Sage of Humanity

Ultimately, Lu Ye never figured out the answer to this question, because Second Senior Sister didn't explain it to him.

Maybe she didn't want to, or perhaps she thought it wasn't the right time. Since she didn't speak, Lu Ye naturally wouldn't pry.

Soaking in that tub full of medicinal syrup as usual, Lu Ye's wounds quickly improved thanks to Second Senior Sister's meticulous treatment.

By evening, Lu Ye stepped out feeling refreshed, at which point Amber ran over to rub against him.

During his days in the Righteous Blood Sect, Amber evidently became much more robust, having nothing but good food and sleep, along with a plethora of Spirit-Nurturing Pills to swallow, and occasionally coming over to Lu Ye to consume a bloodline from a Scale Armor, carefree indeed.

As for Yiyi...

It was unclear what she was busy with over at the sect master's side. For the first few days, she followed Second Senior Sister, mysteriously telling Lu Ye that she wanted to learn how to be a healing cultivator from her.

Since Lu Ye had been injured so often along the way, it was foreseeable that he would inevitably engage in more battles in the future. Thus Yiyi's greatest wish was to become a healing cultivator, so that even if she couldn't be of much help during a fight, she could treat Lu Ye's wounds after.

But she disappeared after just a few days, and Lu Ye didn't know what happened, surmising that she probably wasn't doing too well with the training.

As a result, she spent her days at the sect master's side now, and Lu Ye wondered if she wanted to become a magic cultivator instead...

To Lu Ye's knowledge, the sect master was indeed a magic cultivator.

He took out the Scale Armor, let Amber come over and suck a mouthful, and the formidable-looking Amber immediately stiffened, flopping rigidly onto the ground as its blood Qi churned on its surface.

Second Senior Sister was not surprised by this. Lu Ye had told her about the origin of the Scale Armor, and she had carefully studied it, confirming it had a great effect on Body Refining. As long as the intensity was controlled and not too much was refined at once, there would be no danger.

Second Senior Sister had also said that there must be some secret hidden beneath Dragon Spring, perhaps a stroke of fortune, and that Lu Ye could look into it if he became more powerful in the future.

He definitely intended to check it out; Lu Ye still remembered Han Zheyue from the Tailuo Sect. If it weren't for that woman exposing him on the Golden Light Peak, would he have had to fight so many Level 6 cultivators?

He had noted this grudge and would seek retribution sooner or later.

Ignoring Amber, who was thrashing about as though it was about to give up the ghost, Lu Ye headed straight for Heaven's Augury Hall.

Moments later, he appeared in the Heaven's Augury Hall of his station, lifted his hand to touch the battlefield marking, and sent out a message.

Soon came a reply, "There are hardly any qualified people. I've asked around, and no one dares to go, although there are two who are not afraid of death. One is at Cloud River Realm, and the other at Spirit Stream Realm, but I suspect Brother Lu wouldn't want to bring along a burden."

He had previously entrusted Chen Yu to help him find suitable candidates to join the Spirit Stream Defense Battle, but it seemed the situation was not optimistic.

Most cultivators had heard of the famous Spirit Stream Defense Battle, but those independent cultivators gathered here generally didn't have high levels of cultivation. Apart from Seven Level Chen Yu, there were only a few more at Level 6, all of whom were cautious by nature, or in other words, timid.

With their strength, they could already venture into the inner circle of the battlefield, but they stayed in the outer circle simply because they were afraid.

The casualties in the Spirit Stream Defense Battle were always substantial, so how could they dare to participate?

Even Chen Yu didn't dare commit. If he truly had the courage to take part in the Spirit Stream Defense Battle, he wouldn't be mingling in the outer circle but would have gone to the inner circle long ago.

The independent cultivators were a lost cause, something Lu Ye had been mentally prepared for.

If so be it, then there was no helping it...

Lu Ye walked out of Heaven's Augury Hall and took a foot-long fish out of his storage sack. The fish was entirely blood-red, as if cast from Blood Jade.

This was a Blood Red Trout from Moon Lake. During his time at the Righteous Blood Sect, Li Baxian caught many, most of which were eaten, and Lu Ye secured a few for himself.

A moment later, a huge shadow descended from the sky, landing before Lu Ye, bringing with it a howling wind that made Lu Ye's face sting. It was Little Gray, the gray hawk.

It bent down and pecked gingerly, grabbing the Blood Red Trout in its beak and swallowing it with a tilt of its head.

Previously, Second Senior Brother had said Little Gray liked eating Blood Red Trout, so Lu Ye occasionally brought a few over. There was no way they would fill it up, given the size difference; the foot-long Blood Red Trout looked like a worm in Little Gray's beak.

But Little Gray really liked these fish, and as a result, its attitude toward Lu Ye was much more cordial.

For decades, no one had tended to it; it had always guarded the Righteous Blood Sect's territory, loyal to the end, until Lu Ye's arrival brought it a dash more vitality.

After eating one fish, Little Gray tilted its head to look at Lu Ye, its eyes full of anticipation.

Lu Ye then took another fish and tossed it, and Little Gray caught it precisely.

Looking up at the hawk, Lu Ye asked, "Little Gray, could you take me somewhere?"

Little Gray looked down at him and then bent its head, its curved beak hooking Lu Ye's collar just so, before gently tossing him onto its back with a flick.

Lu Ye's face darkened instantaneously, "A nod would've sufficed; I could've climbed up myself. You're making me lose face like this!"

Little Gray had spread its wings; the wind started howling, and Lu Ye felt his body become weightless as he was suddenly thrust upwards into the sky.@@novelbin@@

He quickly crouched down, clinging to the eagle's back while simultaneously spurring his spirit force to resist the fierce wind that was hitting his face.

An eagle cry that seemed to rip through the sky and halt the clouds sounded, seemingly inquiring from Lu Ye which direction to go.

Lu Ye took out his ten-part map to check and then pointed out a direction; the giant eagle immediately flew toward that direction.

Lu Ye then hurriedly activated his battlefield marking, sending a message back to his Second Senior Sister.

A short while later, he received a reply, "Be careful on your way and come back soon!"

Lying on the incredibly spacious back of the eagle, Lu Ye truly understood what it meant to move as fast as the wind.

Little Gray's speed was much faster than Tang Wu's Flying Spirit Artifact; after all, it was a flying-class demon beast with several decades of growth behind it, and Lu Ye seriously suspected that Little Gray's strength could compare to a cultivator who had cultivated a Heaven Rank Technique to the Level 9 realm.

However, it was restricted by the rules of the Spirit Stream battlefield and could not break through.

Recalling his Second Senior Brother's easy mastery of weapon control-flying, Lu Ye couldn't help but long for such skill, but his current cultivation was too low, and he would need to increase his realm to fly with weapon control.

Normally, cultivators would possess the ability to control weapons upon reaching Level 7, but to fly with weapon control, one needed to be at Level 8-9, which is when one has sufficient spirit force within their body to support flying for some time.

After reaching Level 9, one could switch to cultivating Heaven Rank Techniques, and only by cultivating Heaven Rank Techniques could one qualify to break through the Spirit Stream Realm and advance to the Cloud River Realm.

Once in the Cloud River Realm, one could physically fly through the sky.

These prospects, however, were still quite distant for Lu Ye.

Not only was Little Gray fast, but its endurance was also incredibly strong. After a day and a night, it finally landed to recover its strength. As for food, Lu Ye needed not worry; it could easily catch some food from the wild on its own and even shared its catch with Lu Ye.

For Lu Ye, the only discomfort was the need to continuously spur his spirit force to protect himself from freezing or being blown away by the violent winds.

In the outer circle skies, there were barely any riders, so the journey had been extremely smooth.

It was not until five days later, as the evening was approaching, that Lu Ye reached his destination.

The ten-part map indicated that this place was Mount Ying.

He wanted to participate in the Spirit Stream Defense Battle. Independent cultivators couldn't be relied upon, so Lu Ye had to find a helper by himself. However, he knew very few people. After much thought, he decided to turn to Hua Ci.

When he had left Mount Ying, this woman was at Level 5, and with so much time having passed, she should have reached Level 6 by now.

Such a level of cultivation was more than enough to qualify for participating in the Spirit Stream Defense Battle, and most importantly, she was a healing cultivator; if he were injured, she could treat him.

Of course, Lu Ye would not force her to do anything; everyone has their aspirations, and Hua Ci, a healing cultivator devoted to helping the world, might not be willing to get involved in such chaotic warfare.

This trip was merely an attempt.

Furthermore, having twice received life-saving aid from her, Lu Ye knew that independent cultivators led difficult lives and were not entirely safe. If possible, he thought to bring Hua Ci and her people over to the Righteous Blood Sect, where, at the very least, there was some guarantee of safety.

He had considered this before leaving Mount Ying, but at that time, he himself didn't even know where the Righteous Blood Sect was located and naturally couldn't rashly make any promises.

The giant eagle slowly descended, kicking up a whirlwind. The surrounding bamboo houses all creaked and groaned, and figures rushed out from within.

Eyes full of bewilderment and fear stared back at the giant eagle.

Lu Ye saw Hua Ci and Ruan Lingyu, and also the robust figure of Kong Niu, but there were several others he didn't recognize...

Perhaps they were new members recruited by the Independent Wanderers Society in recent times?

What puzzled Lu Ye was that some of those unfamiliar faces had quite impressive cultivation; among them were even a Level 7 cultivator and a Level 6 cultivator...

The Level 7 cultivator called out loudly, "Which Fellow Daoist graces us with their presence?" He vigilantly watched over Lu Ye, readying his spirit force.

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Lu Ye looked towards Hua Ci; his smile gradually faded as he noticed a clear scar on her fair neck, seemingly inflicted by a sharp blade. To leave such a distinct scar meant the injury was not light, and from the angle and position of the scar, it seemed less likely that it was caused by someone else. Instead, it looked as if Hua Ci herself had cut it...

Why would this woman seek harm upon herself? Lu Ye frowned.

Just then, Hua Ci suddenly raised her hand, forming a magic spell with her fingers. A layer of visible gray ripples burst outward from her as the center, sweeping wildly in all directions.

Standing beside Hua Ci, Ruan Lingyu cried out, "Yiye, kill them quickly; they are from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge!"

With a bang, Kong Niu charged at a Level 5 cultivator, immediately engaging in battle with the stranger Lu Ye had never seen before. Kong Niu was now at Level 5 too, an equal match for his opponent.

However, after just a short clash, the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivator seemed to be at a disadvantage as objects resembling mushrooms rapidly started to grow from his nose and mouth, disturbing his focus.