Sage of Humanity

The Three Saints Sanctuary's residence was on high alert, with Governor Situ Han and Deputy Governor Shi Lei anxiously awaiting news. It wasn't until Phong Yue finished relaying the message that Situ Han hurriedly asked, "Junior Sister Phong, what did Fellow Daoist Lu say?"

Phong Yue conveyed Lu Ye's original words.

Only then did Situ Han breathe a sigh of relief. With Lu Ye's assurance, even if the sect's residence was breached, it wouldn't be of much consequence—they could simply retreat to the Nine Provinces sect headquarters. After all, the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators couldn't possibly pursue them to the Nine Provinces.

Within the inner circle, there was once a sect called Tianyan Sect, whose residence was breached due to Lu Ye, but in the end, after following Lu Ye through wars in the east and west, not only did they make up for their own losses, they even profited greatly. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Therefore, Situ Han had no doubt in Lu Ye's abilities.

Meanwhile, in front of the wooden hut in the Ten Thousand Poisons Forest, Lu Ye summoned his Flying Spirit Artifact and soared into the sky, with Amber crouching on his shoulder.

In the courtyard, Hua Ci watched him leave.

This departure was different from the last. Previously, he had only gone to the Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union to purchase some items and was expected to return soon. This time, however, he was heading out on a mission, so after consideration, he decided to take Amber and Yiyi with him.

Hua Ci also wanted to go, but since Lu Ye left the parent teleportation array in the wooden hut, someone needed to stay behind to guard it, and that task fell to her.

Currently, a large number of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators were laying siege to the Three Saints Sanctuary's residence, intending to force Lu Ye to show himself. Of course, Lu Ye wouldn't be foolish enough to actually go there.

Normally, as soon as he showed himself, the crisis at the Three Saints Sanctuary would resolve itself. However, there was the possibility that Ten Thousand Demons Ridge might not stop halfway and instead directly breach the sanctuary's residence—a matter beyond Lu Ye's control.

Midair, Lu Ye took out his ten-part map to survey the surroundings and selected a Ten Thousand Demons Ridge residence located about 30 miles from the Ten Thousand Poisons Forest.

This was a 3rd grade sect known as the Lianshan Sect. Having determined the direction, Lu Ye set off straight towards it.

After receiving the baptism of Heaven's Augury, his body and mind had been strengthened, and his weapon control speed had also improved.

Half a Shichen later, Liu Guang descended, and Lu Ye appeared outside the Lianshan Sect's residence.

Immediately, a cultivator on alert detected the activity and swooped over, calling out to Lu Ye through a big array's light screen, "Which Fellow Daoist graces us with their presence?"

Under normal circumstances, such an uninvited visit would come from a friend on good terms with the sect, and a simple notification would suffice to let them in.

But who could have anticipated that a cultivator from an opposing camp would come alone, so brazenly?

At that moment, Lu Ye was activating his Insight Spirit Runes to enhance his eyes and identify the big array's nodes.

Hearing the question, he turned his head expressionlessly to look at the cultivator, "Who do you think I am?"

The cultivator was taken aback, and upon closer inspection, his complexion changed dramatically, and he pointed at Lu Ye, "You... you..."

Then, he channeled his spirit force and shouted, "Lu Yiye is here!"

In an instant, the entire residence boiled over. Streaks of light soared from all directions, converging here, while others flew over with skeptical expressions, wondering if they had heard wrongly.

How could Lu Yiye, who had been unheard from recently, suddenly appear at their residence?

By then, Lu Ye had already implanted several array banners into the big array, and with a series of manipulations, the spot covered by the banners on the light screen of the big array stopped flowing with spirit force.

He then raised his hand and, as if lifting a curtain, peeled back a corner of the big array and casually strode in.

This was the same tactic he used when he went to the Loyal Heart Sect with Giant Armor and Phong Yue; if the big array of a 2nd grade sect like the Loyal Heart Sect couldn't stop Lu Ye, then neither could the Lianshan Sect's.

However, this method wasn't about destroying the big array; strictly speaking, it didn't have much impact on it and was only suitable for the infiltration of a single person or a small group.

In a matter of moments, dozens of people had gathered around, with even more streaks of light rushing from the vicinity. Just as Lu Ye stepped into the array, a barrage of attacks rained down on him.

Lu Ye was prepared and hastily activated Defense Spirit Runes to protect himself while also enhancing his speed with Move-Like-The-Wind, darting to one side.

Even so, the Defense Spirit Runes were directly shattered. Lu Ye reestablished them, but they were broken again, enduring five consecutive breaks before finally managing to escape being targeted.

The supplies box buzzed, and nine weapon control artifacts shot out as flashes of light, followed by the splattering of fresh blood and screams.

As the residence of a 3rd grade sect, most of the cultivators inside were at the 7th Heaven or 8th Heaven level, with very few at the 9th Heaven level, and even if there were, their strength was not enough to rank on the Spirit Stream Ranking.

Such cultivators were naturally no match for Lu Ye.

Fortunately for them, the Lianshan Sect cultivators reacted very quickly. In just a short ten breaths' time, the entire residence was mobilized.

Suddenly, the residence was awash with flowing light and became extremely lively.

Lu Ye might have charged into the residence alone, but from beginning to end, he knew that he couldn't possibly conquer a sect's residence with his strength alone; he just wanted to cause enough commotion.

More Lianshan Sect cultivators fell at Lu Ye's hands, but his situation gradually became more precarious.

Charging through the enemy residence might look impressive, but in reality, it was fraught with danger, and a single misstep could lead to a disastrous end.

Even the strongest Defense Spirit Runes could not withstand the combined attack of many cultivators, and throughout the ordeal, Lu Ye was more on the defensive than the offensive.

Gradually, the Lianshan Sect cultivators stabilized their formation and suddenly realized that this notoriously violent thug was not invincible after all.

One-on-one, none of them might match Lu Yiye, but with all the cultivators working together, this thug would certainly not have it easy.

After the initial panic, the Governor and the Deputy Governor of the Lianshan Sect slowly steadied their minds and coordinated their junior brothers and sisters to encircle and block Lu Ye, with various arrangements made in an orderly fashion.

Within less than the time it takes to finish half a cup of tea, Lu Ye was forced to leave the Lianshan Sect's quarters.

In the battle, the Lianshan Sect lost twenty or thirty people, and Lu Ye was also battered and disheveled.

However, he did not leave but brazenly stood outside their protective array, while swallowing elixir pills and eying the inside menacingly.

In such a situation, the cultivators of the Lianshan Sect didn't dare to open the big array to chase after him.

Inside the big array, Lu Ye's spatial maneuverability was limited, and he was restrained at every turn, but if they were to open the big array, then Lu Ye would be unhampered and free to unleash his full potential.

This point was naturally clear to the Governor and the Deputy Governor of the Lianshan Sect.

However, being blocked by a single person in such a way at their own base, the cultivators of the Lianshan Sect felt incredibly suffocated, and for a time, through the array's light screen, many Lianshan Sect cultivators incessantly hurled insults at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye didn't talk back.

Only children quarrel.

The news that Lu Yiye from the Righteous Blood Sect showed up at the Lianshan Sect quarters and stirred up trouble within their big array spread rapidly, and nearby Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators hurried over one after another.

Although Szi Guang had advanced to Cloud River, the Lu Ye Extermination Alliance was not disbanded. It was a loosely organized group created solely to eliminate Lu Yiye, and whether Szi Guang was present or not didn't matter too much, as long as the cultivators intent on slaying Lu Ye maintained contact with each other.

More and more cultivators gathered towards the Lianshan Sect, and the Spirit Stream battlefield, quiet for half a month, became bustling once more.

After blocking the Lianshan Sect's base for two hours, Lu Ye controlled his weapon and left.

He had achieved his goal, so there was no need to linger any longer.

At this moment, many Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators were converging on the Lianshan Sect in groups. As Lu Ye left, they encountered each other head-on.

With Lu Ye's current strength, the average Core Circle cultivator couldn't stand against him without a group of twenty or thirty, and this wasn't a Spirit Stream Ranking challenge with all sorts of limitations and geographic disadvantages. An outdoor fight depended on one's own foundation and means of killing the enemy.

Lu Ye lacked neither of these.

He bulldozed his way forward, and few of the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators he encountered managed to escape with their lives.

He had no specific destination; he simply moved forward, killing any Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivator he encountered.

The Ten Thousand Demons Ridge intended to force him to show himself, so he granted their wish, only hoping they could bear the dire consequences of his emergence.

After suffering several setbacks, many from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge retreated, but even more joined the pursuit of Lu Ye, continuously reporting his whereabouts.

Lu Ye felt extremely fortunate to have brought Yiyi and Amber with him; otherwise, in the current situation, he would have had no time to rest.

Ever since leaving the Lianshan Sect's quarters, he had not had a moment's respite; wherever he went, Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators came chasing after him.

It was only because Yiyi and Amber shared the burden that Lu Ye could keep going.

The Ten Thousand Demons Ridge's current tactic was clear: they aimed to exhaust him. No matter how strong Lu Yiye was, he had his limits, and once worn out, it would be easy to kill him.

It must be said, while this method might be a bit foolish, it was the most effective one.

Lu Ye had the Talent Tree and the Bestial Gluttony Feast; replenishing his spirit force was not an issue, but without rest over a long period, his mental and physical stamina couldn't hold up.

So, when he realized he was nearing his limit, Lu Ye started flying towards the Ten Thousand Poisons Forest. At present, within the Core Circle, only the Ten Thousand Poisons Forest could offer him refuge. Anywhere else, he would not be left in peace.

As long as he got within about 30 miles of the Ten Thousand Poisons Forest, he could use the teleportation array to return to the cabin.

Once he rested and recovered within the Ten Thousand Poisons Forest for a while, he could come out again to hunt the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators.

His battlefield marking suddenly received a message, and Lu Ye immersed his mind to check. It was from Phong Yue.

"Fifth Senior Brother, we can't hold onto the Three Saints Sanctuary's base any longer. I am going to retreat back to the Nine Provinces with Senior Brother Situ and the others. Take care of yourself, Fifth Senior Brother!"

Seeing this message, Lu Ye fell silent; the Three Saints Sanctuary's base ultimately couldn't be held.

It made sense. With a large number of people from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge gathered outside the Three Saints Sanctuary, possessing the strength to breach it, they naturally wouldn't leave empty-handed.

Lu Ye tried to send a message back but found that his messages could no longer get through. Phong Yue's mark hadn't disappeared, indicating she wasn't dead but had returned to the Nine Provinces.

With the Three Saints Sanctuary lost, what about the Loyal Heart Sect?

It's likely that the Loyal Heart Sect didn't fare much better. Previously, with Fourth Senior Brother and Senior Sister Feng presiding, no one dared to provoke them, but now that both had advanced to Cloud River, the overall strength of this generation of Loyal Heart Sect cultivators wasn't strong. If targeted, keeping their base would be difficult.