldn¡¯t transmit messages over such vast distances, he had only received them now that he was back in the Great Wilderness. ¡°Lu Ye, what¡¯s your relationship with Chu Ling?¡± ¡°She stole the Sword Mountain of the Supreme Sword Sect. Now they¡¯re hunting her across the entire world.¡± ¡°The Supreme Sword Sect is our Grand Dao Sect¡¯s ally. Their Sword Mountain was stolen because most of their experts came to help us.¡± ¡°What do you think we should do? Should you contact Chu Ling and ask her to return it? If she wants a treasure like Sword Mountain, maybe we can try forging something similar.¡± ¡°If she truly needs it, we of the Grand Dao Sect can compensate the Supreme Sword Sect...¡± A string of messages lit up. Lu Ye picked up the transmission stone and replied. ¡°Chu Ling and I are enemies. If the Supreme Sword Sect helps me kill her, I¡¯ll be eternally grateful.¡± Chapter 131: Obsession ×2 Obsession¡ªcountless obsessions¡ªdense and innumerable, floated between heaven and earth. The Cycle of Obsession¡ªindestructible. This wasn¡¯t some joke or casual remark. Even the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation could do nothing about these obsessions. That alone spoke volumes about just how terrifying they truly were. As of now, Lu Ye had no way of dealing with them either. Because this thing already belonged to that class of existence which had transcended the Three Realms and was no longer bound by the Five Elements. You could destroy obsession. But obsession would never be destroyed completely. It would return to the cycle of reincarnation, absorb the power of Samsara, and restore itself once more. Dissipation¡ªobsession was a massive pitfall embedded in the body of the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation. Obsession had destroyed the souls of so many living beings. Their bodies had been refined by Lu Ye into the Great Flesh Pill, and as for the obsession itself, Lu Ye had tried to collect it into the Myriad Soul Banner¡ªbut he couldn''t do it. All he could do was leave it be. And as time passed, these obsessions¡ªignored by all¡ªbegan to turn transparent, illusory. They merged into the void. Together, they all flew toward one place. There, an enormous star system was slowly rotating. Billions of stars formed the vastest of vortices, in which the gravitational forces of all kinds of celestial bodies intertwined, creating the most dreamlike of scenes. Across the myriad realms of the heavens, countless souls were continuously being drawn into this vortex, entering reincarnation, starting new lives. Yes¡ªthis was Samsara! The Sixfold Cycle of Reincarnation! The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation had spent his entire life¡¯s efforts creating this cycle, so that the movement of heaven and earth could continue in accordance with the Dao of Heaven, and so that he could establish merit and attain enlightenment through Samsara. The entrance to reincarnation. A colossal stone statue sat cross-legged, draped in a long robe. It was in the shape of a monk, and between his brows was the Seal of Samsara, radiating an awe-inspiring aura that seized the soul. He sat at the very gateway. In truth, his allotted lifespan had long since come to an end. But because of the workings of reincarnation, he had managed to survive inside the cycle in a sealed state for countless years¡ªproof of his terrifying strength. He watched soul after soul enter reincarnation. And he was overjoyed. Because these were all his merits. Suddenly, a strand of obsession arrived. "No harm, no harm¡ªobsession arises at all times." Just one obsession. It wasn¡¯t enough to stir any emotion in the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation. A second strand of obsession arrived. "No harm, no harm¡ªobsession arises at all times." A third strand of obsession arrived. "Hm?" "Could it be... another calamity has arisen in the world?" A fourth strand of obsession arrived. "Alas... all living beings suffer. It is hateful that I cannot ferry them all across." The fifth, the sixth, the seventh¡ª "Wait!" "Wait a moment!" "You, wait just a moment!" The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation began to panic slightly. When the obsessions¡ªdense and numberless¡ªsurged toward the entrance of Samsara, he blew up on the spot. "What the¡ªwhy are there so many obsessions?!" Ka ka ka... The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation tore free from the stone statue. And the moment he did, what he saw made him question the very nature of reality. Obsession! Endless, boundless obsession¡ªforming a vast ocean that stretched beyond sight¡ªwas drifting toward Samsara. No! Amita?bha! No, wait¡ªAmita?bha is on the same level as me. I should be saying... the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation above¡ª No, wait! I am the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation! The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation was so shaken, his thoughts tangled into a mess. It was just¡ªtoo much. There were simply too many obsessions. It wasn¡¯t like he hadn¡¯t lived through the dark era. In those days, countless cruel beings had emerged. The whole world had fallen into chaos. Misery blanketed the land. But how many obsessions had there been back then? Not even one-tenth of the obsessions appearing now! What in the world had happened? Could it be that a being who specialized in creating obsession had emerged? Wouldn¡¯t that make him the nemesis of his entire life? The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation¡¯s expression turned grave. His scalp tingled as he urgently began divining the heavenly secrets, trying to glimpse what was really going on. But the very moment the heavenly secret began to take form¡ª Collapse! It shattered again! A force so mighty that even the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation was shaken had forcibly obscured the heavenly secrets, rendering him completely blind to the truth of the matter. The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation¡¯s eyes widened. Although he knew he was being far too easily shocked¡ªcompletely losing the dignity befitting a Heavenly Lord¡ªhe simply couldn¡¯t help it. Because what he was witnessing was something that had never happened since the dawn of time. The one responsible for creating all these obsessions could directly block out the heavenly secrets, even preventing his divine divinations from succeeding¡ªthis could only mean one thing: that being was no weaker than he was. Possibly even stronger. Faced with such a presence, perhaps it was understandable that he was shaken. It was just... too much. There were simply too many obsessions. The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. This Grand Dao of Reincarnation had been running here for countless eons. The total amount of obsession it had accumulated over that entire period¡ªwas just about equal to what had appeared this time. In other words, the obsession that emerged this time... matched the entire sum total of obsession from all time past. No. The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation was about to lose it. Samsara had existed for so many years already. And yet, all the obsession ever produced added up to this much¡ªwhile now, in one go, this same amount had appeared? What are you, some kind of obsession manufacturing machine? Wait! Huh? Why does this particular obsession look kind of familiar? The obsession standing before the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation took the form of a pallid old man, his face deathly white¡ªobviously a man with one foot in the grave, already riddled with disease. The reason the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation found him familiar... was because this old man was simply too tragic. Born in poverty and sickness, his family borrowed heavily to treat him, barely pulling him back from the brink of death¡ªyet he remained gravely ill all the same. His father broke down and committed suicide. His mother, crushed beneath a mountain of debt, raised him alone¡ªbut poured all her hatred onto him. Though she never struck him, she used her words to viciously scar his soul. There was a blind girl who had fallen in love with him, and he had loved her back. But she was forced to marry a butcher, and suffered beatings and abuse constantly. He had rushed to save her with all his strength¡ªonly to be cruelly beaten to the ground. His mother then unleashed the most venomous curse upon him. He tried to kill himself¡ªonly for his mother to save him, sobbing and screaming that their whole family had fallen apart just to keep him alive. And now he wanted to die? Why hadn¡¯t he died sooner...? He lived his entire life in this kind of suffering. His obsession was so deep, even the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation was moved. Upon seeing this obsession, the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation¡¯s heart trembled¡ªand in the blink of an eye, he vanished. Had the obsession slipped out while he wasn¡¯t paying attention? No, wait¡ªobsessions had that kind of ability? His figure reappeared at the very depths of the Sixfold Cycle of Reincarnation. This was where obsessions had originally been suppressed. And now, in this deepest part, the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation saw it. He saw that same obsession. The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation: ??? No... no, no... He had brought this obsession to the entrance of reincarnation¡ªand now, standing before him, were two obsessions that looked exactly the same. Two old men¡ªexactly identical in every way¡ªstood before the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation. Identical. Perfectly, unmistakably identical. At this moment, the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation¡¯s entire mental state collapsed. Who?! Who the hell was it?! He was a Heavenly Lord! Who dared to mess with him like ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) this? Who dared to play him? To sabotage him like this? This kind of perfect duplication of obsession¡ªhow the hell had they done it? Obsession x2! Chapter 132: Become an Obsession "This is a pair!" "This is a pair!" "This is a pair..." At the deepest point of Samsara, the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation looked at pair after pair of identical obsessions, his expression on the verge of collapse. But he knew clearly¡ªany being capable of doing something like this was absolutely not someone he could afford to provoke. It was far too incomprehensible. This was Cycle of Obsession, and even he had no way of dealing with it. Yet somehow, a terrifying existence had managed to replicate identical obsessions without him even noticing. The heavenly secrets had been completely blocked. He couldn¡¯t deduce anything at all. Finally, once all the obsessions had been paired up¡ª The one remaining obsession appeared before the eyes of the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation. This was... Vermilion Bird? Well then¡ªone of the Four Spirits of Heaven. An existence of such high status, reduced to an obsession. Her eyes were vacant, and she kept murmuring something under her breath. The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation leaned in to listen closely. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry..." The Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation furrowed his brow. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Still, since she had already become a Cycle of Obsession, that must mean she was dead. In the state of obsession, one¡¯s true spirit would be trapped in endless torment¡ªday and night, cycling endlessly. There were three steps to the complete annihilation of a living being. First¡ªphysical death. Second¡ªsoul death. Third¡ªtrue spirit death. Under heaven, most living beings only experienced physical death, with their souls naturally drawn into reincarnation. A strong individual¡¯s soul might resist the pull of Samsara, giving them a chance at rebirth. Some beings, upon death, had their souls shattered. Those would be left with only the true spirit. If a true spirit wanted to reincarnate, it would first need to undergo countless lifetimes as the most insignificant forms of life¡ªsuch as paramecia or various microorganisms¡ªto gradually nurture a ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) soul. Only after the soul was successfully nurtured again, over and over, could it be reborn as a full living being. And then, there was the case where even the true spirit was shattered. This occurred most often during tribulation crossings, or in dark upheavals, when supreme experts struck down ordinary beings. Staring at the true spirit of this Vermilion Bird, the Heavenly Lord of Reincarnation did not act rashly. Let her suffer at the bottom of Samsara for now¡ªlet her slowly savor the torment. ... Grand Dao Sect. Lu Ye¡¯s return immediately drew a crowd. "How did it go? What¡¯s the situation?" Liu Changfeng hurriedly asked. Lu Ye wore a warm smile on his face¡ªbut the words that came out of his mouth made everyone¡¯s hearts pound and their scalps go numb. "Things went quite well. More than ninety percent of the foreign races are likely dead. If you believe their small world has value, you can go reclaim it now. There won¡¯t be much resistance." Immediately, the sound of sharp gasps filled the air. "Ninety-nine percent?" Liu Changfeng pressed for confirmation. "Yes. Ninety-nine percent." "Hahaha! Good! Excellent! Excellent!" "The scourge of the foreign races is now cleansed in a single day. At the very least, the Great Wilderness will have a thousand years of peace. Lu Ye, your contributions are immeasurable!" Liu Changfeng couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing. The entire Dao Inquiry Hall was soon filled with laughter and praise. Lu Ye took out a massive number of storage rings and various storage pouches. Most of the items inside were low-level. He had already taken everything he needed. "I don¡¯t have any use for the rest of this. I¡¯ll leave it to the sect." Too much... Looking at that pile of storage treasures stacked like a small mountain¡ªeven just sorting these out would require a massive amount of manpower and time. But no one felt tired. "There¡¯s just too much. All this loot was earned by you alone¡ªyou could totally keep it." "No need. I¡¯ve already taken what I need. The rest is for the sect. If I ever need anything, I¡¯ll just ask the sect for it." "Alright. If you need anything, you must tell the sect immediately." "And also¡ªabout Chu Ling... is there really a grudge between you two?" Liu Changfeng hesitated for a moment before asking. "If there¡¯s no serious enmity, maybe you could persuade her. Sword Mountain is the Supreme Sword Sect¡¯s most important treasure¡ªyou could even say it¡¯s the foundation of their sect. Especially now, when they¡¯re still helping us¡ªstealing Sword Mountain really isn¡¯t something a fellow Daoist should do," Liu Changfeng said. Lu Ye smiled faintly. "Sect Master, I¡¯ve already said this: I have no relationship with Chu Ling. If there is one, it¡¯s as enemies. I can¡¯t contact her, and I won¡¯t try to. Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me. There¡¯s no need to talk about showing mercy on my account¡ªif she must be killed, then kill her." Liu Changfeng hesitated again. "Really?" "Really." "Are you sure?" "Sure." Liu Changfeng was still reluctant. He just understood too well how young people could be about love and relationships. Some couples claimed to be mortal enemies, but if something actually happened to the other person, they''d instantly explode with fury and rush in regardless of the cost. Some young couples would get into cold wars and hurl the cruelest words at each other¡ªbut if you chimed in and said something bad about the other person, they¡¯d turn around and get mad at you instead. Wasn¡¯t that just pure insanity? "I''m really sure. I swear on the Great Dao¡ªChu Ling''s life or death has nothing to do with me. If I break this, may my body perish and my Dao¡ª" "Hey hey hey!" Liu Changfeng jumped, rushing forward to cover Lu Ye¡¯s mouth. "Enough, enough! I believe you, I believe you! No need to swear!" It seemed Lu Ye really didn¡¯t have much of a connection to Chu Ling. "In that case, I¡¯ll go ahead and inform the Supreme Sword Sect, then?" Lu Ye smiled slightly. "As you wish." "If there¡¯s nothing else, this disciple will take his leave." "Mhm. Focus on cultivating. If there¡¯s any difficulty, reach out to the sect at once." Lu Ye exited the Dao Inquiry Hall. His cultivation had now reached the Eighth Layer of the Dao Integration Realm. With the disappearance of the Cycle of Obsession, he had pulled himself free of the quagmire. That moment of lightness allowed him to break through a small layer in his realm without even meaning to. Vermilion Bird¡¯s death¡ªthere was no helping it. The moment she was parasitized by the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor, her death had already been determined. In his previous life, it was precisely because the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor remained alive that Lu Ye had suffered so immensely. There were just too many enemies. Though the Grand Dao Sect had risen to power, it had done so through one bloody battle after another. You could say it was built on the deaths of wave after wave of disciples and elders. Even Sun Ruowei had died indirectly because of the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor. So¡ªLu Ye could not let him live. Even if Vermilion Bird was one of the Four Spirits of Heaven, even if she was an emperor with the potential to completely suppress the Myriad Spirit Demon Emperor¡ªLu Ye would never place the fate of that monster in her hands. Enemies¡ªhe would kill them himself. Lu Ye had originally been planning to start cultivating again¡ªbut then he looked up suddenly. "Huh? Another breakthrough? Seems the frequency of Chaotic Yin Poison outbreaks is getting worse." Lu Ye muttered to himself. The aura of Bai Qiulan, now at the Tribulation Crossing Realm, swept through the entire Grand Dao Sect. Another Tribulation Crossing powerhouse had been born. A bone-chilling cold spread across the sect. In the midst of unbearable torment, Bai Qiulan opened her eyes. At that moment, the system transformed into Shen Xitong, and vanished from sight. Chapter 133: Meeting of the Gossip Queens "Thank goodness, you¡¯re finally awake!" Yue Hongling was overcome with emotion, crying tears of joy. Bai Qiulan¡¯s condition had nearly scared her to death¡ªanother outbreak of Chaotic Yin Poison, even more severe than the last. Last time, Bai Qiulan had only fainted. This time, even while unconscious, she had been groaning in pain the entire time. Sun Ruowei was also deeply distressed. Watching her beloved sworn sister become like this, and yet being completely powerless despite all her medical knowledge¡ªit left Sun Ruowei filled with bitter disappointment. Bai Qiulan slowly opened her eyes. The pain in them still hadn¡¯t fully faded. "Master, how are you feeling? Are you any better now?" Bai Qiulan forced a pained smile. "I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s nothing anymore." Yue Hongling was furious. "Did Senior Brother do something to you? You actually collapsed in front of his door, and he didn¡¯t even help you? Is he even human?" It would have been better not to mention Lu Ye. The moment she did, Bai Qiulan¡¯s gaze darkened. "It¡¯s not his fault. I collapsed after he left. He didn¡¯t know." "Master, please go ask Senior Brother to detoxify you. Each time this flares up, it gets worse than the last. One day, you won¡¯t be able to take it anymore!" "No. There¡¯s no need..." "Master!!!" "I said¡ªno!" Sun Ruowei watched this scene unfold. In the end, the root cause of everything... still lay with Lu Ye. She was going to find him! There was no way she could stand by and let her dearest sister slowly inch toward death. She stood and left. Heading straight for the place where Lu Ye lived. At that moment, a figure appeared ahead of her. Sun Ruowei stopped in her tracks and stared at the woman approaching. From the very first # N§àv§Ölight # glance, an indescribable awe rose in Sun Ruowei¡¯s heart. That multicolored long dress looked as if it were woven from the threads of the Dao itself, and that graceful form perfectly embodied the highest concept of beauty. As for her face¡ªit was as if Heaven had poured all its favor into creating it. Pure beauty, flawless and true. Sun Ruowei had often heard the others mention that a breathtakingly beautiful woman had appeared by Lu Ye¡¯s side. They had gone on and on about how beautiful she was. Sun Ruowei had been skeptical. Just how beautiful could she really be? After all, wasn¡¯t Yue Hongling stunning? Wasn¡¯t Shangguan Huanling dazzling? Wasn¡¯t Bai Qiulan jaw-dropping? And wasn¡¯t she, Sun Ruowei, here to set the standard? Yue Hongling had been endlessly yapping about how beautiful that other woman was. Sun Ruowei had always just scoffed inwardly. A bunch of fools, blind to rank and status. But now, having seen this woman for herself¡ªSun Ruowei froze on the spot. Okay. Maybe she¡¯d been a little too confident. She couldn¡¯t even comprehend that a being so beautiful could actually exist in this world. Someone who could make her instinctively lower her head. "Shen Xitong, greetings, fellow Daoist." Shen Xitong looked at Sun Ruowei, her eyes filled with mirth and a warmth that had never been there before. A kindred spirit! A fellow traveler on the same path! With Sun Ruowei here, Shen Xitong suddenly felt¡ªher Dao was not lonely! "F-Fellow Daoist, greetings. I¡¯m Sun Ruowei..." Sun Ruowei was actually stammering as she spoke. "Ruowei-meimei, don¡¯t be nervous. I feel we are connected by fate. The very first moment I saw you, I felt a deep sense of familiarity. Could it be that we share something in common?" Shen Xitong had finally found someone on her wavelength¡ªher heart was filled with joy, and she smiled with delight. At that moment, even the colors of heaven and earth seemed to fade away. Sun Ruowei was stunned. "What¡¯s wrong? Did I smile in a weird way?" Shen Xitong reached up and touched her own face. Was it because she smiled too happily, and her face twisted? "No no no, it¡¯s not that it looked bad. It¡¯s because you¡¯re too beautiful. Fellow Daoist, you truly are the most beautiful person under heaven. I¡¯m afraid all the women in the world would pale in comparison after seeing you," Sun Ruowei sincerely praised. "But when Fellow Daoist said you felt a sense of kinship with me at first sight, that we had something in common¡ªwhat did you mean by that?" Sun Ruowei couldn¡¯t help but feel a little pleased. Could it be that her own beauty had finally been recognized? This Shen Xitong¡ªwasn¡¯t her biggest trait being beautiful? And she herself was also beautiful. Tsk. Something in common? Delightful! "I¡¯m not entirely sure myself. Why don¡¯t we each say what we like and see if anything overlaps?" Shen Xitong said with a smile. Interests... Sun Ruowei felt slightly disappointed. Come on, the thing we have in common is clearly our looks, my dear. How could you not see that? Such a beautiful girl¡ªand yet completely blind. Outrageous! "I¡¯ll start then. I like food," said Shen Xitong. Sun Ruowei shook her head. "I¡¯m not that interested in food. I like medicine." Shen Xitong also shook her head. "I¡¯m not really into medicine. I like eating gossip." Sun Ruowei said, "I¡¯m not really into gossip ei¡ªwait, what did you say?" Sun Ruowei¡¯s eyes widened instantly. Shen Xitong was already delighted beyond words inside, but on her face she acted bashful, as if a little embarrassed. "I... I like eating gossip." "Watermelon?" "No... I mean the kind where you indulge in other people¡¯s love and hate dramas and scandals..." At that moment, Sun Ruowei¡¯s eyes opened even wider. She just couldn¡¯t understand¡ªhow could someone so breathtakingly beautiful actually enjoy such a disgraceful, lowbrow activity like eating gossip? As expected, beautiful women really did have things in common! "I love gossip too!" Sun Ruowei said excitedly. "Really?" Shen Xitong looked overjoyed. "As real as it gets! I love gossip, especially the kind that¡¯s close to me. If I so much as hear a whisper, I¡¯ll die of curiosity!" "Me too! I also love the gossip of those around me. Ahhhh, no wonder I liked you so much the moment I saw you¡ªwe¡¯re truly fellow Daoists!" "Yes yes, it¡¯s amazing! Usually I eat gossip all by myself and have no one to share it with. You really like it? Then can I give you a piece to share?" "Of course! I have so much gossip. No one to share it with¡ªit¡¯s been driving me crazy!" The two of them were practically bursting with joy, gripping each other¡¯s hands, their eyes full of recognition for a true kindred spirit. They immediately exchanged sound-transmitting stones so they could share gossip in the future. "By the way, where were you heading just now?" Shen Xitong asked. "Uh... I was going to..." The excited Sun Ruowei suddenly sobered up. This Shen Xitong... she seemed to be Lu Ye¡¯s woman. "You know Lu Ye?" Sun Ruowei asked. "Of course! I¡¯ve eaten his gossip the most. There¡¯s tons¡ªso much juicy stuff. It¡¯s hilarious," Shen Xitong replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Huh? There¡¯s a lot of gossip about him?" "Of course! I¡¯ll give you a random example. Like the thing between him and his master Bai Qiulan¡ªcan¡¯t leave that unsaid. Bai Qiulan is currently afflicted by something called Chaotic Yin Poison. It¡¯s because of her special physique¡ªthe Chaotic Supreme Yin Divine Body." "There''s a saying: extreme yin breeds nothing, and extreme yang doesn¡¯t grow. Bai Qiulan¡¯s current condition is due to excessive isolated yin. Lu Ye does have a solution for it. Want to guess what it is?" Shen Xitong gave her a peculiar look, eyes full of amusement, even raising her hand to partially cover her face. Sun Ruowei leaned in close to listen. Even though this involved Bai Qiulan¡¯s dangerous condition... she was still getting to eat gossip and dig for news at the same time. It was, simply put¡ªperfect. "What is it?" Sun Ruowei whispered. Chapter 134: Scripture of Ultimate Yin for Virgin Maidens "Dual cultivation!" "What?!" Sun Ruowei¡¯s voice instantly shot up by more than a full octave. "Shh! Keep it down. Gossip isn¡¯t meant for three ears. We¡¯ll just whisper it between us." "It¡¯s really dual cultivation?" Sun Ruowei lowered her voice¡ªbut was still utterly stunned. "Would I lie to you about something like this? It¡¯s truly dual cultivation. Not even the slightest bit fake. Like the saying goes¡ª¡®Extreme yin gives rise to nothing, extreme yang cannot grow.¡¯ Bai Qiulan is extreme yin, and Lu Ye is extreme yang. The difference is that Bai Qiulan was born with her physique, while Lu Ye¡¯s was developed later." "No wonder I noticed a trace of seduction coming off Bai Qiulan recently. Damn¡ªcould it be they already...?" As she spoke, Sun Ruowei even started gesturing, repeatedly tapping her two thumbs together. "Apparently, they haven¡¯t yet. Bai Qiulan doesn¡¯t seem able to accept that kind of relationship, so the Chaotic Yin Poison has kept flaring up, leading to her current state." "So that¡¯s what it is!" In that moment, Sun Ruowei felt as if she¡¯d spent an entire day under the blazing summer sun, only to return home to an air-conditioned room set at twenty degrees¡ªand collapse on the sofa with a giant chunk of chilled watermelon in her hands. So satisfying, her body literally shivered with delight. "Bai Qiulan really is such an old-fashioned prude... but what about Lu Ye? He¡¯s not willing either?" Bai Qiulan was a peerless beauty¡ªespecially that figure. She could practically outshine 99.99% of all women under heaven. Even Sun Ruowei herself felt jealous. There¡¯s no way Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t be willing, right? And besides¡ªmen always liked a bit of taboo. For Bai Qiulan, ethics and propriety might mean everything. But for Lu Ye, it probably had a very different kind of appeal. "Lu Ye¡¯s not willing either. You know what Bai Qiulan is like. If Lu Ye actually committed such a crime against his master, wouldn¡¯t Bai ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) Qiulan just end up hating him forever?" "But even so, wouldn¡¯t that still be better than standing by and watching her die?" "Who¡¯s to say? What if Bai Qiulan actually would rather die¡ªor worse, if she resents him for it, and turns on him in revenge? Wouldn¡¯t that make Lu Ye completely innocent but still end up suffering?" "Impossible!" Sun Ruowei refused to believe it. "You sure?" Sun Ruowei... "I guess I can¡¯t really say for certain..." "So this dual cultivation¡ªdoes it have to be Lu Ye? Couldn¡¯t someone else do it? What about the Sect Master?" Sun Ruowei asked curiously. Shen Xitong couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes. "This technique can only be handled by a very small number of people. If Liu Changfeng tried to detox Bai Qiulan, he¡¯d probably die on the spot." "For real?" "Of course it¡¯s real! I only eat gossip that¡¯s sweet and ripe¡ªI don¡¯t touch low-grade fruit!" "Why¡¯s that?" "Because the cultivation method was created by Lu Ye himself. Wait, let me think through the structure of the technique." Shen Xitong tilted her head, deep in thought. Sun Ruowei watched with pure curiosity. "If the method were altered, I think women might be able to use it. But... it¡¯d be very painful." Sun Ruowei¡¯s jaw dropped. "Two women¡ªdual cultivate?!" How was that supposed to work? "Two women wouldn¡¯t really count as dual cultivation. The original technique uses the vital yang fire of life and blood to neutralize Chaotic Yin Poison. If it were a woman, I think it¡¯d rely on heart fire instead to balance it out..." "Women can really do it?" Sun Ruowei was getting excited. "Nope. The technique causes extreme pain. Most people couldn¡¯t take it. You definitely couldn¡¯t. That Yue Hongling, though¡ªshe might be able to handle it," Shen Xitong said. "Huh? I¡¯m about to reach the Dao Integration Realm, and Hongling only just hit the Nascent Void Realm. I can¡¯t take it, but she can?" Sun Ruowei was visibly confused. "Lu Ye, Yue Hongling, Bai Qiulan, and even Shangguan Huanling¡ªthose four all have huge secrets hidden in them. I haven¡¯t quite figured it out yet. But I think you and I should investigate properly. Let¡¯s eat well, and eat enough!" Sun Ruowei nodded furiously. She, too, could sense that all of them were carrying massive secrets. "Then I¡¯ll transmit the technique to you now. You can let Yue Hongling try it. Of course... you could try it too." Sun Ruowei hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, let¡¯s give it a shot!" This technique was one that Shen Xitong had deduced herself. Previously, Lu Ye had only calculated methods for dual cultivation or for Bai Qiulan to resolve the Chaotic Yin Poison on her own. He had never considered that a woman might also be able to help Bai Qiulan detoxify. But Shen Xitong had now derived it. The only catch was¡ªit might be a bit painful. The worst side effect would just be some weakness afterward. The interesting part was: once this technique was activated... Bai Qiulan would be the one in control¡ªstarting and stopping the technique at will. The user would be completely passive. Shen Xitong gave it a name: Scripture of Ultimate Yin for Virgin Maidens. In Daoist terminology, cha?nu?? (æ±Å®, "virgin maiden") refers to mercury. And mercury... was highly toxic! "This name..." Sun Ruowei hesitated. "That¡¯s what it¡¯s called, deal with it. I¡¯ve got some things to take care of, so I¡¯m off. Remember, don¡¯t practice that technique yourself. I¡¯ll contact you via sound-transmitting stone sometime to chat, okay? Bye-bye!" "Uh... bye..." Shen Xitong¡¯s figure turned into a swirl of multicolored spiritual light and vanished into the void. Sun Ruowei remained where she stood. Looking at the jade slip in her hand, she closed her eyes and examined it with her divine sense. Profound! It felt like a profound kind of mystical art. Though it was called a scripture, it wasn¡¯t actually a cultivation technique, but a secret art. A proper, formal secret art. So... should she still go find Lu Ye? Thinking about what Shen Xitong had said¡ªdual cultivation... Bai Qiulan wasn¡¯t willing. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t either. So what were they supposed to dual cultivate? Better to bring this secret art back first, let Bai Qiulan study it, and also let Yue Hongling take a look. As for whether she herself should try cultivating it... She¡¯d see how things went. Sun Ruowei returned to the courtyard where Bai Qiulan was resting. "Everyone¡ªI saw Shen Xitong!" Before she could say anything more, Shangguan Huanling suddenly exploded. "You saw her too?! Wait, what the hell? Yue Hongling saw her. Bai Qiulan saw her. Now even you saw her?! Why haven¡¯t I seen her?!" Shangguan Huanling was furious. What was this supposed to mean? Discrimination! The three others... "That¡¯s not the point. The point is¡ªshe gave me a technique. Said that a woman could also resolve the Chaotic Yin Poison in Bai Qiulan¡¯s body. I brought the method back." "Impossible!" Yue Hongling was the first to react with disbelief. "That woman is green tea to the core, venomous and heartless! Like hell she¡¯d be kind enough to bring back a technique to detoxify Master! She probably wants us dead!" Yue Hongling said angrily. Sun Ruowei grew curious. "Why exactly are you all so hostile toward her? Do you really have that deep a grudge?" Didn¡¯t they only meet Shen Xitong for the first time before that big battle? Why hate her this much? What¡ªdid she steal your man? That couldn¡¯t be it either. Lu Ye treated both his master and junior sisters like crap. There¡¯s no way he counted as their man, right? Totally baffling. Chapter 135: New Storm "The technique¡ªwhere is it?" Bai Qiulan spoke up. Sun Ruowei handed the Scripture of Ultimate Yin for Virgin Maidens over to her. But Yue Hongling suddenly made a move and snatched the jade slip away. "Master, what are you trying to do?" Yue Hongling asked warily. "Shen Xitong definitely doesn¡¯t have good intentions. I¡¯m going to destroy ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) this technique¡ªjust in case we fall into her trap!" Bai Qiulan said coldly. "Master, there¡¯s no need to rush. It doesn¡¯t hurt for me to take a look first." "Hongling, don¡¯t look! That Shen Xitong is absolutely not someone to be underestimated. If you so much as read it, you¡¯ll have already walked right into her trap!" "Master, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m staying calm. I won¡¯t fall for anything." "You¡ª!" ... Eternal Teachings Sect! At that moment, inside the Eternal Teachings Sect, the atmosphere was a bit suffocating. Powerful cultivators filled the great hall, each radiating an intense and terrifying aura. There weren¡¯t many people in the Eternal Teachings Sect, but every one of them was a monster. Any single one of them walking out could shake the entire Great Wilderness three times over. "Who would¡¯ve thought... the Grand Dao Sect actually managed to defeat the allied foreign-race army. One Lu Ye... and he managed to shift the entire tide of battle," a Grand Elder of the Eternal Teachings Sect slowly said. The moment those words were spoken, the mood in the hall grew even heavier. It could be said that the Eternal Teachings Sect not joining the resistance against the foreign-race army had caused massive disappointment among the human race. Everyone had propped up the Eternal Teachings Sect so high¡ªone sect, three dynasties, five major sects, unrivaled under heaven. The Eternal Teachings Sect was supposed to be the leading example. And yet when the allied foreign races invaded, they bailed. They hadn¡¯t helped with anything. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. The Grand Dao Sect, on the other hand, had reversed the situation in one fell swoop¡ªwiping out the majority of the foreign-race forces while suffering only minimal casualties themselves. In no time at all, the Grand Dao Sect¡¯s status and prestige in the Great Wilderness skyrocketed. And now, a new saying had begun to circulate: "Grand Dao above, Eternal Teachings behind¡ªone dynasty, three sects, and the heavens may as well not exist." The meaning was clear: the Grand Dao Sect had already surpassed the Eternal Teachings Sect. Of the Great Wilderness¡¯s power structure, there was now one dominant dynasty and three sects. As for Heaven¡¯s Pavilion and the Netherworld¡ªdid they still even count? Mockery. Naked, unfiltered mockery. And worst of all¡ªthat saying was spreading like wildfire. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the Yin-Yang Law Sect hadn¡¯t lost any major experts during the demon army invasion, they might¡¯ve already been delisted. Even a single death might have gotten them booted from the ranks. As for the Eternal Teachings Sect¡ªthey had no good way to respond. The prestige of a sect came from battle, not bragging. They couldn¡¯t exactly force the world to keep ranking them first. Amid the silence¡ª A tall figure in luxurious robes entered the hall. Dressed so formally, it was obvious he had just met with a highly important figure. "Greetings, Sect Master!" Everyone stood in unison and saluted. The Eternal Teachings Sect was unlike other sects. While other sects would choose the most suitable candidate to serve as sect leader¡ªlike Liu Changfeng or Li Wuyue¡ªthose leaders were not necessarily the strongest. Their role was to guide the sect to prosperity. But the Eternal Teachings Sect was different. Their Sect Master was always the strongest person in the sect. Because only the strongest could clearly communicate with the Second Heaven. "I¡¯ve contacted the Upper Realm. They¡¯ve issued a mission¡ªand supplied resources," Feng Changye said. Everyone¡¯s expressions shifted. The mission didn¡¯t matter as much¡ªwhat mattered were the resources granted by the Upper Realm. "The first mission¡ªcapture Chu Ling, torture her publicly, and force Lu Ye to show himself!" "The second mission¡ªkill Lu Ye!" The moment these two missions were spoken aloud, more than half of those present had visible changes in expression. Lu Ye¡¯s overwhelming power was already engraved into their minds. According to the reports, even the Heavenly Demon Emperor had been beaten to death with a single punch from Lu Ye. Although there were powerhouses within the Eternal Teachings Sect not inferior to the Heavenly Demon Emperor, you could count them on one hand¡ªand even they, when facing Lu Ye, might not be able to withstand more than five punches. So how were they supposed to fight him? "The strength Lu Ye has shown is... extreme. Even if we go all out, we still might not be his match," a certain elder immediately said. "In response to that, the Upper Realm has provided countermeasures." He raised his hand, revealing two pills. "One pill is called the Tribulation Crossing Pill. I imagine you all already know what it does." Tribulation Crossing Pill¡ªthe moment the name was spoken, the eyes of everyone present lit up with fiery desire. This pill could increase a cultivator¡¯s success rate of passing heavenly tribulation by at least 20%. Its value was unimaginably high. In the First Heaven, almost no one could refine it. Even among those who could, the core ingredients had practically gone extinct. "The second pill is called the Heaven-Hiding Pill. Its effect is to allow a newly ascended cultivator who has succeeded in reaching the Great Ascension Realm to remain in the First Heaven for ten extra days!" Normally, once someone successfully underwent tribulation and entered the Great Ascension Realm, the Second Heaven would immediately send a summoning force to receive them. This was why the First Heaven had no Great Ascension experts. The Nine Heavens Sages truly loathed the slaughter of the weak by the strong. Thus, ascension was managed with extreme strictness. You reach Great Ascension? Get out. Leave immediately. Not even allowed to stay one extra minute. But where there¡¯s a policy, there¡¯s always a countermeasure¡ªand the Heaven-Hiding Pill had emerged from the shadows. Of course, this pill was even more precious than the Tribulation Crossing Pill. A being invincible under the heavens, allowed to remain in this world for ten more days? Just imagining it was terrifying. "There are other items as well, but I won¡¯t list them all. Just the Tribulation Crossing Pill and Heaven-Hiding Pill alone should be enough to show you how deeply the Upper Realm intends to see Lu Ye killed." "Now, everyone¡ªspeak freely. Let¡¯s hear your thoughts." One elder immediately stood up. He was at the Eighth Layer of the Tribulation Crossing Realm, and had yet to break through to the Ninth Layer only because he didn¡¯t have enough confidence to succeed. Otherwise, he would have already advanced. Now, with this Tribulation Crossing Pill in hand¡ªhe was willing to risk his life. "I¡¯ll strike. I¡¯ll kill Lu Ye!" That was his stance. "Good!" Feng Changye didn¡¯t waste a word. He tossed him one Tribulation Crossing Pill and one Heaven-Hiding Pill. "I can go too," said a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of the Tribulation Crossing Realm. "Good!" "I¡ªI can as well!" someone else said. "Elder Niu, you¡¯ve only just reached the First Layer of Tribulation Crossing. Maybe sit this one out..." "What¡¯s wrong with First Layer? I can cross tribulation too! If you give me a Tribulation Crossing Pill, I¡¯ll do it right now¡ªthen I¡¯ll go kill that Lu Ye!" Feng Changye shook his head. "You won¡¯t do. You must be one of the peak-level Tribulation Crossing experts." "There are still three Tribulation Crossing Pills and three Heaven-Hiding Pills left. Anyone else?" "I will!" "Me!" "I¡¯ll go too!" In an instant, three people responded. Feng Changye kept two pills for himself. "In that case, let¡¯s start by capturing Chu Ling. Once we have her, we¡¯ll lure Lu Ye into showing himself." "The Upper Realm has decreed¡ªif this mission succeeds, everyone will be rewarded. And not with anything less valuable than a Tribulation Crossing Pill. You will all be aided in attaining the Dao!" "Yes!" The Eternal Teachings Sect¡ªmobilizes! Chapter 136: Jiang Die The news that the Eternal Teachings Sect had made a move to hunt down Chu Ling quickly spread throughout the First Heaven. Everyone¡¯s first reaction upon hearing it was... Huh? A head full of question marks. Because it really was just like that. The Eternal Teachings Sect and Chu Ling¡ªthose two had absolutely nothing to do with each other! Chu Ling had always maintained an extremely low profile in the First Heaven. Back when Yue Hongling was spending her days at the Grand Dao Sect, Chu Ling had already started traveling across the entire First Heaven, diving into danger and ancient ruins wherever they could be found. She had memories of her past life and knew the locations of various blessed lands and hidden realms. Lu Ye knew about these as well¡ªso did Yue Hongling and the others. But Lu Ye had been overwhelmingly busy, with no time to collect such things. Besides, even if he had the time, collecting treasures wasn¡¯t as fast a way to grow stronger as killing foreign-race or human experts. Yue Hongling also fought frequently, but compared to Chu Ling, her cultivation level had undoubtedly fallen behind. That didn¡¯t matter though¡ªShen Xitong would help her. Given Chu Ling¡¯s extraordinarily low visibility, the Eternal Teachings Sect suddenly stepping forward to hunt her down was truly baffling. Even the Supreme Sword Sect couldn¡¯t figure out what the Eternal Teachings Sect was trying to pull. Some suspected that perhaps, sensing the Grand Dao Sect now had too many allies and that their position as the number one sect was no longer secure, the Eternal Teachings Sect wanted to cozy up to the Supreme Sword Sect? The Eternal Teachings Sect claimed their justification was this: all sects {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} stand united, and Chu Ling had stabbed her allies in the back. That was undoubtedly the act of someone who walked the demonic path, and the Eternal Teachings Sect¡¯s actions were nothing less than a righteous crusade to eliminate evil and uphold the Dao. So now, the Supreme Sword Sect and the Eternal Teachings Sect¡ªtwo great sects¡ªwere both hunting down Chu Ling. But Chu Ling truly had many tricks up her sleeve. She flitted through one forbidden land after another. Although she had only recently broken through to the Combined Dao Realm, she was as slippery as a loach and exceptionally hard to catch. ... Lu Ye heard the news as well. And immediately, he sensed something unusual. The Eternal Teachings Sect making such a bizarre move¡ªit looked like they were targeting Chu Ling, but their real objective was probably him. Who had given the order? A figure appeared in Lu Ye¡¯s mind. Jiang Die! From the Second Heaven, the little princess of the Jiang Clan¡ªone of the most elite noble families in all the Nine Heavens. Their ancestors had produced one Heavenly Lord and two Great Emperors. Jiang Die wasn¡¯t like the women of the First Heaven¡ªshe was someone with tremendous scheming ability. Back when Lu Ye was still in the First Heaven, he already had these five women and had been perfectly content. But Jiang Die had forcibly inserted herself into his harem through careful plotting¡ªand had even successfully stirred up internal strife. Was she testing him now? Lu Ye pondered for a moment and roughly understood her intent. If Chu Ling were captured and he did nothing, it would be enough to prove that he no longer protected the women and had completely severed ties with them. In that case, they could go all out and kill Lu Ye. To eliminate the threat once and for all. But if Lu Ye still cared about Chu Ling and stepped in to rescue her¡ªthen things would get far more interesting. What Lu Ye didn¡¯t understand was: knowing how powerful he¡¯d been in his past life, why would she still provoke him? What did that say? It said Jiang Die was extremely confident that she could crush Lu Ye in the First Heaven. Or perhaps... the Second Heaven had already laid down an inescapable net, just waiting for Lu Ye to ascend. Either way¡ªthis was the first woman to strike at him after his rebirth. She deserved his full attention! He stood up and left. The reflection on alchemy that he had promised to write for Daoist Qinghuo was already finished. Don¡¯t be fooled into thinking it was just a set of alchemical notes¡ªthis could become the most crucial alchemical method not just for the Grand Dao Sect, but for any top-tier force specializing in pill refinement. The pharmacopeia within it was all-encompassing. Daoist Qinghuo was overjoyed. ¡°It¡¯s already done?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t particularly troublesome,¡± Lu Ye replied with a smile. ¡°No need for grand words of thanks. All pill furnaces and medicinal ingredients on the Pill Summit are yours to use freely. I only hope you won¡¯t decline,¡± Daoist Qinghuo said. Right now, Pill Summit could be said to be overflowing with wealth. When Lu Ye had obtained so many storage treasures, Daoist Qinghuo had initially assumed that since Lu Ye knew how to refine pills, he¡¯d definitely take away a large stock of medicinal ingredients. Especially given that Lu Ye¡¯s pill-making style involved tossing in heaps upon heaps of ingredients, needing that much raw material just to produce a single giant pill. Clearly, Lu Ye would be in desperate need of ingredients. But when the Sect Master distributed the spoils, Daoist Qinghuo was informed to come collect his share too. The portion allocated to Pill Summit had left him absolutely astonished. Why was there so much? Even though most of the ingredients were low-grade. But that was exactly what Pill Summit lacked¡ªlow-grade medicinal ingredients! Pill Summit wasn¡¯t only for refining pills. It was also a place to train pill refiners. For novice alchemists just starting their cultivation journey, if they didn¡¯t use low-grade ingredients to practice, what else could they possibly use? Lu Ye nodded with a smile. ¡°Will you be using the Nine-Dragon Departing Flame Furnace again this time?¡± Daoist Qinghuo asked. ¡°No, I just came to deliver the alchemical notes,¡± Lu Ye replied. ¡°I see. Are you busy right now? If not, how about watching me refine a batch of pills and helping me identify any flaws?¡± Daoist Qinghuo asked. By now, Daoist Qinghuo¡¯s attitude toward Lu Ye was no longer that of a fellow cultivator¡ªit was practically one of reverence, treating Lu Ye like a senior expert. ¡°Another day, perhaps. I still have some things to take care of,¡± Lu Ye said with a smile, politely declining. ¡°What kind of matters? Maybe I can help?¡± ¡°Nothing major. No need for help. Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. If anything comes up, you must let me know. Even if I can¡¯t be of much help, I can at least wave the flag and cheer you on.¡± If Daoist Qinghuo knew what Lu Ye was about to do, he would¡¯ve clung to Lu Ye¡¯s leg and bawled, refusing to let him leave. Because after he left, Lu Ye headed straight for the Forging Summit. He was going to forge his own pill furnace¡ªand also upgrade his stone sword. His cultivation had risen far too quickly. The stone sword needed to be enhanced as well. If not, it might shatter before it even reached the Emperor Realm. ¡°Peak Master, Lu Ye requests an audience.¡± The Forging Summit Peak Master, Zheng Tianhua, underwent a complete transformation in expression¡ªagain and again. The corners of his mouth trembled wildly, clearly wanting to curve upward, though he forced them to stay down. After a brief but fierce struggle across his facial features, Zheng Tianhua finally revealed a warm smile and rapidly made his way down the mountain. Even from afar, Lu Ye could already hear hearty laughter. ¡°Hahaha! Lu Ye, welcome to the Forging Summit! On behalf of everyone here, we offer you the warmest welcome!¡± Lu Ye... ¡°Peak Master Zheng, I¡¯m just a disciple. Isn¡¯t ¡®welcome¡¯ a bit much?¡± Lu Ye said, half-laughing. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s entirely appropriate. Lu Ye, I may be older than you, but on the path of cultivation, the accomplished are honored first. Based on your accomplishments in formations and alchemy, your ability in forging must surely be nothing less than peerless. I¡¯ve wanted to study under you for a long time now.¡± Whether they were elders, disciples, or even grand elders, everyone on the Forging Summit came pouring out, beaming with eager smiles, offering the most enthusiastic of welcomes. Lu Ye took it all in stride, calm and composed. In his past life, no matter where he went, he had always received the most enthusiastic welcomes. Well... excluding his home. This time, Lu Ye¡¯s objective was to borrow the Forging Summit¡¯s forging pool. Zheng Tianhua patted his chest confidently. ¡°Use it however you like. Go all in, take your time, no need to hold back.¡± ¡°Um... would it be alright if I watched from the side?¡± he added. ... Chapter 137: Human Emperor Banner Forging. In his past life, Lu Ye had forged a total of eight Heavenly Lord-grade weapons. One for each person. The Heavenly Lord-grade weapons that Shangguan Huanling used had all been borrowed from other Heavenly Lords. They weren¡¯t just willing to lend them to Lu Ye¡ªthey were even willing to be slain by him. They were genuinely nice people. As for his own Heavenly Lord weapon? He hadn¡¯t even had the time to forge one. Looking back on it now, it was honestly funny. A Heavenly Lord without a Heavenly Lord weapon, while eight Empresses, regardless of what kind of people they were, each had one. He really had been a goddamn purebred simp. Of course, part of the reason he never forged a Heavenly Lord weapon was because of the stone sword¡¯s fracture. Lu Ye was someone who valued emotions deeply. The stone sword had accompanied him from the Foundation Core stage all the way to the Great Emperor Realm. It had become his Emperor weapon. But once it shattered, he gave up on using weapons altogether. Forging Pool. Blistering heat filled the entire cavern. Molten magma surged below, radiating a golden-red light. Lu Ye took out a pile of various precious metals and formed hand seals with both hands. ¡°Boom!¡± The True Flame of the Vermilion Bird shot skyward. With the Vermilion Bird¡¯s True Flame, he no longer needed to seek out all kinds of random divine fires. If he had others, fine; if not, he could just use the Dao to cultivate it. Sooner or later, the Vermilion Bird¡¯s True Flame would reach the ultimate level of the Four Spirits of Heaven. Zheng Tianhua watched as the chunks of rare metal melted into liquid. Beams of light were continuously branded into them, as Heaven and Earth spiritual energy frenziedly poured in. The metals and spiritual energy fused through layers of strange marks, forming a unique integration. There was none of that dramatic, hammer-striking clamor¡ªonly a seamless, natural evolution. The stone sword buzzed, flying to the top of the forging pool. The liquid metal flowed toward it, wrapping around its form. Little by little, the metal seeped into it. The stone sword vibrated non-stop. Creak creak, happy! The stone sword was a naturally formed treasure¡ªonce fully matured, it would reach the level of an innate spiritual treasure. If it evolved again, it could ascend to the rank of an innate supreme treasure. There was no such thing as a postnatal version of it. Originally, while the stone sword had been sharp, it had never reached the level of an innate spiritual treasure. Now, Lu Ye was helping it reach full maturity. Whoosh! A powerful sword intent spread outward in all directions. The stone cavern filled with countless sword marks. A peerlessly sharp aura burst forth from the stone sword. Everything had flowed naturally. The second item was the Myriad Souls Banner. Lu Ye felt that the name Myriad Souls Banner sounded a bit unpleasant. Maybe he could help rename it. He planned to use it in the future to protect the human race. If it was going to protect humans, then wouldn¡¯t renaming it to the Human Sovereign Banner be fitting? Perfect! As strands of black stone turned into liquid within the Vermilion Bird¡¯s True Flame, the liquid emitted agonized wails, as though souls were trapped inside. The black banner¡ªway too ugly. Lu Ye pondered for a moment, then quickly formed hand seals. A top-tier divine material, Gilded Divine Jade, was fused into the black liquid. The two substances reacted rapidly, and the black liquid began transforming into gold. That golden luster¡ªat first glance, it radiated a sense of righteousness and open grandeur. The golden liquid stretched out, transforming into threads. They began weaving across the tattered Human Sovereign Banner. A golden hue gradually spread across the banner, overtaking large sections. Black and gold shifted and blended. In the end, a banner with a black background and golden dragon roared within the Vermilion Bird¡¯s True Flame. From afar, it looked like a battle flag¡ªa military banner! Zheng Tianhua watched this scene, his expression rather peculiar. This... If he hadn¡¯t seen wrong, that thing had just been the Myriad Souls Banner, right? Now it looked like this? Who the hell had a Myriad Souls Banner that looked so upright and dignified? Lu Ye stowed away the Human Sovereign Banner. Unfortunately, the souls inside hadn¡¯t yet been refined into gold¡ªso if he waved it now, it would still puff out clouds of eerie black smoke. He would wait until he found the right materials¡ªthen he¡¯d render the souls gold too. When the Human Sovereign Banner was waved, golden light would flood the sky. One after another, fierce spirits radiating golden brilliance¡ªyet brimming with intense resentment from endless torment¡ªwould charge toward the enemy. The scene... was far too beautiful to behold. ¡°This is the Myriad Souls Banner?¡± Zheng Tianhua finally couldn¡¯t hold back and asked. ¡°No. This is the Human Sovereign Banner.¡± Lu Ye¡¯s tone was [N O V E L I G H T] resolute. Zheng Tianhua... Human Sovereign Banner, my ass. That was obviously the Myriad Souls Banner. At present, the Human Sovereign Banner was also an innate spiritual treasure. The final item Lu Ye was going to forge was a pill furnace. That¡¯s right¡ªa pill furnace! Which meant, if Daoist Qinghuo knew that Lu Ye had come to the Forging Summit to forge a pill furnace, he¡¯d probably flip the entire Forging Summit upside down. His entire connection with Lu Ye hinged on the Nine-Dragon Departing Flame Furnace. If Lu Ye forged his own pill furnace, it was clear he wouldn¡¯t be going to Pill Summit anymore. But ultimately, Lu Ye did need one. A three-legged, two-eared pill furnace gradually took shape within the Vermilion Bird¡¯s True Flame. In the forging pool, torrents of spiritual energy howled, and the essence of fire continuously tempered the furnace, purifying all impurities. Eventually, it was complete. On the surface of the pill furnace, a Vermilion Bird spread its wings¡ªvivid and lifelike. Its entire body glowed crimson, precious light dancing along its surface. Etched into the furnace walls were eighty-one great formations, each one linked to the next, their interconnectedness deeply profound. It had become an innate spiritual treasure! Zheng Tianhua was thoroughly stunned. Innate spiritual treasure! The two treasures forged earlier didn¡¯t really count¡ªthose were already strong to begin with. One was being upgraded, the other repaired, so it was hard to assess Lu Ye¡¯s true level of forging skill. But now¡ªthis, from nothing to completion, in one seamless process¡ªhe¡¯d forged a furnace that reached the level of an innate spiritual treasure. It was truly awe-inspiring. Immeasurable Heavenly Lord! Freaking amazing! ¡°Peak Master Zheng, here are some notes I wrote on forging. If you find them useful, feel free to look them over. I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave,¡± Lu Ye said. Zheng Tianhua stared at the jade slip and hurried to persuade him to stay, but it was to no avail. In his previous life, he had taken a long time to ascend to the Second Heaven because he¡¯d been waiting for his Dao companion. With nothing else to do, while waiting for Yue Hongling and the others, he had started teaching disciples of the Grand Dao Sect¡ªand that was what led to the sect¡¯s explosive growth in power. But now he didn¡¯t have to bring a few deadweights along for the ascension. Naturally, Lu Ye had no time to waste lingering in the First Heaven. From the current pace of things, he was already entering the countdown to his ascension. Even though he was only at the eighth layer of the Combined Dao Realm. Returning to his room¡ª Lu Ye began refining pills. Before long, a fragrant medicinal aroma spread, flowers and grasses flourished, and within several kilometers around Lu Ye, life bloomed vibrantly. After pill refinement, he cultivated. On the ninth day¡ªCombined Dao, ninth layer! Accumulate. Accumulate. Accumulate. And as expected, he reached the tenth layer of the Combined Dao Realm! Grind, grind, grind. It wasn¡¯t that Lu Ye wanted to grind¡ªhe had no choice. Once he broke through to the Tribulation Crossing Realm, he would have to face unknown poisons. To stand a chance, he had to perfect his Combined Dao Realm first. Only then could he better withstand the venom. Speaking of which, Lu Ye still didn¡¯t know exactly what kind of poison Shangguan Huanling had used on him. Eight Empresses, eight poisons. Whether it was the Celestial Zombie Poison or the Slaughter Lotus Heart, any of them might¡¯ve obtained such things. But the emergence of the Cycle of Obsession made Lu Ye smell the scent of conspiracy. The Six Paths of Reincarnation were guarded by a Reincarnation Heavenly Lord. Because of the immense merit earned in shaping the Six Paths, the Reincarnation Heavenly Lord existed in an extremely special state¡ªabove Heavenly Lords, beneath Saints, nearly undying and indestructible. To steal the Cycle of Obsession from under his nose? Practically impossible. And Shangguan the Runner¡ªno, Shangguan Huanling, the weakest of the Eight Empresses. No, she might not even be able to defeat a quasi-Emperor. For her to find a poison effective against a Heavenly Lord? You could imagine how absurd that was. Time to go ask Shangguan Huanling! Chapter 138: Backstabbing the Empress ¡°Senior Brother! Senior Brother! It¡¯s bad! Chu Ling is trapped in the Land of Spirit Ruin¡ªshe has nowhere left to run! You have to go save her!¡± Yue Hongling was pounding on the door, shouting anxiously. Her relationship with Chu Ling had always been fairly good. The two of them both believed they could become Great Emperors through their own strength, and they excelled at combat. They had also been among the first to meet, so their bond was indeed close. ¡°Ding ding ding! Quick, let me take a look!¡± The system immediately rang out the moment it heard Yue Hongling¡¯s words. A light screen unfolded in front of Lu Ye. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯m begging you! Chu Ling already knows she was wrong¡ªplease go save her! She understands now. You should give her a chance to change!¡± Lu Ye turned a deaf ear, watching the images appear on the light screen. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± ¡°Senior Brother, you can¡¯t do this! She¡¯s your lover! People aren¡¯t saints¡ªwho doesn¡¯t make mistakes? You said it yourself: to recognize one¡¯s mistakes and change is the greatest virtue!¡± ¡°Senior Brother!¡± ¡°Senior Brother!¡± ¡°Lu Ye!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?! Just because Chu Ling made one mistake, she deserves eternal damnation?!¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before!¡± Yue Hongling¡¯s voice was full of urgency and anger. Where did that anger come from? Clearly, in Yue Hongling¡¯s eyes, Chu Ling¡¯s current situation was already Lu Ye¡¯s fault. Completely within expectations. Lu Ye simply ignored her. ¡°Lu Ye, I really misjudged you. From now on, I will never beg you for anything again. Even if I die¡ªI won¡¯t ask you again!¡± Yue Hongling stormed off, furious. Her eyes glistened with tears, her body trembling from rage. But if she didn¡¯t beg Lu Ye, who else could she beg? Who would risk offending both the Eternal Teachings Sect and the Supreme Sword Sect¡ªthose two titanic powers¡ªto go save Chu Ling? And who else even had the strength to rescue someone from the hands of those two colossal sects? In that moment, Yue Hongling hated. She hated herself for not being powerful enough. She was a reborn Great Emperor¡ªso why was she still stuck at the Spirit Refining stage? Among those reborn¡ª Her master had already reached the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Chu Ling had broken through to the Combined Dao Realm. Senior Brother was at the peak of the Combined Dao Realm, slaying cultivators in the Tribulation Crossing Realm like slaughtering dogs. The Vermilion Bird... Well, she hadn¡¯t heard from her in a while, but there was no way she was doing poorly. Even that fool Shangguan Huanling had reached the peak of the Combined Dao Realm and could step into the Tribulation Crossing Realm at any time. And what about herself? Still struggling in the Spirit Refining Realm. She¡¯d been working incredibly hard in her cultivation, but improvement had a limit. She was truly frustrated, truly powerless. That¡¯s reality. Some things simply couldn¡¯t be accomplished through effort alone. Yue Hongling¡¯s talent wasn¡¯t enough. And her Foundation Core¡ªshe had formed a Heaven-grade Core. Even though her cultivation speed was already astonishing in others¡¯ eyes, compared to the rest¡ªit still wasn¡¯t enough! Not even close! That was just how it was. A soft sigh echoed behind her. Bai Qiulan appeared, clad in flowing white robes, skin like snow, features like a painting. ¡°No, Master. You just broke through to the Tribulation Crossing Realm. It¡¯s too dangerous,¡± Yue Hongling immediately refused. ¡°We can¡¯t just stand by and watch Chu Ling perish, can we?¡± Bai Qiulan said. ¡°Then... how about you go talk to Senior Brother? If it¡¯s you, he¡¯ll listen. He¡¯s always listened to¡ª¡± ¡°Hongling.¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s voice grew heavier. Yue Hongling froze. ¡°Things aren¡¯t the same anymore...¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s voice carried a faint desolation. She gazed into the distant sky, her expression tinged with quiet sorrow. In that moment, Yue Hongling felt a lump rise in her throat. Large teardrops slid down her cheeks, and her body trembled. A thousand words rose to her lips, but none could be spoken. ¡°Master... do you think... is there really no way for us to go back to how things used to be?¡± Yue Hongling asked. Bai Qiulan gently wiped the tears from Yue Hongling¡¯s face and smiled softly. ¡°But isn¡¯t this still... pretty good now?¡± ¡°Good?¡± A faint shimmer of moisture flashed in Bai Qiulan¡¯s eyes, and her voice was firm. ¡°Good!¡± ... Lu Ye watched the Land of Spirit Ruin on the light screen¡ªChu Ling was now covered in blood. Wounds littered her body. She was gravely injured. Even her demonic sword was chipped and cracked in multiple places. But the look in her eyes was still full of savagery. ¡°Chu Ling, our Supreme Sword Sect and your Grand Dao Sect were allies, and you are a disciple of Grand Dao. Yet you stole our Sword Mountain while we were aiding your sect. How is that any different from a demonic cultivator? Truly infuriating!¡± The people from the Supreme Sword Sect shouted angrily. ¡°Hmph. Cultivators fight Heaven for the Dao and battle others for fortune. Sword Mountain benefits me¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong with taking it?¡± Chu Ling snapped. Lu Ye heard Chu Ling¡¯s words through the light screen, and his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the past. ¡°Ling¡¯er, the Gui Xu Sword Sect is a human ally. How could you refine their Gui Xu Sword?¡± ¡°Gongzi, the Gui Xu Sword benefits my cultivation. I just want to catch up to your pace, so I¡¯ll take anything that helps my cultivation.¡± ¡°But doing this¡ªGui Xu Sword Sect is furious.¡± ¡°If they¡¯re dissatisfied, let them come find me. If they have the ability, they can come break my sword too.¡± ¡°You... you¡¯re coming with me to apologize!¡± ¡°Gongzi, the Gui Xu Sword Sect isn¡¯t even that major. No need to be afraid of them!¡± ¡°They¡¯re our allies. What you did is unethical.¡± ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m not apologizing. I only did it to catch up with you¡ªwhat¡¯s there to apologize for?¡± Lu Ye... ¡°Chu Ling, was it you who took the Celestial Sword Umbrella from the Xuan Tian Sword Sect?¡± ¡°Gongzi, I would never lie to you. It was me!¡± ¡°The Xuan Tian Sword Sect is one of the pillars of the human race. I¡¯ve told you so many times¡ªnot to backstab allies, don¡¯t backstab allies! Why won¡¯t you listen?!¡± ¡°I need to get stronger. Sword cultivation is a path of conflict. If the Xuan Tian Sword Sect is unhappy, they can come challenge me to a sword duel!¡± ¡°If I lose, I¡¯ll naturally return the Celestial Sword Umbrella!¡± ¡°This time, you will go apologize with me.¡± ¡°No. This is my sword path. I won¡¯t apologize.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll tie you up and drag you there if I have to!¡± ¡°Then you might as well cut off my head and carry it to apologize in my place. I just don¡¯t get it¡ªyou¡¯re already ranked top three in the Fourth Heaven. The entire Xuan Tian Sword Sect isn¡¯t even a match for you. Why are you so timid? Aren¡¯t you a sword cultivator too? Don¡¯t you understand what it means to follow the way of the sword?¡± Lu Ye... Ugh. So many times. Who even knew how many. Later on, Lu Ye had just become numb to it. As long as she caused trouble, he¡¯d clean it up. He was more than willing to dub Chu Ling the Backstabbing Empress. Professionally backstabbing her own people. And now, once again, she had returned to her old ways. Maybe some people... really never change their selfishness. This time, with no one there to clean up the mess, he¡¯d just see how Chu Ling handled it. She would definitely¡ª Uh... Lu Ye remembered how many times he¡¯d said ¡°she¡¯s definitely going to die¡± or ¡°he¡¯s definitely going to die,¡± and in the end, only the Vermilion Bird had actually died. He couldn¡¯t help feeling a little sour. Fine, he¡¯d stop making declarations. It hurt too much getting slapped in the face. Chapter 139: Chu Ling in Peril Yue Hongling wanted to save Chu Ling. The bond between the two of them was the deepest, and also the most open. The three of them had often played together. More than anyone else. They truly shared a friendship forged under fire. If he didn¡¯t go save her, who could Yue Hongling turn to? Obviously, she had only one choice¡ªBai Qiulan. And if Bai Qiulan also went... The Eternal Teachings Sect would capture all three of them in one fell swoop. Hiss... Just thinking about it made Lu Ye feel inexplicably cheerful and refreshed. Chu Ling was still running, but the area available for her to flee was shrinking rapidly. One after another, terrifyingly powerful cultivators were closing in from all directions. The Land of Spirit Ruin was nearly devoid of spiritual energy. It severely suppressed everyone¡¯s strength. Once inside, most would have an entire major realm suppressed. Under those conditions, Chu Ling held the advantage, because her sword intent was exceptionally strong. The gap between the Combined Dao Realm and the Tribulation Crossing Realm was far greater than the gap between Spirit Refining and Combined Dao¡ªassuming both parties had grasped the Dao. And cultivators in the Tribulation Crossing Realm didn¡¯t dare to go all-out inside the Land of Spirit Ruin. If someone triggered a heavenly tribulation in ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) that place... the level of suffering that would bring was unimaginable. So the real fighting would likely take some time to begin. Lu Ye¡¯s figure disappeared. He was going to find Shangguan Huanling and ask what kind of poison she¡¯d actually used on him. Sure enough, Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling were gone. Come to think of it, ever since he was reborn, he hadn¡¯t visited even once. Looking at this courtyard now... It was still exactly as he remembered. That well. That tree. That swing. That bed. That... Oh no. Lu Ye¡¯s expression darkened. Something didn¡¯t feel right. Ever since being reborn, had he... started thinking about women again lately? Lu Ye looked down at himself, his expression shifting between light and shadow. Lately, he seemed to be developing a major internal issue¡ªan intense emotional detachment from women. No matter who it was, even Sun Ruowei¡ªthe woman who had devoted her entire life to growing melons¡ªhe didn¡¯t want to talk to her much at all. Only the damn system¡ªsince it wasn¡¯t human¡ªdespite manifesting in the form of a woman, Lu Ye knew it wasn¡¯t truly human, so he didn¡¯t feel any aversion. Anyway, in this life, he wasn¡¯t going to pursue women again. After cultivation, he didn¡¯t need to eat, drink, or excrete. Maybe... he should just sever¡ª ¡°Immeasurable Heavenly Lord!¡± ¡°Ding. Host, please note¡ªyou really are about to break through to the Tribulation Crossing Realm.¡± The system¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in Lu Ye¡¯s mind. Lu Ye understood instantly. So that was it¡ªhe was about to break through to the Tribulation Crossing Realm. The aura of tribulation was already beginning to affect his state of mind. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine¡ªI¡¯m not going to lose control,¡± Lu Ye muttered, slightly shaken. Though it wasn¡¯t that terrifying. ¡°Ding! Arf!¡± Shangguan Huanling wasn¡¯t here either. Could it be that idiot had gone to help with the rescue too? No way. She was the type to flee at the first sign of trouble¡ªhow could she possibly go help save someone... Lu Ye shook his head. Since she wasn¡¯t around, then so be it. Back to watching the show. He returned to his room. The light screen appeared again. ¡°Ding. Just now, Chu Ling was this close to dying, and you totally missed it,¡± Shen Xitong¡¯s figure appeared, pulling out a handful of melon seeds from who-knows-where. Lu Ye stared blankly at the melon seeds in her hand. Wait a minute... You¡ª ¡°Ding. Oh, good stuff should be shared. Hold out your hand.¡± Lu Ye extended his hand. A handful of melon seeds dropped into it. ¡°Ding. Let¡¯s eat together!¡± Lu Ye cracked one open. A rich and high-grade energy instantly surged through his body. In that moment, he felt all the pores across his skin open up. ¡°...What kind of melon seeds are these?¡± ¡°Ding. Melon seeds!¡± ¡°I know these are melon seeds. I¡¯m asking what kind of melon seeds these are.¡± ¡°Ding. Just... melon seeds.¡± Lu Ye... He thought hard, but still couldn¡¯t remember what kind of melon seeds they were. But damn, they were delicious. At that moment, in a stretch of boundless void¡ª A wrathful roar suddenly echoed across billions of miles. ¡°Who the hell took every single seed from my Celestial Dream Sunflower?! Are you even human?! Are you?!¡± Utterly intolerable! Absolutely, completely intolerable! If someone had just stolen the entire Celestial Dream Sunflower, even the Dream Emperor wouldn¡¯t have been that mad. That would at least show the herb was desirable, a legendary divine medicine worth stealing. But you¡ªyou¡ªpicked off every single seed, one by one, and left everything else untouched. That was insulting. That was raw, undisguised humiliation! Meanwhile, two smug bastards were munching on melon seeds, watching the scene unfold in the light screen, thoroughly entertained. Inside the screen. Heaven and earth, above and below¡ªdozens of powerful cultivators had surrounded Chu Ling in the center. Their gazes were all cold. ¡°Chu Ling, you have no way out!¡± Supreme Sword Sect¡¯s Feng Wuhui, wielder of the Regretless Sword, spoke in a deep voice. Chu Ling¡¯s body was covered in wounds large and small, her appearance utterly wretched, her blood-soaked clothes completely red. There was a trace of bitterness on her face. She hadn¡¯t escaped. She really hadn¡¯t escaped. She had already reached the Combined Dao Realm, able to wield the power of the Great Dao. She could use a portion of her techniques now. But her enemies were simply far too strong. There were a bunch of Tribulation Crossing cultivators and Dispersed Gods. She had only just broken through to Combined Dao not long ago. No matter how many tricks she had, layer after layer of encirclement kept compressing her space for survival. And finally¡ªthis hopeless, inescapable situation. For a moment, regret washed over Chu Ling. Because in her past life, her Gongzi had always cleaned up her messes. Even though she had mentally prepared herself to face this alone¡ª She had thought, since Gongzi had always managed to escape when every major sect hunted him down in force, she should be able to as well. But reality had delivered a brutal lesson. Too many strong enemies. In front, behind, left, right, above, below¡ªbirds, beasts, insects, divine fate mirrors... Too many. Forget a living person¡ªeven if you were just an ant, you couldn¡¯t escape. How had Lu Ye managed to escape again and again? And more importantly... Gongzi... are you really not going to save Ling¡¯er this time? Just one more time¡ªif he helped her just one more time, she swore she would never cause trouble for him again. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one last chance. Hand over Sword Mountain!¡± Feng Wuhui bellowed. ¡°Sword Mountain has already been absorbed by me, merged into my sword path. If you want it¡ªthen take it by the sword!¡± Chu Ling shouted back. At her words, all the Supreme Sword Sect cultivators¡¯ eyes burned with fury. Damned woman, arrogant beyond measure. She really had devoured Sword Mountain! ¡°If you hand over Sword Mountain, I¡¯ll spare your life. Are you sure you¡¯ve absorbed it?¡± The Supreme Sword Sect wasn¡¯t known for being soft. The only reason they were even talking this long¡ªwas because of Lu Ye. ¡°I¡¯ve swallowed it!¡± Chu Ling declared. Feng Wuhui was completely enraged. ¡°No one touch her¡ªI¡¯ll kill her myself!¡± In an instant, the Regretless Sword transformed into a streak of light. Regretless Sword, strike without regret¡ª it slashed straight toward Chu Ling with crushing momentum. If Lu Ye got angry, then Feng Wuhui would just take responsibility for the sect. ¡°Ding!¡± Sword light howled. Sand and dust exploded into the air. A heavily wounded Chu Ling was no match for Feng Wuhui, a seventh-layer Tribulation Crossing cultivator. Just thirty strikes. Chu Ling¡¯s arm was half-severed¡ªand in that instant, a powerful sense of impending death completely engulfed her. Chapter 140: What technique? "Has he shown up yet?" The members of the Eternal Teachings Sect scouted carefully from the perimeter, examining any fluctuations between Heaven and Earth. They had already laid down a sky-covering net here, waiting for Lu Ye to appear. "Nothing at all¡ªnot even a ripple." "She¡¯s about to die¡ªreally no reaction?" "Swear on it. The Skyweb Mirror hasn¡¯t detected a single fluctuation." "Could it be that Chu Ling... Lu Ye doesn¡¯t even know her?" "Fool. The Upper Realm is targeting Lu Ye. Lu Ye is ranked in the Eternal Heaven¡¯s Heaven¡¯s Chosen List across all Nine Heavens. Chu Ling, on the other hand, is a no-name junior cultivator. If there¡¯s no connection between them, how would the Upper Realm know about Chu Ling?" "That¡¯s... kind of a good point. But what if Lu Ye really doesn¡¯t come?" "The Supreme Sword Sect probably won¡¯t really kill Chu Ling. They¡¯re suspicious that they can¡¯t figure out the younger generation¡¯s emotions. Just the fact that only Feng Wuhui is making a move says a lot." "Puh!" Another arm severed. Chu Ling was kicked through the air, spewing blood from her mouth, and collapsed to her knees. She was... really about to die. At this moment, a dazed light appeared in Chu Ling¡¯s eyes. Death... To Chu Ling, that word had always felt distant and unfamiliar. It had been a very, very long time since she last faced the threat of death. Now that it had come again, it felt like an infinite darkness, vast and suffocating, swallowing her whole. Blood poured freely. Her aura rapidly weakened. She really was going to die... Gongzi really hadn¡¯t come to save her. He really didn¡¯t care at all anymore. Blood, mixed with tears, streamed down her face. "Die!" Feng Wuhui roared. His longsword burst into a beam of sword light, giving Chu Ling no time for sentimental farewells. The enormous blade slashed downward toward her. Suddenly, a crisp noise. "Ding!" The sword light didn¡¯t shatter¡ªbut it was knocked off course. Chu Ling¡¯s head snapped up, and a flash of hope lit up her eyes. Had Gongzi come? Had Gongzi come to save her?! So Gongzi really did still love her. Gongzi... Ling¡¯er truly knows she was wrong, Ling¡¯er... "Fellow Daoist Wuhui, this woman cannot be killed just yet." An aged, smiling voice echoed through the heavens. A cultivator from the Eternal Teachings Sect, clad in purple-gold Daoist robes and carrying a warm smile, stepped forward. ¡°Fellow Daoist Ziquan, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Feng Wuhui asked. ¡°Fellow Daoist Wuhui, no need to be tense. The Eternal Teachings Sect was also furious when we heard Sword Mountain had been stolen from the Supreme Sword Sect. However, now that Chu Ling has already merged Sword Mountain into her own Dao, even if you kill her, Sword Mountain won¡¯t come back.¡± ¡°We of the Eternal Teachings Sect possess a secret technique known as Heaven-Stripping Art¡ªit allows one to forcibly strip another¡¯s Dao...¡± Shen Xitong, who had been munching melon seeds, nearly stuffed her whole mouth with them¡ªbut then she froze, her brows instantly knitting together. ¡°Ding. What did he just say that technique was called?¡± Shen Xitong asked, uncertain. Lu Ye remained unfazed, and even snickered internally. ¡°The Heaven-Stripping Art.¡± ¡°Ding. The what art?¡± ¡°¡®Strip¡¯ as in¡ªstrip off your clothes, strip off your skin, strip off your flesh, strip you of everything¡ªHeaven-Stripping Art!¡± "PA!" The table in front of Shen Xitong exploded into splinters. ¡°Ding. Blasphemy against Heaven! Blasphemy against Heaven!¡± ¡°Ding. Good, good, good. Eternal Teachings Sect, I...¡± Lu Ye watched as Shen Xitong pulled out a small black booklet, wreathed in black smoke, and began writing something in it. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but sneak a glance. ¡°Ding. Not for you to read!¡± Shen Xitong turned away, scribbling in secret. Lu Ye was surprisingly delighted. Haha, we¡¯re eating melon seeds but ended up watching a show about ourselves. The scene on the light screen continued. ¡°We of the Eternal Teachings Sect are willing to take action and strip Sword Mountain from Chu Ling¡¯s Dao. Once it¡¯s extracted, we¡¯ll return it to the Supreme Sword Sect¡ªand we¡¯ll take Chu Ling with us. Does that sound acceptable?¡± Daoist Ziquan said with a smile. Feng Wuhui furrowed his brows slightly. This... might actually work. ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble the Eternal Teachings Sect. The Supreme Sword Sect will remember this kindness.¡± ¡°Hahaha, we¡¯re all fellow cultivators¡ªno need to stand on ceremony!¡± Four experts from the Eternal Teachings Sect stepped forward, forming hand seals in rapid succession. A violent aura erupted forth. In that instant, even the Dao itself began to ripple with irregular fluctuations. Chu Ling¡¯s body floated up on its own. An overwhelming pain surged through every corner of her being in a flash. It could be seen¡ªher Nascent Soul within her dantian was radiating unprecedented brilliance, yet it flickered like an illusion, shifting ceaselessly. A vague image of Sword Mountain surfaced over her Nascent Soul¡¯s heart. Chu Ling could no longer endure it and let out a pained, wrenching scream. The agony of having her Dao peeled away inch by inch¡ªit was no less than the torment of having her soul torn apart. So this was what it felt like¡ªcommitting a mistake and being made to suffer so terribly in return. Gongzi... Chu Ling was wrong. Chu Ling truly knows she was wrong. ¡°Gongzi...¡± A blood-curdling scream tore from her throat. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± Suddenly, a terrifying wave of energy burst down from the Ninth Heaven. In that instant, all the surrounding powerhouses raised their heads to the sky. The experts from the Eternal Teachings Sect were visibly excited. He came! He actually came! No¡ªwait. That wasn¡¯t Lu Ye? Heaven and earth were suddenly swallowed by a chilling cold. The entire Land of Spirit Ruin was sheathed in frost. A dense curtain of rain fell from the sky. The bone-piercing cold condensed into white mist, surging downward like the breath of a god. Bai Qiulan, dressed in pure white robes, appeared high in the sky, unleashing the full force of her Chaotic Supreme Yin power. Though this power was extremely rare, its explosive might was terrifying. This was not a force that should have existed in the First Heaven. ¡°Who is that?¡± A single question echoed in the hearts of many. All kinds of powerful defensive arts flared to life¡ªbut even so, none could resist that bone-deep chill. Even their Nascent Souls felt on the verge of freezing. To be able to unleash seventy percent of one¡¯s full power under such freezing pressure was already astonishing. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s Lu Ye¡¯s master, Bai Qiulan. So Lu Ye didn¡¯t come¡ªbut his master did?¡± ¡°His master? Even better. Capture her!¡± Streams of light shot into the sky, rushing straight toward Bai Qiulan. ¡°Boom!¡± At that moment, a streak of blood light, moving at an incomprehensible speed, shot toward Chu Ling. Even cultivators in the Tribulation Crossing Realm couldn¡¯t follow it. It was fast¡ªinsanely fast. Shangguan Huanling arrived at Chu Ling¡¯s side. ¡°Heavenly Silkworm Nine Transformations!¡± ¡°Heavenly Lord Fist!¡± A majestic, overwhelming aura erupted from Shangguan Huanling¡¯s fist. It was terrifying. Several experts involuntarily froze. That punch¡ªit seemed absolutely monstrous. But Feng Wuhui showed no fear. His longsword had just begun to move¡ª¡°Senior Brother¡ª¡± Feng ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) Wuhui paused. He didn¡¯t strike. If Chu Ling had no relation to Lu Ye, that might be one thing. But now that Lu Ye¡¯s master, Bai Qiulan, had come¡ªthe situation clearly wasn¡¯t so simple. Now that Lu Ye¡¯s master had appeared on the battlefield, everything was no longer so easy to predict. Shangguan Huanling¡¯s eyes were sharp. She wrapped her arms around Chu Ling, and the blood light engulfed them both once more. ¡°Boom!¡± Two consecutive uses of Demonic Blood Escape¡ªShangguan Huanling¡¯s aura had noticeably dropped. One could imagine, for Shangguan Huanling to act so decisively¡ªshe had likely been promised one hell of a big reward. Chapter 141: Escape A massive light screen unfurled. The many techniques prepared by the Eternal Teachings Sect were not deployed¡ªbecause their objective had shifted. It was no longer Chu Ling. It was now¡ªBai Qiulan! They hadn¡¯t expected such a surprise. Chu Ling had already been beaten to this state, and Lu Ye still hadn¡¯t shown up. That meant Chu Ling held no value. But what if his master were captured? Whether in terms of emotional ties or worldly moral standards, he had to act if it was his master. If he didn¡¯t, then the label of cold-hearted ingrate would be slapped firmly onto Lu Ye. No one would care about whatever past grievances or entanglements there were between him and his master. People would only remember one thing: that Lu Ye had the power to save his master and chose to let her die. Sometimes, public opinion was a sharp and deadly blade. Enough of it could even cause a cultivator to develop inner demons. Demons excluded... Lu Ye had indeed killed many, but he had treated the Grand Dao Sect well. He shouldn¡¯t be a demon. The Supreme Sword Sect also gave up on chasing Chu Ling. Partly because Shangguan Huanling had moved far too fast, and partly because Lu Ye¡¯s master had now made a move. They really couldn¡¯t make a judgment anymore. The blood-red light shattered the light screen in an instant and vanished toward the edge of the world. Demonic Blood Escape¡ªthe ultimate escape technique. As long as one burned enough essence¡ªone¡¯s original life source¡ªit could burst forth with terrifying speed. Most cultivators wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up. Only now, only Bai Qiulan remained on the field. Bai Qiulan was in the first layer of the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Luckily so. Otherwise, even the Chaotic Supreme Yin Divine Body would have been blasted apart. But now¡ª ¡°Ta?i Yi?n Illusory World!¡± In a flash, terrifying Supreme Yin energy spread across the sky, forming an enormous technique that blanketed the heavens. Streaks of Supreme Yin divine lightning burst from the spell, beams of light scattering in every direction¡ª Together weaving an apocalyptic scene. A Tribulation Crossing expert from the Eternal Teachings Sect collided with the spell, and the bone-deep cold caused their aura to plummet sharply. Their souls, their Nascent Souls¡ªit felt like they were all undergoing tribulation. Even so, divine techniques burst forth one after another and finally tore open the spell. A bronze cauldron, mottled with the wear of countless ages, was hurled toward Bai Qiulan. ¡°Crack crack crack...¡± The bronze cauldron was instantly frozen mid-air. Sword qi soared skyward. A giant fist mark howled down from above. ¡°Supreme Yin Freezes All!¡± The Chaotic Supreme Yin Divine Body was simply too overpowering. All attacks froze a full thousand meters away from Bai Qiulan¡¯s body, unable to get any closer. Around her was like an absolute domain¡ª Invulnerable to all laws. Nothing could approach. Seeing that Chu Ling had been rescued, Bai Qiulan prepared to retreat. ¡°Stay behind!¡± A ninth-layer Tribulation Crossing powerhouse made a full-powered strike, palm crashing down. ¡°Eternal Palm of Undying Ages!¡± With this strike, countless phantom palms seemed to be summoned from the river of time itself, merging into one overwhelming blow. ¡°Boom!¡± The palm print crashed through to within ten meters of Bai Qiulan. ¡°Puh!¡± Bai Qiulan coughed up a mouthful of blood. In the next second, a sigil descended¡ªlike a fragment of the world''s foundation¡ªsmashing down. The ninth-layer Tribulation Crossing cultivator turned bluish-purple, hastily retreating. Bai Qiulan had already activated her secret arts. In order to rescue Chu Ling, she had unleashed everything. The Chaotic Supreme Yin force formed a horrifying cyclone over the entire Land of Spirit Ruin. Howling winds carried biting cold, and beams of light flickered within it. In the end, even the tornado itself froze solid. Bai Qiulan escaped, face pale as a ghost. Her gaze was dazed¡ªher mind clearly no longer clear. Yue Hongling rushed forward, throwing Bai Qiulan onto her back. Just as she was about to flee, a Supreme Elder of the Supreme Sword Sect blocked her path. ¡°I¡¯ll have my Senior Brother compensate the Supreme Sword Sect for its losses!¡± Yue Hongling obviously wasn¡¯t a match for a Tribulation Crossing cultivator¡ª But she could wave the big banner and bluff. She just needed to drop Lu Ye¡¯s name first. The Supreme Elder from the Supreme Sword Sect hesitated for a moment. It seemed he received a voice transmission and stepped aside. Yue Hongling carried Bai Qiulan and took off running. She felt like she was carrying a chunk of thousand-year-old ice. The biting cold made her whole body tremble, her flesh felt frostbitten to the point of necrosis, and even her soul shivered from the chill. But she could endure it. So what if it was cold? What was there to be afraid of? She had to return to the Grand Dao Sect as fast as possible! The frozen tornado in the Land of Spirit Ruin shattered with a thunderous boom. One pale-faced cultivator after another emerged. None of them had expected that a virtually unknown Bai Qiulan could erupt with such terrifying power. Could it be the Grand Dao Sect had truly become a sect of great destiny? Why else would monsters keep showing up one after another? ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop them?¡± someone from the Eternal Teachings Sect snapped at the Supreme Sword Sect. The Supreme Sword Sect didn¡¯t even bother responding. They simply turned and left. This act made the group from the Eternal Teachings Sect furious. But now wasn¡¯t the time to flip the table with the Supreme Sword Sect. Once they broke through to the Great Ascension Realm and killed Lu Ye, then they¡¯d make sure the Supreme Sword Sect got taught a lesson too. A wave of experts began their pursuit of Yue Hongling. ¡°To burn all her energy and erupt with Chaotic Supreme Yin force... when did their relationship get so close?¡± Lu Ye muttered, somewhat puzzled. ¡°Ding! I know!¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± ¡°Ding! I know. It¡¯s called clinging together for warmth, afraid of ending up like the rabbit when the fox dies¡ªso they throw everything in, choosing mutual destruction if necessary.¡± Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°You sure know a lot of idioms.¡± ¡°Ding! Ahn~ I¡¯m super awesome!¡± Shen Xitong looked extremely pleased with herself. Just one round of battle, and all four of those women had ended up heavily injured. Lu Ye shook his head. Before the rebirth, they¡¯d all been howling about how they¡¯d become Great Emperors by their own strength¡ªnow that they¡¯d actually been reborn, this was what was supposed to become a Great Emperor? Lu Ye didn¡¯t buy it. Still, Bai Qiulan hadn¡¯t yet reached her absolute limit. Since she¡¯d broken out of the encirclement, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for the Eternal Teachings Sect to catch up now. Chu Ling might not be able to return to the Grand Dao Sect, but Bai Qiulan and Yue Hongling definitely would. The Eternal Teachings Sect would likely use this as an excuse to start a war with the Grand Dao Sect. Which meant¡ªit was time for him to break through to the Tribulation Crossing Realm. As for what kind of poison he might encounter during the tribulation¡ªit didn¡¯t matter. If soldiers come, block them. If water comes, dam it. In his past life, he¡¯d been a Heavenly Lord. Poisons that could outright kill him were virtually nonexistent¡ªunless they touched on the level of Saints. But in this era, no Saints existed. The Heavenly Lord Realm was the peak of the world¡ªso the poisons those eight women had used should only affect him, not kill him outright. Otherwise, why would the poison wait to activate during tribulation, and not just go off at any time? Time to break through! ¡°Ding. Beginning cultivation.¡± The Dao thundered within Lu Ye¡¯s body. Breaking through to the Tribulation Crossing Realm didn¡¯t require forming a fourth life; that would only be necessary upon advancing to the Great Ascension Realm. At this moment¡ª Lu Ye¡¯s {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} heart was calm and tranquil, utterly undisturbed. A thread of unstable aura rose from his body. The Dao! Only the Dao matters! Chapter 142: Taiyin Marrow Worm Ice crystals. Countless ice crystals began to emerge across Lu Ye¡¯s body. Lu Ye¡¯s brows furrowed. A wave of intense pain surged through him¡ªbut it was still just pain. Compared to the Primordial Morning Mist, this pain was far less intense. Within his void dantian, the space warped slightly¡ªan exquisitely transparent insect egg quietly surfaced. Just the mere appearance of that egg nearly caused Lu Ye to collapse from the cold. But¡ªfortunately. It was just a Taiyin Marrow Worm. Lu Ye felt a bit relieved. This creature was a supreme lifeform that dwelled in Supreme Yin. Its nature was extremely elevated, part of the very essence of Supreme Yin and Sun. If it had appeared during his tribulation¡ª It would have frantically absorbed the Chaotic Supreme Yin force he had acquired over the years from his master¡¯s body. Which meant¡ªit would¡¯ve caused Lu Ye¡¯s strength to plummet drastically and plunged him into an extremely chaotic state. Losing a life wouldn¡¯t have been surprising at all. That was because in his early years of cultivation, Lu Ye had only been able to endure the Chaotic Supreme Yin force by burning his life force and risking cultivation collapse. It wasn¡¯t until the emergence of the Taiyin Transformation Sutra that he finally stopped being drained¡ªand instead began to benefit. He refined the Chaotic Supreme Yin force continuously. This power gave Lu Ye tremendous support in his mid-to-late cultivation. Bai Qiulan¡¯s status among the eight women had always been among the top¡ªand not without reason. First, her status. Second, Lu Ye especially liked going to her, because she could not only empower him¡ªbut she was also big! Third, Bai Qiulan had a gentle personality. But now... Since Lu Ye hadn¡¯t absorbed even a trace of Chaotic Supreme Yin force in this life, the Taiyin Marrow Worm couldn¡¯t even hatch. All it could do was radiate cold¡ªjust cold. Without the nourishment of Chaotic Supreme Yin force, ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? what hammer was it supposed to break out of its egg with? Tribulation Crossing¡ªFirst Layer! Lu Ye looked up, feeling the boundless heavenly pressure¡ªlike a sword suspended overhead, ready to fall at any moment. At the same time, irritation began to stir in his heart. Scenes from the past started flashing through his mind uncontrollably. In a field of endless flowers. Yue Hongling lay among the blossoms, her head resting on Lu Ye¡¯s thigh, gazing at him with deep affection. ¡°Senior Brother, if there were only the two of us in all of Heaven and Earth, I would wish for this moment... to become eternal.¡± ¡°What about Master?¡± Yue Hongling thought for a moment, her expression turning sweet and coy. ¡°Then include Master too¡ªthe three of us will become eternal together.¡± ¡°Alright¡ªeternal together.¡± ¡°Senior Brother... I love you so much...¡± The two of them embraced and kissed amidst the sea of flowers. ... ¡°Lu Ye-gege, I¡¯ve reached the Combined Dao Realm! Guess what Dao I¡¯ve formed?¡± Shangguan Huanling came bouncing over with excitement, her eyes sparkling. ¡°What Dao?¡± ¡°Hehe¡ªDao of Affection! Lu Ye-gege, you are my Dao!¡± ¡°Waaaah, how adorable! Dao of Affection, Dao of Affection, hahahaha...¡± ... ¡°Lu Ye, get down¡ªyou¡¯ll freeze to death!¡± ¡°Master, I¡¯m not afraid. I won¡¯t freeze to death¡ªI can save you!¡± ¡°No! No!¡± A weakened hand tried to push Lu Ye away. ¡°Master, I won¡¯t die. Believe me¡ªI won¡¯t die. Because if I die, there¡¯ll be no one left to cure your poison. Even if it¡¯s just to save you¡ªI won¡¯t die!¡± Bai Qiulan¡¯s face was streaming with tears. ¡°Ye¡¯er... stop calling me Master. Call me by my name¡ªBai Qiulan!¡± ¡°Lu Ye, you must remember¡ªI love you. No matter what happens, I love you.¡± Lu Ye stood frozen in place. His mind flooded with all the sweet memories from the past. ... The scenes in Lu Ye¡¯s memory suddenly shifted. ¡°Lu Ye, I am your master, not your Dao companion. From today on, you are absolutely forbidden from setting foot in my room. You and I share only the bond of master and disciple¡ªthere must be no impropriety between us!¡± ¡°Qiulan...¡± ¡°Address me as Master!¡± ¡°But you said before that you liked me.¡± ¡°That was nonsense brought on by the poison. Lu Ye, I wasn¡¯t joking. And you can stop acting so flippant. There is a distinction between master and disciple. Now that I am no longer suffering from the Chaotic Yin Poison, you and I must correct our mistakes!¡± ... ¡°Lu Ye, you¡¯ve become so dull lately. Do you truly find nothing enjoyable in life? Is there nothing you know how to do aside from being kind to others?¡± Lu Ye looked at Shangguan Huanling in confusion. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t want to keep talking in circles. I¡¯ll just say it straight: my Dao of Affection has disappeared.¡± Lu Ye felt like he had been struck by lightning. The Dao of Affection... disappeared. ¡°If I no longer love you, then I can let you go.¡± ¡°Lu Ye, how can you be so irresponsible? I¡¯ve already given my body to you, and now you tell me to leave? What does that make me?¡± ¡°You know my Dao of Affection has disappeared¡ªcan¡¯t you at least act like a man? Either make my Dao return, or just accept that even if the Dao is gone, it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ve stopped loving you. I just think you¡¯ve become so boring lately...¡± ... ¡°Gongzi, does it hurt?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it¡ªI¡¯m just so full of fear. Because of my weakness, everyone at Chu Sword Mountain Manor died. I can¡¯t keep up with your pace. I really have to give it everything I¡¯ve got!¡± ¡°I can help you forge your sword...¡± ¡°A freshly forged sword has no sword intent. What I need are the blades that have witnessed countless battles. Only by fusing with those swords can I grow faster¡ªform stronger sword intent. Isn¡¯t that what you taught me?¡± ¡°I told you to take enemies¡¯ swords¡ªnot our own allies¡¯...¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a nag. You don¡¯t have to care about me anymore. If I die while stealing swords, then I die. After all, I¡¯m just your sword maidservant¡ªthere¡¯s no need for you to worry this much!¡± Lu Ye took a deep breath. A faint mist rose in his eyes, a shimmer of vapor stirred by hidden tears. Heart tribulation. The deeper the feeling, the deeper the wound. Even with such a firm Dao heart, it was still breached by the heart tribulation. His gaze calmed. The Taiyin Marrow Worm still had not hatched. ¡°Run a deduction¡ªhow can I force the Taiyin Marrow Worm to emerge?¡± ¡°Ding. Deduction complete!¡± ¡°Huh? That fast?¡± Lu Ye was a little surprised. ¡°Ding. The question was way too easy. Even a child wouldn¡¯t ask something so simple, so of course the deduction was fast.¡± Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. All right, all right. The system''s acting cocky now? ¡°Ding. Deduce the second half of the phrase ¡®lonely behind a cold window, widowed in silence.¡¯ Thanks.¡± ¡°Ding. Beginning deduction...¡± The system fell silent. And stayed silent. And stayed silent. And stayed... Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but grin in satisfaction. What''s the matter? Can¡¯t handle it now? Hiss... So cold. All right, fine¡ªno more teasing the damn system. ¡°Stop deduction.¡± ¡°Ding ding ding! Damn host¡ªthis system¡¯s going all in!¡± Shen Xitong, full of fury, suddenly lunged at Lu Ye. With one clean grab, Lu Ye slammed her down against the table. ¡°Ding ding ding! Stupid host! Damn host! Bastard host! Let me go! If you¡¯ve got the guts, fight me one-on-one!¡± ¡°Am I not fighting you one-on-one right now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Let me go¡ªlet me go! I¡¯m going to bite you! Just one bite! Just one!¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you¡ªgood host, my dear host¡ªjust let me vent a little, okay? Just let me bite you once¡ªjust once, pleeeeease...¡±