Sage of Humanity

A fierce battle took place—out of the three hundred Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators who came to support, fewer than fifty escaped, many of the fallen were governors from the core circle of big sects, even Yan Xing, ranked second on the Spirit Stream Ranking, was severely injured and had to flee in embarrassment.

Yan Xing was also unlucky. Since his last encounter with Li Baxian at the Spirit Stream battlefield, he realized he could not seek revenge with his own strength alone. The defense battle of Spirit Stream was an excellent opportunity, so he kept a close eye on Li Baxian's whereabouts.

After the formation of the provincial state, he immediately collaborated with other powerful figures from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge to pursue Li Baxian, just in time for this battle, and was unwittingly caught in it, then lectured by a group of low-level cultivators he would not normally take a second look at.

This was a victory for the Haotian Alliance, and also a carnival for the low-level cultivators—the battle perfectly exemplified the strength in numbers!

After the great battle, the Haotian Alliance side, under the leadership of the strong from the core circle, only took a brief moment to regather before splitting into two groups to continuously search and clear out enemy cultivators from the outside in, and as the news spread, more and more powerful figures from the core circle joined in.

Originally they had been pushed to their limits by the people of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, yet unexpectedly, the situation turned around, and the low-level fellows from their side put up a strong fight.

Before the integration of the provincial state, the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge side had a numerical advantage, both in high-level and low-level cultivators, even if the team formed around two core members of the Righteous Blood Sect could not bridge the gap in the numbers.

In such a situation, if Ten Thousand Demons Ridge were determined, the living space for the Haotian Alliance would only get smaller and smaller, and it was not likely that they could annihilate the Haotian Alliance before the Spirit Stream Defense Battle, but aiming to eliminate eighty to ninety percent was still hopeful.

This could achieve the initial goal set by the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge side, and for the next few decades, the Haotian Alliance would lose many pivotal figures, no longer able to compete with Ten Thousand Demons Ridge.

But ultimately, Ten Thousand Demons Ridge was complacent. In a situation of great advantage, everyone was somewhat lax, or to say, no one expected that there would be such an invincible team of low-level cultivators, invulnerable in battle.

This group swept through the outer circle of the mainland in just a few days, making the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge side flee in disarray, and in the final confrontation, they slew a large number of high-level cultivators from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge side.

Thus, the favorable situation was rewritten.

Now, the number of low-level cultivators is definitely an advantage for the Haotian Alliance, and far exceeds Ten Thousand Demons Ridge; in terms of high-level cultivators, the numbers might not differ much, after all, in the previous twenty days, the Haotian Alliance side also suffered significant losses.

But on the whole Chess Sea mainland, the situation of the Haotian Alliance has been completely revitalized, and now it's the Haotian Alliance's turn to hammer the cultivators of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge.

"Junior Brother, this time you and Sister Hua Ci have really made our sect proud. The old man will probably wake up laughing from his dreams," Li Baxian's voice rang out.

After the previous battle, he and Feng Yuechan did not participate further, but found Lu Ye, who was currently protecting Hua Ci.

As he spoke these words, his face was full of smiles, seemingly happier than if he had accomplished such a feat himself.

"It's mostly Hua Ci's merit," Lu Ye responded vaguely as he chewed on dried meat. In truth, the most he could do was to provide the Spirit Energy Gathering Spirit Runes for their cultivators to recuperate, while Hua Ci was not only able to heal people but also to help kill enemies.

Li Baxian turned his head to glance at Hua Ci, who was quietly speaking with Feng Yuechan, and he nodded slightly: "Sister Hua Ci's merit is the greatest, but yours is not small either." He then winked at Lu Ye: "Where did you pick up this sister? Pick up a few more when you go back."

Lu Ye's cheeks bulged, taking big bites.

Li Baxian patted him on the shoulder: "With you in the sect, I feel much relieved! Come on, let's go treasure hunting."

Lu Ye suddenly became interested, hurriedly swallowing the food in his mouth, where a visible lump slowly slid down his throat: "What treasure are we hunting?"

"Don't know, it depends on luck," Li Baxian said with a light smile, handing over his wine gourd to Lu Ye, who looked around, opened the gourd, and took a gulp, instantly feeling a burning sensation in his belly, and a wave of dizziness rushing to his head, causing him to stagger.

In a panic, he switched his Cultivation Technique to Bestial Gluttony Feast, the buzzing sound from his stomach neutralizing the alcohol.

It took him a moment to steady himself, shaking his head: "Pretty strong!"

He tossed the wine gourd back to Li Baxian, knowing that he could not drink more than a sip, that was his limit.

Li Baxian laughed heartily.

Though they were searching for treasures, they couldn't really find anything good anymore; perhaps there were many heavenly materials and earthly treasures before, but as cultivators from the two camps continuously roamed and sought, any good items had been taken.

Along the way, only Hua Ci, with her skills as a healing cultivator, managed to find quite a few medicinal herbs, accompanying her was a mechanical wolf, a gift from Sister Loo Yushan, hung with storage sacks. Continue your journey at My Virtual Library Empire

Two hours later, the leading Li Baxian suddenly stopped, glanced in a direction, and smilingly said: "Junior Brother, can you kill at Level 8?"

Lu Ye, not understanding why he suddenly asked this, pondered briefly: "I should be able to."

"Really can kill?" Li Baxian was somewhat surprised. At Golden Light Peak, Lu Ye at Level 5 had once said he could fully commit to killing a Level 7, and indeed, he proved capable, though he had not killed a Level 7, he fought forty-three battles consecutively, and in the last battle, he even killed a Saintess of the Sacred Fire Order who had crippled her own spiritual orifice.

Now at Level 6, Li Baxian just recalled what Lu Ye had said that day and casually asked, not expecting Lu Ye to actually give such an answer.

"Do you know that once a cultivator reaches Level 7, with each increase in the realm, the improvement in strength grows even more?"

"Yes," Lu Ye responded.

Li Baxian took a serious look at him, nodded, and said, "Then let your elder brother see for himself."

When Lu Ye was utterly confused, he saw Li Baxian look in a direction and say, "Are you coming out on your own, or should I force you out?"

With those words, Feng Yuechan's figure fluttered, and he descended in a direction, stabilizing his stance before locking his gaze with Li Baxian on the same spot.

Lu Ye followed their gaze, but saw nothing—there was only a large rock.

However, what shocked him soon occurred—next to the large rock, with a twist in the air, a gaunt figure appeared. It was a somber-looking young man with a hooked nose and a face so gloomy it almost seemed to drip water.

Who knew what technique he had used to perfectly conceal himself there; had it not been for Li Baxian's keen perception, even if Lu Ye had stepped over the rock, he wouldn't have noticed him.

"Whoops," Li Baxian chuckled, "It's you!"

It seemed they knew each other.

"The Flowing Cloud Sect has no grievances with the Loyal Heart Sect and Righteous Blood Sect, and we did not partake in the battle at Golden Light Peak either. Li Baxian, state any terms you have—I only seek a way to live," the somber young man spoke.

Li Baxian scratched his chin, chuckling lightly, "The Flowing Cloud Sect did not participate because it was declared war upon, wasn't it? Moreover, you are from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, and I am from the Haotian Alliance, our factions are naturally opposed. Didn't your old man ever tell you that differing factions are reason enough for conflict?"

The young man's tone grew tense, "Must it be this way?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted briefly to Lu Ye and Hua Ci, obviously attempting to use the two as leverage. While his strength was undoubtedly strong, what could he do against Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan? This couple was always inseparable, provoking one was as good as provoking both, and no one dared to offend them.

Currently, a great number of cultivators from the Haotian Alliance were tirelessly searching for traces of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators. The further inward, the less safe it was, and he had initially intended to flee to the outskirts because the safest place in the provincial state right now was the outer circle. Who would have thought he'd encounter Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan here?

This stroke of bad luck was truly like getting choked by water when drinking.

Li Baxian looked at him with a smile, "Shall I show you a way out? Will you take it?"

"What?"

Li Baxian clapped Lu Ye on the shoulder, "Fight my junior brother here. Win, and you're free to go!"

Both Lu Ye and the young man were taken aback.

Only then did Lu Ye understand what his fourth senior brother had meant by his earlier question.

The young man's face showed no joy, but instead he angrily said, "Are you insane, Li Baxian? If I hurt or kill this kid, could I still leave?"

He had heard about the incident at Golden Light Peak and had deeply experienced the Righteous Blood Sect's protective nature. That True Lake Realm powerhouse had said he would storm into the Spirit Stream battlefield and he did, frightening a group of low-level cultivators with injuries from the Soul-Destroying Divine Lightning.

In the Nine Provinces, which other big sect's True Lake would enact such dishonorable deeds?

Only the Righteous Blood Sect would.

Thus when Li Baxian asked him to fight Lu Ye, he felt not just displeasure but like he was being mocked.

"There's an old saying, 'When under the roof, one must bow their head.' It seems you're somewhat unclear about your own situation!" Li Baxian's eyelids slightly lowered.

Over there, Feng Yuechan's hand surged with spirit force, tossing a fireball-like object up and down in her hand...

With a twitch in the corner of his eye, the young man knew that if he refused, he would immediately face assault from the top two of the Spirit Stream Ranking—this would be a melee of a sword cultivator and a magic cultivator, truly leaving him no escape.

"If I win against this kid, will you really let me go?"

"I guarantee it on my junior brother's reputation!" Li Baxian patted Lu Ye's shoulder again.

Lu Ye frowned, wondering why it had to be on his reputation. From another perspective, did his fourth senior brother not have much credibility? This was a big problem.

"Don't play such juvenile tricks, there's also Feng Yuechan to consider,"

"For her... I guarantee it on my junior sister's reputation!" Li Baxian pointed at the innocently smiling Hua Ci.

The young man said, "Please swear by Heaven's Augury."

"Enough talk!" Li Baxian shouted angrily. "If I tell you to fight, you fight. Why so much useless chatter? Be careful, or I might end you with a single sword!"

The young man was utterly aggrieved.

"Why put on such a humiliated look for others to see? Fight my junior brother here; if you're lucky, you might even take a backer down with you. Isn't that what you're hoping for?" Li Baxian sneered, revealing the true desire in the other's heart.