Sage of Humanity

Yun Qingyue said, "Although there are still ten days left, there is no conclusion to the negotiation, so we must leave enough time for the big sects to prepare. Therefore, we need to act quickly."

As she said this, not only did she not slow down, but she actually sped up. Seeing this, Wu Jun had no choice but to follow helplessly.

Racing along the way, from a distance, Heavenly Sword Peak was in sight.

Suddenly, Wu Jun spoke up, "Actually, we could try to let the ghost cultivators assassinate him. If they could kill him, all our troubles would be easily resolved."

"And if they can't?"

If they can't, it would only completely enrage Lu Yiye, and the consequences that would arise from that are unpredictable.

In fact, the cultivators of the Divine Sea Realm had considered sending high-cultivation ghost cultivators into the fray, but the risk was too great. Not to mention anything else, Lu Yiye himself was an expert on the Array Path. Even if he stayed on Heavenly Sword Peak, he would certainly have set up some alarm arrays around him, and the ghost cultivators might not be able to infiltrate his vicinity safely.

If he discovered their tracks, with his Overlord-level strength, the ghost cultivators would surely meet a terrible end.

It was precisely because of such concerns that Ten Thousand Demons Ridge did not dare to act rashly, but instead sent Wu Jun and Yun Qingyue to negotiate.

As they arrived above Heavenly Sword Peak, the two scanned the area and saw the lone figure sitting atop the spirit mountaintop.

"Over there," said Yun Qingyue, and she steered her Flying Spirit Artifact downward, with Wu Jun following closely behind.

In a moment, the two landed about thirty feet in front of Lu Ye.

Upon closer inspection, both of them were secretly shocked; on Lu Ye, there was not a trace of purple Divine Lightning.

According to the information they had received before, after Lu Ye had breached the New Moon Sect's stronghold and killed more than fifty people, the purple Divine Lightning on his body was so dense it was almost tangible. When he appeared at the Yunyang Sect's stronghold half a day later, the purple lightning had vanished, and when he killed again, the purple lightning reappeared.

But now, the purple lightning was gone again...

This undoubtedly indicated that Lu Yiye really did have a way to suppress the punishment of Heaven's Augury, but does such a miraculous method truly exist in this world?

As the two observed Lu Ye, Lu Ye, who was reading a book, also lifted his gaze toward them, his eyes immediately brightening upon seeing Yun Qingyue.

A woman who is considered a heavenly beauty by the men of her era possesses a naturally stunning beauty, and beautiful things always bring pleasure to the heart.

His gaze shifted downward, and his eyes brightened even more.

This subtle movement naturally couldn't escape Yun Qingyue, who had strong Ocular Power. She felt a helpless sense of resignation inwardly; this youngster was indeed as rumored...

Thankfully, while his gaze lingered, there was nothing lecherous in it, and he soon diverted his eyes.

Lu Ye then glanced at Wu Jun and didn't pay much attention.

He could be sure that these two were not of the Spirit Stream Realm, not even the Cloud River Realm. They must be at least of the True Lake, if not possibly the Divine Sea.

What made Lu Ye somewhat puzzled was the woman's age; judging by her appearance, she didn't seem any older than him, but how could a cultivator of at least the True Lake Realm be so young? Her appearance belied her age, which could only mean that she took excellent care of herself.

"Are you Lu Yiye from the Righteous Blood Sect?" Yun Qingyue was the first to speak.

The youth before her was the only one in history who had, by his own power, caused the Spirit Stream battlefield to be in constant turmoil and left Ten Thousand Demons Ridge at a complete loss, so Yun Qingyue, despite having a much higher cultivation than Lu Ye, did not undervalue him in the slightest.

Moreover, she was naturally a gentle and amicable woman.

Having seen Lu Ye's portrait before she came, she recognized his face, but still felt the need to ask.

Not only was her appearance exceedingly beautiful, pleasing to the eye, but her voice was also extremely gentle and pleasant, like a spring breeze brushing past one's ear.

As a cultivator of the True Lake Realm, she condescended to address Lu Ye with the term "Fellow Daoist," thereby showing her sincerity. Given her status and cultivation, she could have easily called him a junior or simply referred to him by his name.

"Yes, that's me."

Lu Ye put away the book he was holding.

He silently speculated on Ten Thousand Demons Ridge's intention in sending such a woman to find him. What could they be after?

Soon, he concluded that these two were not there to deliver protection money.

"Do you have any proof that you're Lu Yiye?" Wu Jun suddenly asked.

Before they came, he and Yun Qingyue had agreed that one would play the bad cop and the other the good cop. Negotiations are always such, and this was why Ten Thousand Demons Ridge had specifically chosen them. If both were too agreeable, there would be nothing to discuss as they would just acquiesce to everything. Therefore, there always needed to be one person to take on the harsher role, thus supporting the sincerity of the other, facilitating the bargaining process.

Wu Jun bore no subjective malice toward Lu Ye, given the apparent gap in their cultivation levels. As a cultivator of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, however, Lu Ye's actions inevitably roused his sense of shared enmity. Thus, his tone was naturally less than courteous.

"What proof do you want?" Lu Ye did not believe that these two had not seen his portrait or something similar before they came.

Wu Jun said, "It's said that Lu Yiye is always accompanied by a small white beast, never leaving his side. As far as I can see, it's not here."

"It's not here."

Yiyi was sending Tao Zhengyu back to their quarters, and Amber had to follow. A spirit and a demon, bound at birth, could not be too far apart.

"Cloud River cultivators who forcefully enter the Spirit Stream battlefield and kill others will be punished by Heaven's Augury, entangled by Soul-Destroying Divine Lightning. I see no trace of Divine Lightning on you, so how do you prove you are Lu Yiye?" Wu Jun, seizing the opportunity to press his advantage, was determined to intimidate Lu Yiye and make him realize that Ten Thousand Demons Ridge was not so easily manipulated.

Most importantly, Wu Jun wanted to know by what means Lu Ye was able to suppress the punishment from Heaven's Augury. If he could understand that, any price paid would be worth it.

"Tss..." With a light sound, the Boulder Mountain Saber was unsheathed, its bright saber light flashing thrice. Three crescent-shaped saber beams slashed out, heading straight for Wu Jun.

Wu Jun had not anticipated Lu Ye would actually strike at him. Seeing the three saber beams slash towards him, his face tightened, and he immediately stimulated his spirit force and blood Qi to protect himself.

As a physique cultivator, especially one of the True Lake Realm, he had passed the stage of relying solely on Spiritual Artifacts for protection. His own body was his strongest defense.

Thud, thud, thud—three muffled sounds. Spirit light flickered around Wu Jun's body, and he was forced to retreat several steps by the three saber beams before he could stabilize his stance.

His expression immediately became grave.

Even Yun Qingyue, observing from the sidelines, showed a look of surprise.

Now she understood that the rumors were not unfounded; Lu Yiye indeed possessed the prowess of an Overlord.

Such a display of saber beams had surpassed her understanding of what a Spirit Stream Realm cultivator could accomplish.

"Is this proof enough?"

Lu Ye slowly sheathed his saber.

Wu Jun remained silent, utterly shocked. Though it was only three saber beams, they gave him a glimpse of the tiger's might. In a genuine fight to the death, with his current ability to exert power, he would not last more than three moves against this Lu Yiye.

Youthful prowess truly was to be feared!

"Fellow Daoist Lu, please calm your anger. Senior Brother Wu and I indeed have not seen you before. Moreover, today's visit is of great importance. Senior Brother Wu was merely being cautious, with no ill intentions." As she said this, she also gracefully bowed to Lu Ye: "Snow Feather Sect's Yun Qingyue, at your service, Fellow Daoist Lu."

Wu Jun also unwillingly cupped his hands and said gruffly: "Fengyun Manor, Wu Jun."

Lu Ye had seen Snow Feather Sect and Fengyun Manor on the ten-part map; both were 1st grade sects, one from Leizhou and the other from Youzhou, all of which were marked on the map.

Lu Ye nodded slightly in acknowledgment, returning the gesture. "Righteous Blood Sect, Lu Ye."

Despite being on opposing sides, when someone of a higher realm beyond True Lake politely offered a bow, he could not well appear discourteous in response.

"What brings you both here? You don't seem to be here to deliver anything," Lu Ye asked directly.

Yun Qingyue replied, "In frankness, the Divine Sea Realm cultivators are still deliberating whether to agree to your demands. After all, such a thing has happened once before. Last time, it was we of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge who made concessions for peace. We had thought that after leaving the Spirit Stream battlefield, you would not return, yet to our surprise, in just a few short months, the past repeats itself. The Divine Sea Realm cultivators find it difficult to accept."

Primarily, no one expected that after ascending to the Cloud River Realm, Lu Ye would be able to kill on the Spirit Stream battlefield without restraint. Normally, higher-ranking cultivators who forcefully enter the Spirit Stream battlefield are very constrained in their actions, yet somehow Lu Ye was unconstrained.

"Senior Brother Wu and I are here on behalf of many Divine Sea Realm cultivators to discuss with Fellow Daoist Lu a proposal that both sides can accept."

Lu Ye focused unblinkingly on Yun Qingyue, who met his gaze with a smile.

"How do you wish to discuss?"

Yun Qingyue said, "Regardless, Fellow Daoist Lu, what you have done can be seen as bullying the weak. Each battlefield has its rules, and you, as a Cloud River Realm cultivator, forcefully made your way into the Spirit Stream battlefield and destroyed two major Ten Thousand Demons Ridge sect encampments, which is somewhat inappropriate. If every sect's cultivators were to act this way, would the Spirit Stream battlefield not descend into chaos? What do you think, Daoist Lu?"

"In all the heavens, aside from myself, who else possesses such ability?"

Yun Qingyue was momentarily at a loss for words. This was the insurmountable problem for Ten Thousand Demons Ridge; without resolving this issue, they would never have the standing to negotiate on equal terms with Lu Ye.

"If there is anyone in Ten Thousand Demons Ridge who wishes to emulate me, they are welcome to try; there's no need for any reservations. I have the ability, so I set the rules. Those without should comply obediently. As for 'bullying the weak'—by age, most cultivators within the Core Circle are older than me; by cultivation level, Heaven's Augury has suppressed my cultivation to the 9th Heaven. The power I can exert is also that of the 9th Heaven, so where is there 'bullying the weak'?"

Yun Qingyue, looking helpless, said, "That may be the case, but Fellow Daoist Lu's demands are indeed too harsh. Last time, the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge's major sects already bled profusely. Should this be repeated, the sects will certainly not agree, and this is a consensus reached by the Divine Sea Realm cultivators. I know you have suffered greatly and are deeply aggrieved by what happened in the hunting ground, and while your demands are understandable, you have already destroyed the outpost of two sects and killed many people. Could this not alleviate some of the anger in your heart?"

Lu Ye stared intently into her starry eyes with a cool demeanor. "If Fellow Daoist Yun has come to speak nonsense, then there's no need for further words. I will only wait here for ten days."