Chapter 1023: Southward

Lan Qiyue smiled. "Then I'm not leaving!" Just moments ago, she had been insistent on going with him, but now that he'd agreed, she no longer wanted to.

"I'm truly not leaving," Lan Qiyue said, still smiling. "Senior Brother is right. I was once one of those pregnant mothers and suffered immensely. Now that I have the power to change things, I cannot stand idly by. I will stay here, continue to expand our influence, and protect as many humans as I can!"

Lu Ye was suddenly enlightened, realizing something important.

Lan Qiyue wasn't truly set on leaving with him; she simply wanted him to express his willingness to take her along. Once he made that gesture, whether she actually accompanied him became irrelevant.

"However, Senior Brother," Lan Qiyue pleaded, "please wait for me for three days... no, make it five days. You can leave after five days."

"Alright," Lu Ye nodded, not inquiring about her intentions.

Lan Qiyue departed swiftly. Within Lu Ye's perception, he sensed she had left Qianliu Blessed Land, though he didn't know her destination.

Five days passed quickly, and Lan Qiyue returned as she had promised.

Her travel-worn appearance clearly indicated she had journeyed a long distance.

"Senior Brother," Lan Qiyue said, pulling an item from her robes and unfurling it before Lu Ye. "This is a rough map of this realm."

Lu Ye's eyes immediately brightened.

He had previously considered acquiring a map of this realm, but such items were incredibly scarce, and he had no means of obtaining one. He didn't know where Lan Qiyue had found it, but her recent five-day absence was likely connected to this.

He looked down at the map, immediately noticing a teardrop-shaped landmass.

It bore some resemblance to what he had witnessed upon first entering this realm.

Lan Qiyue pointed to the top of the map. "This is our current location. Senior Brother, when you depart from here, remember to head south."

"Why south?" Lu Ye asked, puzzled.

Lan Qiyue pursed her red lips, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking. "Because there's a human power in the south that can contend with the Blood Race in that region. Senior Brother, you will only be safe once you reach there."

Lu Ye's heart stirred. "Are you certain?"

Lan Qiyue nodded solemnly. "I heard about this from a Blood Race member over a month ago." She then smiled playfully, "However, that Blood Race member who told me has already been killed by me."

She clearly hadn't wanted Lu Ye to know this information, fearing he might have other ideas.

She had long sensed that Lu Ye would not remain here indefinitely. Therefore, when he told her a few days ago that he had something to discuss, her attempts to persuade him to stay were unsuccessful, and she realized Lu Ye's decision was firm.

Since that was the case, there was no longer any need to conceal the information she had deliberately kept hidden. At the very least, she could provide Lu Ye with a clear goal and direction, preventing him from wandering aimlessly in the Blood Refinement Realm like a headless fly.

Lu Ye stared blankly at the map before him, his heart stirring with emotion. This was the best news he had heard in over five months since his arrival in the Blood Refinement Realm.

During this time, he had witnessed immense human suffering. He had assumed that all humans in the Blood Refinement Realm lived in dire straits and that the realm was entirely under the Blood Race's dominion.

Only now did he realize that within this darkness, a new spark of humanity still shone brightly. His five months of confusion suddenly dissipated at this revelation.

"Where is it located?" Lu Ye inquired.

Lan Qiyue's slender, crimson finger moved downwards. "Senior Brother, head south, past Qingtian Peak and Jade Pillar Peak. These two are the highest peaks in the Blood Refinement Realm. You must continue even further south."

A moment later, Lan Qiyue's finger landed on a spot on the map. "That human power is located within the Divine Que Sea."

Lu Ye's gaze swept across Qingtian Peak and Jade Pillar Peak, then settled on the Divine Que Sea, giving him a strange feeling.

The shape of the entire Blood Refinement Realm... it somehow looked like something specific.

The thought fleetingly crossed his mind, but he didn't dwell on it.

"The Blood Race in the south and the human forces within the Divine Que Sea are constantly at war, so Senior Brother, you must be careful when you go there."

"I understand," Lu Ye nodded slightly. He picked up the map, gazing at the Divine Que Sea for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Lan Qiyue. "What are you doing?"

Lan Qiyue, pressing two fingers together, made a cut on her own arm. The wound pulsed, yet no blood flowed out.

Strangely, her blood was not golden.

Lan Qiyue extended a finger and probed the wound. Soon, a coin-sized, round jade piece was extracted. The jade glowed with a brilliant golden light, as if it had fully absorbed Lan Qiyue's sacred blood.

After the round jade was removed, the flesh around the wound on Lan Qiyue's arm visibly moved, and it quickly healed.

This was the unique aspect of the Blood Race: they excelled in various blood arts, so ordinary flesh wounds were negligible to them and healed quickly. For Lan Qiyue, a Saint Seed, her recovery abilities would naturally be even stronger than those of regular Blood Race members.

After extracting the round jade, Lan Qiyue's aura noticeably weakened.

"I prepared this two months ago. I thought Senior Brother would stay longer, but since you're leaving now, I had to take it out. This Sacred Blood Jade contains my aura and can intimidate ordinary Blood Race members. However, due to the limitations of my cultivation, its deterrent effect will be significantly reduced against Blood Race members above the Divine Sea Realm. Senior Brother, please use it."

With these words, she handed the Sacred Blood Jade, which she had nurtured with her own sacred blood, to Lu Ye.

Lu Ye felt its significant weight in his hand.

Something prepared two months ago... it was clear that Lan Qiyue had always been mentally prepared for Lu Ye's departure at any moment. Otherwise, she wouldn't have prepared such an item for him.

This further indicated that Lan Qiyue had never intended to leave with him. She understood Lu Ye's lingering concerns, which is why she had to stay and protect the numerous humans within her governed territory as a Saint Seed.

"Senior Brother, please take good care of yourself," Lan Qiyue urged him finally.

Lu Ye nodded.

An hour later, Lan Qiyue stood suspended in the air above Qianliu Blessed Land, watching Lu Ye depart.

Having decided to leave, he naturally wouldn't procrastinate. All good things must come to an end, and Lu Ye vaguely felt that the matter that had troubled him for several months might find its answer in that direction.

On this journey, besides Dao Thirteen, Yu Lingfeng also accompanied him.

In an environment like the Blood Refinement Realm, two human individuals alone would encounter numerous inconveniences. Bringing Yu Lingfeng provided a useful cover; when they encountered other Blood Race members, they would instinctively assume Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen were Yu Lingfeng's blood slaves.

In reality, however, who was the master and who was the servant was clear in each of their minds.

Lu Ye summoned his spirit boat, with Dao Thirteen at the helm. As they approached Cangnan Village, Lu Ye pondered for a moment, then instructed Dao Thirteen to make a slight detour and stop briefly outside the village.

Under his spiritual perception, the villagers of Cangnan Village undeniably displayed many more smiles than when he had first arrived months ago, and their faces no longer carried that constant expression of fear.

In just a few months, ever since Zhang Julai announced the prohibition on consuming living blood-food from Bright Moon Cave, no human had fallen victim to the Blood Race's cruelty.

Now, the villagers of Cangnan only needed to contribute a certain amount of fresh blood within a specified timeframe.

This was unavoidable; the Blood Race had an inherent craving for blood. Preventing them from consuming living blood was already pushing their limits; if they weren't even allowed to drink deceased blood, who knew what chaos might erupt.

Even Lan Qiyue, as a Saint Seed, hadn't considered changing this, primarily because it was unchangeable.

After observing outside Cangnan Village for a brief moment, the group resumed their journey.

Dao Thirteen piloted the spirit boat at a rapid pace, and within just one day, they left the jurisdiction of Qianliu Blessed Land.

Lu Ye was not in a hurry on this southward journey; after all, the path was long, and rushing would be pointless.

He was currently located in the northern region of the Blood Refinement Realm, whereas the Divine Que Sea lay in the southern part. To reach it, he would essentially have to traverse more than half of the Blood Refinement Realm's territory.

Even with Dao Thirteen piloting the spirit boat, this journey would not be completed in just a few days. Lu Ye estimated it would take at least several months.

Furthermore, he wasn't solely focused on traveling.

Along the way, whenever they encountered Blood Race members, he would casually eliminate them.

For Lu Ye at this point, Blood Race blood crystals were the only cultivation resources he could acquire, so he naturally didn't let any opportunity pass.

Previously, while in Qianliu Blessed Land, he had considered searching for ley lines for cultivation. If he could find ley lines where spiritual power converged, his cultivation would surely advance rapidly.

However, after extensive searching, he found nothing.

He ultimately reached a frustrating conclusion: the Blood River was the ley line of the Blood Refinement Realm. While it could be found everywhere, it couldn't be refined at will, which was truly a shame.

Five days after leaving the jurisdiction of Qianliu Blessed Land, the group arrived at another blessed land.

Yu Lingfeng led the way, with Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen following closely, posing as blood slaves.

Before they could even approach the blessed land, patrolling Blood Race members blocked their path, demanding, "Where are you from, and what are you doing here?"

Yu Lingfeng spoke according to Lu Ye's prior instructions: "We are homeless wanderers who have come specifically to offer our allegiance. We humbly request an audience."

The Blood Race member scrutinized Yu Lingfeng with a hint of surprise and doubt. Seeing that his expression seemed genuine, he instructed, "Wait here."

He then turned and went inside to report.

A short while later, a Blood Race member of higher status and cultivation emerged to greet them. After a brief exchange with Yu Lingfeng, he readily led them inside.

A moment later, within the main hall of this blessed land, True Lake Realm Blood Race members of some standing had gathered, seated on both sides.

Seated prominently at the head was, naturally, the Lord of this blessed land.

Warfare among the Blood Race was frequent, and defeated Blood Race members often had nowhere to go, compelled to seek refuge with capable factions. Thus, the Blood Race members present harbored no doubt about Yu Lingfeng's earlier statement, all believing he had genuinely come to pledge allegiance.

Furthermore, Yu Lingfeng's displayed cultivation at the eighth level of the True Lake Realm ensured they could not underestimate him.

Generally speaking, the Blood Race members here were quite welcoming of Yu Lingfeng's arrival.

If the blessed land truly gained such a Blood Race member, its overall strength would indeed be enhanced.