Sage of Humanity

Of course, people cannot be released; Lu Yiye is part of the Justice Department no matter what, that's non-negotiable.

"The production is actually limited, because so far, only Lu Yiye can refine this item. I have searched for Artifact Refiners far and wide to craft it, but the results have been unsatisfactory."

"Just tell me how many he can refine in a day," Chow Ye asked eagerly.

"Not many, about seven to eight hundred pieces a day."

There was a moment of silence within Harmony Light Hall as everyone quickly began to ponder.

Seven to eight hundred a day equates to more than twenty thousand a month, and each of these array discs can be used by at least five people, even ten is possible. Taking an average number, the monthly production could equip a full 100,000 cultivators!

A definite strategic killing weapon!

Chow Ye became anxious and looked toward Pang Zhen: "Deputy Alliance Leader, I strongly request for Lu Yiye to be transferred to the Military Supplies Department, so as to fully utilize his value, and enhance Bingzhou guard's might in the shortest time."

"You must be dreaming," Qian Wudang shot him a sideways glance.

"You're speaking to a senior like that?" Chow Ye roared in anger.

"An old man who uses age as a shield deserves no respect."

The two began quarreling again, each making their case.

Pang Zhen gently tapped the table, and only then did the two stop talking, each looking to him, ready to hear his decision. Of course, everyone already knew what the outcome would be.

"The Military Supplies Department is responsible for supplying military materials, and this array disc is a wondrous thing, thus should be coordinated and distributed by the Military Supplies Department," Pang Zhen spoke softly, with no one expressing dissatisfaction or interrupting, "As for Lu Yiye, he shall continue at the Justice Department. Do you both agree?"

Both Chow Ye and Qian Wudang agreed without objection.

"Additionally, the fact that the As-Close-As-Siblings Array Disc is crafted by Lu Yiye must be kept strictly confidential; it must not be leaked!" Pang Zhen sternly reminded.

This serves as a protection for Lu Ye. Otherwise, if the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge finds out, they might stir trouble again.

Everyone naturally understood the stakes involved.

Thus, the debate ended. The Military Supplies Department obtained the distribution rights for the As-Close-As-Siblings Array Disc, reducing troubles for the Justice Department. Moreover, when supplied with a large amount of array discs in the future, the Military Supplies Department would likely compensate by tilting allocations of other resources.

This is something everyone understands internally, so there's no need to put it out in the open.

With the discussions concluded, everyone dispersed. Qian Wudang and Chow Ye walked side by side outwards, discussing the many matters related to the transfer of the array discs, not at all showing that they had just been at each other's throats, almost ready to come to blows.

The argument was due to the different duties they represented, but not arguing stemmed from them both being Bingzhou cultivators.

In the room, Lu Ye continued working tirelessly, refining Explosive Fire Spirit Stones on one side and the As-Close-As-Siblings Array Disc on the other, a golden vortex slowly spun in front of him, and his cultivation never ceased.

He had maintained this state for a month already, somewhat monotonously, but cultivation is like this; if one cannot endure monotony, how can one speak of glory being conferred?

Suddenly, he sensed something, slowed his actions, stood up, and pushed open the door, immediately seeing a familiar figure beside the stone table in the courtyard.

He quickly stepped forward to salute: "Sect Master."

Thang Yifeng looked at this disciple before him, his heart filled with comfort: "Good, still have all limbs intact." He gestured with his hand: "Sit!"

Lu Ye sat down, taking out a set of tea utensils from his storage space, and began brewing tea.

The Sect Master smiled slightly, not mentioning the matter of the As-Close-As-Siblings Array Disc, merely saying: "Actually, when I recruited you at Evil Moon Valley, I was considering sending you away after a while."

Lu Ye truly wasn't aware of this, and couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Send me where?"

"Back then, I hadn't decided, but you know, at that time, I wasn't planning to maintain the sect anymore. Recruiting you was simply due to obligatory rules; the sect's state at that time was really unsuitable for recruiting new disciples."

"I understand." Lu Ye nodded.

However, later things happened that no one could control; during the return to Mount Ao with the Sect Master, they were ambushed, and the Sect Master had no choice but to send him into the Spirit Stream battlefield, after which his identity as a disciple of Righteous Blood Sect was exposed, leading to pursuit and siege by large numbers of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators.

The identity of Righteous Blood Sect disciple was already confirmed, so sending him away held no value anymore. After Lu Ye endured many challenges to return to Mount Ao, the Sect Master dispelled his thoughts.

And over the years, the sect, originally intended to be removed by Heaven's Augury, was in the midst of a revival.

"I must thank you; without you, Righteous Blood Sect would be gone by now. If it really was, I would become the sect's sinner, leaving me speechless after death to face the ancestors."

Lu Ye felt a sudden rush of anxiety: "Sect Master, that's too much; what I did was part of my duties."

"There are no 'part of my duties' or not. The sect didn't give you much advantage; instead, trouble came along since you joined, and the protection I provided was extremely limited. Growing up in such an environment is truly difficult," the Sect Master sighed.

Take the incident of Lu Ye being captured last time; although he set out immediately to rescue him, he couldn't save Lu Ye. For the past two years, he was filled with self-reproach, but fortunately, Lu Ye returned completely, and his cultivation soared, ascending to the Divine Sea.

"I can tell, just like your elder brother, you are someone favored by Heaven's Augury, capable of stirring up storms. But Yiye, your elder brother's story is a lesson to be learned. I don't want you to hide your talents—you are young, and having the courage to dream, fight, and act is a good thing. Just remember, no matter what you do in the future, always prioritize your own safety. Only when you are secure can everything else follow."

"I will remember," Lu Ye responded, offering the brewed tea.

The sect master accepted it with satisfaction and took a light sip.

Lu Ye hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sect Master, there is something I wish to report."

The sect master, while drinking his tea, replied, "You need not be concerned in front of this old man; say what you want. I have seen everything in my long life. If you have any doubts, I can at least guide you a little."

Lu Ye took a deep breath: "I have seen my elder brother."

"Pff…" The tea was sprayed out by the sect master, and fortunately, he quickly turned his head, or Lu Ye would have been splashed all over. After wiping his mouth, he set down the cup uncertainly and said, "What did you just say? This old man is getting on in years, my hearing isn't as good as it used to be."

"I have seen my elder brother!" Lu Ye seriously repeated.

Before his return, Lu Ye had asked his elder brother if he had any messages, as there were many people in the Nine Provinces who were concerned about him. He could convey a few words if he returned.

But his elder brother told him there was no need to say anything, it would only add to the worries. If they were meant to meet again, all would be revealed in due time.

Lu Ye understood his elder brother's concerns. To all those close to him, he was someone who had been dead for decades, and time had smoothed over many pains. If Lu Ye suddenly told them his elder brother was alive, it would surely cause a stir.

The key was, even if they knew the elder brother was alive, they couldn't meet right away, leaving them with aching longing—what would be the point?

Therefore, Lu Ye did not intend to tell anyone else about his elder brother still being alive, but he couldn't hide it from the sect master.

Certain things needed to be said.

The sect master paused, then chuckled, "What nonsense are you talking about? Your elder brother has been dead for decades—where did you see him?"

"Sect Master, I am telling the truth."

Seeing Lu Ye's serious expression, the sect master's smile gradually faded, his demeanor becoming solemn: "Explain in detail."

"Here's what happened…"

Lu Ye then recounted how he was captured by Yu Daiwei and saw Mount Tai in that small secret realm, then figured out a way to collapse the secret realm.

"I had experience escaping from a small secret realm before, so I was somewhat familiar. I thought that after the small secret realm collapsed, I would return to the Nine Provinces, but who would have thought I'd end up in a place called the Blood Refinement World."

Lu Ye briefly explained the general situation of the Blood Refinement World, glossing over his early experiences there, and mentioned the Empyrean Sea.

"My elder brother went to the Blood Refinement World decades ago and established the Righteous Blood Sacred Land there, which is the only haven for the human race in that domain. Surrounded by the Blood Race's armies, my elder brother leads the human race cultivators of the Righteous Blood Sacred Land in repeated defenses."

"Moreover, there are over seventy old predecessors there, each a top-tier master, such as Mong Jie, the third-generation sect leader of the Righteousness Sect, Jian Guhong, the fifth-generation sword master of the Beixuan Sword Sect, Mi Xuan, the chief Great Elder of the Canglang Sect from two hundred years ago, Granny Jiew, the second-generation Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, and an Artifact Refiner named Ouyang Zi. It is with the support of these predecessors that the Righteous Blood Sacred Land is able to endure painfully."

Despite the sect master being experienced and composed, Lu Ye's words shook his heart and mind.

The sect master initially thought Lu Ye had been deceived. After all, he had never met Feng Wujiang, and Lu Ye was young. If some powerful figure used mysterious means to deceive him, it might work.

But the more he listened, the less it seemed like Lu Ye was lying.

"So, for the past two years, you haven't been trapped in some small secret realm, but have been in this place called the Blood Refinement World?"

"Yes," Lu Ye nodded.

The sect master seemed to comprehend something, pointing upward: "This is… Heaven's Augury's work?"

Only Heaven's Augury, with its profound and unfathomable skill, could accomplish something like this.

"No doubt about it."

The sect master remained silent for a long time before bursting into laughter: "Still alive!"

This was the best news he had heard in years. He had harbored a deep resentment over his disciple's death for many years. Never did he imagine that someone he thought was long dead was actually alive, just residing in another domain.

Moreover, from Lu Ye's account, the sect master sensed something extraordinary.

Not only was his disciple sent to the Blood Refinement World, but many top-tier masters—whom he had heard of but never met—had also been sent there, which was certainly thought-provoking.

"Before I left, my elder brother instructed me not to say anything, but I thought, at the very least, you should know."

The sect master stroked his beard: "Your elder brother has his considerations, and his advice is correct. What has been said today stays between you and me; it should not be told to others, or it would only disturb the hearts of people."

"I understand."