Sage of Humanity

Following the woman, Lu Ye proceeded deeper inside, and after about 30 miles, there was no path left.

The spot they were now in must be within the belly of the mountain, not too spacious.

Although the light was dim, it didn't affect Lu Ye's ability to look around.

Having suddenly arrived at such a dead end, Lu Ye almost doubted whether the mysterious woman had made a fake Heaven's Augury oath earlier.

He had thought that by following her inside, they would enter some concealed place or come to somewhere they could hide, but it didn't seem to be the case now.

From behind him came the fluctuation of spirit force and some voices of conversation, clearly, Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators had already caught up, but they didn't dare to rush in before they were certain there were no ambushes.

However, they would certainly charge in, and by then, with no way forward and the path blocked behind, Lu Ye would undoubtedly face certain death.

"Come here!" The mysterious woman in front saw Lu Ye standing in place, stunned, and waved him over with her hand.

Although suspicious, Lu Ye still approached, stopping not far from the woman.

"Closer!" The mysterious woman, somewhat impatient, felt uncomfortable with the vigilance Lu Ye maintained towards her.

In reality, it was just that the space wasn't wide, and Lu Ye didn't wish to stand too close to her.

Following her words, Lu Ye simply walked up and stood beside her.

A faint fragrance instantly enveloped his nose...

The mysterious woman's body suddenly surged with spirit force, and as her spirit force fluctuated, complex and intricate lines beneath their feet lit up, illuminating the dim space completely.

Lu Ye stared in surprise at the intricate patterns underfoot, and incredulously turned towards the woman next to him, but with a mask covering her face, he couldn't see her expression.

Before he could ask anything, the space within the encased light began to distort and the next instant, the two figures unexpectedly disappeared.

The commotion here alarmed the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators outside who, after probing and ascertaining there were no hidden traps or Formations, poured in following their pursuit.

The 30-mile-long passage was quickly traversed, but inside, it was empty, without a single person in sight.

"Where are they?" someone asked, puzzled—they had clearly watched Lu Ye and the mysterious woman enter this place, and there was no way forward, yet they had vanished without a trace.

How could two living people just disappear out of thin air?

"Teleportation array!" Someone crouched down, looking at some remnants of Formation marks on the ground, revealing the wonder within.

As the words were spoken, someone dawned realization, "I heard that Lu Yiye could set up teleportation arrays, and it seems it's true!"

In such a dead-end environment, two living people couldn't naturally vanish into thin air, but if they used the power of a teleportation array, then it would all make sense.

What puzzled people was...

"Lu Yiye actually left a teleportation array here? When did he do it?" Since he left Heaven's Augury City, he had been on the run, which obviously wasn't the time he left it—it must have been from before.

"Regardless of when he did it, his current cultivation isn't high, and even if he left a teleportation array, the distance it could transport wouldn't be too far; he must be within about 30 miles at this moment!"

Consequently, the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators who charged in quickly withdrew, and messages spread outward, with many Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators mobilizing to look for Lu Ye's whereabouts within this approximate 30-mile radius.

Meanwhile, in another concealed location, Lu Ye had a complex expression.

Those Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators thought the teleportation array in the mountain belly was left by him, but it actually wasn't.

This was also the reason why Lu Ye was shocked earlier.

He had always believed that, throughout the Nine Provinces World at the Cloud River Realm level, only he could set up something like a teleportation array.

Until today, he realized he had somewhat overestimated himself.

At the Cloud River Realm level, there was not only him who could set up a teleportation array, but there were others as well!

With the vastness of the Nine Provinces, there were many capable individuals; apparently, he had been like the proverbial frog in the well.

Without the sense of defeat from seeing his unique skill being showcased by another, Lu Ye was actually quite excited, and after easing the discomfort from the teleportation, he quickly turned to the mysterious woman next to him, "Fellow Daoist, that teleportation array..."

"I didn't set it up," the mysterious woman seemed to know what he wanted to ask, and answered before he could finish his question.

"Then..."

"I do not know who set it up, and you need not ask any more," she interrupted.

Lu Ye was quite taken aback; he had never encountered such a woman before.

Moreover, she didn't know who set up the teleportation array—what kind of statement was that? If she didn't know, why would she bring him there, using the teleportation array to escape their predicament?

Lu Ye subconsciously felt this mysterious woman didn't want to share too much with him.

This was very strange.

She had taken the initiative to save him and even risked exposing a highly secret location, but her attitude towards him was not exactly warm. What exactly was she after?

Additionally, the mysterious woman gave Lu Ye a sense of superiority, causing him to wonder whether he was not facing a peer cultivator but rather a senior from the True Lake Realm or even the Divine Sea Realm.

Suppressing some doubts in his heart, Lu Ye said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for your assistance this time. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

"I am simply following orders; you need not know my name," the mysterious woman said, looking around at their surroundings.

Seeing her like this, she also seemed to be new to this place, which made Lu Ye somewhat believe the words she had previously spoken.

But her words undeniably filled Lu Ye with confusion and suspicion.

Following orders?

Whose orders was she following?

Since she had saved him, she must see something valuable in him or wish to befriend him. Why then hide so much? Not only did she not reveal her name, but she even concealed her face, leaving Lu Ye completely baffled.

Although saving a life does not necessarily require repayment with one's own, at the very least, Lu Ye wanted to know from whom this favor had come.

The woman had already turned and begun walking in a certain direction.

This place was a cave—dark but not damp, and its space was much wider than the mountain's belly they had just been in. In the silent environment, their footsteps, though light, were still clearly audible.

Lu Ye followed the woman, with many questions he wanted to ask, but the other's frosty demeanor made it clear that asking would be futile.

Soon, the two came to the bottom of the cave. The mysterious woman stood still and glanced sideways at Lu Ye, "You should return to the Nine Provinces. Many people in Ten Thousand Demons Ridge are searching for you. Once you show yourself, you will inevitably attract endless pursuit. Therefore, the safest place for you is back in the Nine Provinces."

Lu Ye naturally did not want to return to the Nine Provinces; if he wanted to, he would have already gone back.

The mysterious woman was not fully aware of his abilities and thought he was cornered by the pursuit. Although the situation was dangerous, it was still within Lu Ye's control.

Moreover, even if he really wanted to return to the Nine Provinces, it was impossible at this time and place.

But Lu Ye soon became stupefied.

Because not far in front of them stood a Heaven's Augury Pillar.

There was actually a Heaven's Augury Pillar here!

This place was neither Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union nor any spirit ground. A secretive place like this harbored a Heaven's Augury Pillar, apparently to deal with some crisis situations, just like now.

First, there was the teleportation array, and now a Heaven's Augury Pillar. Lu Ye really wanted to know who was aiding him from the shadows.

The woman said she was acting under orders, but who exactly was behind the scenes, and what were their intentions? The previous locations of the teleportation arrays could be considered exposed, and now the Heaven's Augury Pillar was revealed to him. The person behind this had made such great efforts but did not want to disclose their identity.

What exactly were they plotting?

"What are you staring at?" When the woman saw Lu Ye standing there in a daze, she could not help but urge him.

"I'm not!"

"What?"

"I said I'm not going back to the Nine Provinces."

Surprise flickered in the eyes beneath the woman's mask. She looked Lu Ye up and down and said with patience, "Perhaps you haven't fully grasped your current situation, or maybe I wasn't clear enough, but you just need to understand one thing—if you continue to stay on the Cloud River battlefield, it will be very dangerous."

"I am naturally aware of that."

You know and still don't leave! The woman could not help but criticize him in her thoughts, completely losing patience, and said indifferently, "That's not up to you!"

With that said, she reached out her hand toward Lu Ye.

It seemed as if she intended to take Lu Ye back to the Nine Provinces by force if necessary.

From the moment the woman fought alone against several Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators of Level 8-9, Lu Ye knew she was very strong, but he did not have a clear idea of how strong.

Not until this moment!

When the fair hand reached out, Lu Ye found himself completely without the time to react.

A metallic clang sounded, and a fiery red light from the blade swept across as Lu Ye instinctively swung out his sword.

This was purely the power of the Mental Eye Secret Technique.

Facing this strike, the woman did not dare to meet it head-on; instead, the long sword in her other hand shot out, blocking the hit.

When sword and blade met, a crisp clash sounded along with sparks flying.

Lu Ye drifted backward, his face embarrassed, "Sorry, it was a bodily reflex…" He then thought for a moment; that's not right. The woman had just sworn by Heaven's Augury that she harbored no ill-intent toward him, but now she was attacking him.

What's going on!

"Do not hinder me from completing my mission!" The woman said coldly, sword in hand, her presence growing chillier, "You have two choices: either return to the Nine Provinces obediently or I knock you out and take you there."

Lu Ye stubbornly responded, "Fellow Daoist, a melon forced off its vine is not sweet."

This woman likely had some issues, insisting that he return to the Nine Provinces for no apparent reason; one moment she had saved him, and the next she was ready to force him.

However, one thing Lu Ye could be sure of was that the other party truly had no ill-intent toward him; after all, the oath to Heaven's Augury was there, and if there truly was ill-intent, punishment from Heaven's Augury would be inevitable.