Sage of Humanity

On Amber's back, Lu Ye was relaxed, undoubtedly more composed than when he had first set out from Qingyun Mountain.

Already accustomed to the bumpy journey, Amber's running couldn't even affect his cultivation—even though, compared to the normal state, the efficiency was a bit slower; fortunately, the Gathering Spirit Spirit Runes compensated for this.

All thirty spiritual orifices were enhanced by the Gathering Spirit Spirit Runes, continually gathering the natural spiritual energy around. With the pill energy in his belly resolving and the influx of spiritual energy, the spirit force in the newly opened thirtieth orifice kept increasing.

He didn't use the Bestial Gluttony Feast mainly because switching techniques required some time. It wasn't like before when he was battling Luo Ji and resting, where they could see each other, and any abnormality from Luo Ji would be immediately noticeable, allowing for a timely switch of techniques.

Traveling didn't allow for that; there could always be unexpected events—perhaps a crisis might strike during those short few moments it took to switch techniques.

Constantly maintaining the operation of the Golden Cicada Carefree Method also gave him better adaptability. The only sacrifice was the speed of cultivation, which wasn't a big deal.

He silently calculated the elixir pills in his possession and found he had more than enough to advance to the Spirit Stream Level 4 realm, and then some—of course, that was assuming no extra expenditure. If another battle broke out, the consumption of elixir pills would increase; furthermore, Amber consumed elixir pills daily.

About one incense stick's time ago, he had left Sky-Splitting Gorge. Amber's speed was quite fast. Matching the ten-part map and the guide of the battlefield marking, Lu Ye directed Amber towards a direction and let it gallop freely.

While relaxing, Lu Ye suddenly furrowed his brows and checked the battlefield marking.

Chu Tian had, for some unknown reason, reached out to contact him again...

However, when Lu Ye had fully perused the message from Chu Tian, his face immediately darkened, and he slapped the tiger's back and shouted lowly, "Amber, run! Someone is coming to hunt us down!"

On hearing this, Amber's speed surged, nearly throwing Lu Ye off its back.

Yiyi's little head popped up from the tiger's back and said gravely, "The message from that Chu Tian of Xuanmen? Who is coming, and what is their cultivation?" Read new chapters at empire

"A guy named Dong Shuye at the Spirit Stream Level 7 realm!" Lu Ye replied.

Several days before he had killed a disciple of the Nine Stars Sect in Sky-Splitting Gorge, he hadn't even encountered anyone at Spirit Stream Level 5. He had thought that being on the outer circle of the battlefield, he wouldn't see higher-level cultivators—until he met that woman with twin buns and another, a beefy guy from the Nine Stars Sect.

He wasn't quite sure of their exact cultivation levels, but they were definitely higher than Level 5.

It was then he realized that the outer circle of the battlefield wasn't devoid of cultivators above Level 5; the reason he hadn't encountered any was because the two sects were restraining each other…

And a cultivation of Spirit Stream Level 7 was undoubtedly a stabilizing force for a sect's base. Such individuals specifically coming to hunt him down showed how deep the Nine Stars Sect's hatred for him was.

Lu Ye felt somber. Though he had exchanged blows with Luo Ji and felt confident that he could face anyone at the Spirit Stream Level 5, facing an opponent at Spirit Stream Level 7 was more than he could withstand.

Yiyi, knowing the dire situation, turned her head and urged Amber to run faster. Amber exerted all its strength, tearing through the wind, with a continuous whistling noise by their sides and scenery rapidly receding in the background.

Another message came through the battlefield marking, so Lu Ye quickly checked it.

"Brother Yiye, hold on as long as you can. Dong Shuye won't linger where you are for too long!"

"What do you mean?" Lu Ye hurriedly responded.

In the Xuanmen camp, Chu Tian, who was following Wang Yeang on a surprise raid towards the Nine Stars Sect base, felt conflicted and unsure how to explain the situation.

This matter involved using Lu Ye. The news of Lu Ye leaving Sky-Splitting Gorge was leaked by their side, which then led to Dong Shuye's pursuit. But such a matter was indeed not easy to explain outright, as divulging it would only antagonize the mountain tiger.

Given the opponent's origins from a top-tier, powerful faction, as long as he survived, he was bound to make a significant impact in the future. Antagonizing such a person now would not be wise.

"Speak freely," Wang Yeang's voice suddenly entered his ears at that moment, "Once actions are taken, there's no fear of others knowing. If he is wise, he naturally knows what to do."

With Wang Yeang's directive, Chu Tian felt somewhat reassured and transmitted the message, "At this moment, my fellow brothers from Xuanmen are rushing toward the Nine Stars Sect base. As soon as Dong Shuye receives the message, he will certainly rush back. So, Brother Yiye, you must hold on!"

Looking at the message from Chu Tian, Lu Ye couldn't help feeling puzzled.

Dong Shuye, the stabilizing force of the Nine Stars Sect base, had just come out to pursue him, and Xuanmen was all out attacking the Nine Stars Sect base — the timing seemed too coincidental.

It was as if Xuanmen had been waiting for this opportunity, and last night, they had even invited him to a celebration banquet...

Lu Ye didn't know if Xuanmen had a chance to occupy the Nine Stars Sect base, but since they had already made their move, they must have some assurance.

Back in the Sky-Splitting Gorge, Dong Shuye didn't make a move because it was too close to the Xuanmen base, which could likely draw Xuanmen's intervention... So, Dong Shuye had to wait until he left the Sky-Splitting Gorge to try to kill him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But leaving the Sky-Splitting Gorge was only known to Chu Tian, so how did Dong Shuye come chasing after him?

Had he been used?

Lu Ye considered a possibility.

After a moment of thought, he replied to Chu Tian, "We're even!"

Then resolutely blocked him...

Although he was fairly certain that he had been used, Lu Ye did not blame heaven and earth. After all, the conflict at the Sky-Splitting Gorge was initiated by him; he had killed a group from the Nine Stars Sect, including the Young Master, which then sparked the conflict between the two big sects.

If Xuanmen hadn't intervened, given the Nine Stars Sect's resources, Lu Ye might not have been able to withstand them. At the very least, he would have to face the pursuit of many cultivators, including those in the Level 5 Realm.

Xuanmen's involvement saved Lu Ye from having to fight against an entire sect by himself. During the declaration of war, he also saved many Xuanmen disciples, claiming none of the spoils of war, only asking for some useful elixir pills and Spirit Stones from the rescued Xuanmen disciples.

The entire process was mutually beneficial between Lu Ye and the Xuanmen disciples.

So even if Xuanmen had ultimately used him, Lu Ye wouldn't blame others; it was a trouble he had brought upon himself.

His interaction with Xuanmen ended there. In summary, Xuanmen had helped him, and he had helped many Xuanmen disciples in return. In the end, he obtained an Earth-class technique from Xuanmen, resolving an urgent need. Now that he had been used, they owed each other nothing, and henceforth, both could live their separate lives in peace.

Within the Xuanmen camp, Chu Tian wore a face as bitter as a gourd, heaving sighs of despair.

"What was his response?" Wang Yeang's voice entered his ears.

Chu Tian honestly replied, "We're even... then he erased my mark."

This left Chu Tian feeling somewhat disheartened; after all, that was a disciple from a top-tier power, a rare opportunity for him to interact with such individuals during normal times.

Wang Yeang's lips curled up, "He's a sensible man, quite interesting."