Sage of Humanity

In the training room stationed at the camp, the Spirit Gathering Array and three Spirit Energy Gathering Spirit Runes operated simultaneously, causing nature's spiritual energy to surge wildly. The entire room was filled with a dense spiritual energy, among which streaked lines of blood Qi, writhing like spirit snakes.

Both the spiritual energy and blood Qi, driven by some force, continuously burrowed into Lu Ye's body.

Moreover, his abdomen emitted a series of thunder-like buzzing sounds, the result of the Bestial Gluttony Feast being in operation.

At one moment, Lu Ye opened his eyes, looked down at the back of his hand, where the battlefield marking was slightly warm, with a hint of Heaven's Augury stirring within.

The time had come!

He concluded his practice and stood up, retrieving the Scale Armor placed on the Spirit Gathering Array, and walked out the door.

Shortly, he arrived in front of the Heaven's Augury Pillar at Heaven's Augury Hall.

Hua Ci hadn't arrived yet; lately, she had been inseparable from Second Senior Sister, busy with something. Since both women were healing cultivators, it was probably the case that Second Senior Sister was teaching Hua Ci some aspects of healing cultivation.

While waiting, Lu Ye activated his battlefield marking to check his own information.

Name: Lu Ye.

Identity: Disciple of the Righteous Blood Sect.

Cultivation: 83rd orifice.

Location: Spirit Stream battlefield.

Merit: Twenty-six.

Almost two months had passed since the battle at Golden Light Peak. Since his injuries had significantly healed and he had restored the effects of burning away pill poison with his Talent Tree, Lu Ye's cultivation had been increasing day by day.

Since returning from Madam Yun's place that day, he had advanced to 81 orifices, breaking through to Level 6 of Spirit Stream, and had opened two more orifices as of today.

It is worth mentioning that this progress was also due to some delay. The round trip to Mount Ying to find Hua Ci and the others had taken over ten days. If not for these interruptions, his cultivation would have improved even faster.

Since the training environment in his stationed location was much better than before, it was also much safer.

As for cultivation, he reached his expected results; as for merit… it was somewhat dilapidating.

If it weren't for slaughtering a Level 7 at Mount Ying, Lu Ye's merit would currently only be five, not twenty-six.

Previously, Lu Ye didn't know the use of merit; now he understood, with wondrous places like Heaven's Augury treasure vault, merit was extremely attractive to any cultivator.

Not to mention he also needed to spend merit to purchase fuel for the Talent Tree from the Heaven's Augury treasure vault, foreseeably, his future need for merit would be enormous.
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Accumulating merit by killing alone was too slow, unless he could exceed his level in battles. The Spirit Stream Defense Battle was a good opportunity, with every sect betting a basic Dao foundation as stakes, being strong enough there could surely earn massive amounts of merit.

This time in the Spirit Stream Defense Battle, Lu Ye could actually have brought Amber, his beast pet, as they had already established a pet contract, and Amber was part of his own strength; thus, he could fully participate in the Spirit Stream Defense Battle.

However, both Second Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Brother advised against it.

Because the aftermath of the battle at Golden Light Peak had just settled, and many people knew of a large white tiger by Lu Ye's side, bringing Amber along could easily lead to recognition, and possibly attract the gang from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge.

Instead of running such a risk, it was better not to bring him, as this would at least help conceal his identity.

Indeed, many people had seen Lu Ye at Golden Light Peak, but in Spirit Stream battlefield, the Ranks were countless and many who had not seen or recognized him, were far more.

A figure slowly revealed itself beside him, enveloped in a refreshing fragrance, Hua Ci had arrived.

Lu Ye scanned her and said with surprise, "New clothes, new outlook?"

Hua Ci had previously not worn this garment, evidently a new one. It was a tight-fitting white dress adorned with small red flowers on the hem, the pure color complementing Hua Ci's complexion to near perfection.

However, Lu Ye soon sensed something was amiss; this seemed to be more than just a pretty dress.

"Spiritual Artifact?" Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

"Second Senior Sister gave it to me; she wore it when her cultivation was lower and doesn't need it now."

Could Second Senior Sister's figure fill out this dress? It fits Hua Ci perfectly, yet if worn by Second Senior Sister's petite body, she would probably look like she was dressing up for a play.

Lu Ye felt a bit sour: "I was the one who joined the sect first."

Hua Ci smiled, holding her lips together: "Second Senior Sister said, you combat cultivators are not suited to wear defensive Spiritual Artifacts; excessive protection would cause you to lose your sharpness."

Lu Ye thought for a moment and nodded, "Second Senior Sister has a point." Just as Fourth Senior Brother Li Baxian had taught him during that time, how could combat cultivators advance if they could not feel danger and death up close? Relying on external protection, one would inevitably become overly dependent one day.

His head felt heavy, and turning to look, Lu Ye's expression darkened: "What are you doing?"

This woman... had actually patted his head!

Hua Ci showed a warm smile like that of an older sister: "Nothing, just suddenly felt, this is also quite nice!"

Lu Ye's eyes dropped low: "Hasn't anyone told you, a man's head is not to be touched casually?"

"No," Hua Ci regarded him as a matter of fact, "What consequences could there be?"

Lu Ye's gaze turned fierce…

"It has begun!" Hua Ci suddenly straightened her face and pressed her hand towards the Heaven's Augury Pillar.

Lu Ye glared at her bitterly, somewhat unwillingly placing his hand on it as well.

The Heaven's Augury surged, the scenery around them warped, and the sound of waves faintly reached their ears.

When everything around them stabilized again, the two found themselves in an unfamiliar land, exchanging glances and immediately being on guard.

The next moment, Lu Ye saw two figures not far away. As Lu Ye spotted them, they too were looking in his direction.

As their gazes met, all were wary, secretly stimulating their spirit force.

Lu Ye sized up the spirit light of the two individuals opposite him and discovered that both were at Level 7. Not only that, but the battlefield markings on the backs of their hands also emitted a faint red glow, while his and Hua Ci's markings showed blue light.

Those from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge!

"What a lucky start!" one of the two opposite, a young man dressed in a tight outfit, laughed aloud and charged forward, clearly feeling fortunate to have encountered two Level 6s right away.

Behind him, another Level 7 calmly reminded, "Don't be careless!"

As he spoke, spirit force surged, and a golden light shot out from his hand towards Lu Ye and Hua Ci, unleashing an attack as soon as they made contact.

Hua Ci leaped to the side, while Lu Ye bent down and dashed forward fiercely.

The golden light struck the sandy beach, blasting a hole into it.

The distance between them wasn't great to begin with. As Lu Ye and the young man charged at each other, it rapidly closed.

Lu Ye's arrogant demeanor undoubtedly infuriated the young man with the sword, who drew his sword and stabbed at him, intending to teach Lu Ye a lesson. The sword gleamed with spirit light, flickering like a spirit snake, making this strike imposing.

Lu Ye drew his sword. A flash of fiery red sword light glinted, and with a clanging sound, the young man's face changed drastically, as the force from the sword was immensely powerful, nearly making his longsword fly out of his hand.

Is this guy a physique cultivator or a combat cultivator? The young man with the sword wondered, but his hands did not slow down as he gripped his sword tightly, showcasing all his skills.

The sounds of clashing filled the air, sparks flying everywhere as the two figures tangled in battle. However, the expressions on the faces of the two combatants were different.

Lu Ye's expression remained calm, while the young man with the sword grew more and more horrified, as the supposed easy-to-crush Level 6 cultivator was displaying an extraordinarily powerful combat ability.

He was stunned to find that he was somewhat outmatched!

The opponent's speed and strength surpassed his own, and in just a short exchange, he had completely fallen behind. Every collision made his sword wail and his palms ache.

Is this really a Level 6?

He seriously suspected that the opponent might be wearing a Spiritual Artifact that concealed his cultivation, pretending to be weak while being strong.

However, the principles of Heaven's Augury were beyond doubt. They were supposed to encounter opponents not stronger than themselves in this place.

Another three breaths passed, and the young man with the sword felt he could no longer hold on. The palms holding the sword were already cracked, with blood flowing freely.

No longer hesitating, he quickly took out a Golden Body Talisman and stimulated his spirit force to slap it on himself, but this action undoubtedly exposed even more flaws.

Most combat cultivators during battle wouldn't activate a spirit talisman because it disrupted their combat rhythm.

Lu Ye's Boulder Mountain Saber flicked up, accompanied by a clanging sound. The young man's longsword was knocked out of his hand, and he himself screamed and flew backward. The Golden Body Talisman on his body, which had just taken effect, was instantly dimmed and shattered by that slash.

Lu Ye was already pursuing him, delivering a slash towards his flying body.

While he was full of shock, a cunning triumph flashed in his eyes as he gestured with one hand, his body surging with spirit force, "Die!"

The flying longsword immediately turned into a streak of flowing light, plummeting from midair directly behind Lu Ye.

Blood splattered, and the eyes of the young man with the sword shifted from slyness to horror as he was cleaved from between his legs, leaving a foot-long gash.

At the same time, Lu Ye too was knocked down onto the sandy beach by the descending flying sword, his back aching. With his previous experience at Mount Ying, how could he not anticipate the opponent's weapon control technique? As the opponent controlled his weapon, Lu Ye had constructed a Defense Spirit Rune behind him.

Once cultivators reached Level 7, they could practice the Weapon Control Path, partly to lay a foundation for future weapon control flying, and also to provide the cultivator with another means of slaying the enemy.

Under weapon control, the wielded Spiritual Artifact could unleash even greater power.

Scrambling to his feet, the sword-holding youth hadn't died yet. Lu Ye's Boulder Mountain Saber flipped and plunged into his chest. As he withdrew the sword, blood gushed out.

Without a moment's pause, he dashed towards the magic cultivator, leaving deep footprints in the damp sand.

The magic cultivator was bombarding Hua Ci with magic and spells, putting her in extreme disarray. He had assumed his comrade could handle Lu Ye, but the outcome had shocked him.

His Level 7 comrade had been killed by a Level 6! What a fool!

The magic cultivator fumed internally. He hadn't clearly seen what had transpired, only feeling that his comrade had been too careless. Otherwise, how could a Level 7 be no match for a Level 6?