Chapter 1143: Summons

"Let's go down!" Lu Ye called out, taking the lead as he swept downwards. He was too conspicuous in the sky, and even though the fight just now was brief, it inevitably caused some disturbance that nearby Blood Tribe members might have noticed. He had something important he wanted to figure out, so he needed to find a suitable place for a conversation.

The Blood Tribe member quickly followed.

A moment later, one person and one Blood Tribe member arrived at a secluded spot. Lu Ye stopped and looked at the Blood Tribe member, who was trailing closely behind him, respectful and submissive.

After implanting the Soul Control, this fellow was now his soul slave, so such reverence was only natural.

"What's your name?"

"Your humble servant, Lu Chang," the Blood Tribe member replied, bowing his head.

"Look at me."

Lu Chang immediately looked up at Lu Ye. A moment later, a look of doubt appeared on his face: "Esteemed One... are you Human Race or Sacred Race?"

Although those whose souls were marked with Soul Control would be loyal to Lu Ye and incapable of rebellion, their inherent intelligence would not be affected, nor would their ability to think be damaged.

So Lu Chang was genuinely confused at this moment. He had previously thought Lu Ye was a Sacred Race member disguised as a Human, but now, looking closely again, he seemed less certain.

"Do I look like one of them?"

Lu Chang shook his head: "Your humble servant does not know."

Lu Ye then subtly activated his Blood Art. In an instant, blood mist permeated his body.

Lu Chang immediately became extremely frightened: "Esteemed One, please calm your anger. If this humble servant has said or done anything wrong, please enlighten me."

Lu Ye, however, understood.

When he didn't activate his Blood Art, the Blood Tribe couldn't sense the bloodline suppression. But once he activated it, the bloodline suppression became evident, which was why Lu Chang was so terrified.

This was something Lu Ye hadn't anticipated. Just as the Blood River had changed, it was completely undetectable before it was unleashed.

It was after the Blood Tribe army besieged the Scarlet Blood Holy Land last time, when he was preparing to advance to the Divine Sea Realm, that he delved deep into the Blood Sea. By a stroke of luck, he refined a drop of Sacred Blood and thus obtained the Blood Tribe's bloodline inheritance.

Sacred Blood was the key for the Blood Tribe to achieve Sacred Seed status. Every Sacred Seed had obtained Sacred Blood in the Blood Sea.

After refining that drop of Sacred Blood, Lu Ye was able to advance to the Divine Sea Realm. However, since then, he hadn't fought against the Blood Tribe again, so he naturally didn't realize that he possessed some abilities of a Sacred Seed, such as bloodline suppression over ordinary Blood Tribe members.

In a sense, he was now also a Sacred Seed, though he remained Human Race.

Why was this?

Logically speaking, the Talent Tree could incinerate all impurities. Even if the Sacred Blood had something special about it, it should lose its ability to create a Sacred Seed after incineration. Therefore, he shouldn't possess the ability to suppress the Blood Tribe's bloodline.

But then, he thought, if he could even obtain the Blood Tribe's inheritance, then having the abilities of a Sacred Seed didn't seem so strange.

There must have been some sacred essence in that Sacred Blood that even the Talent Tree couldn't incinerate, or didn't need to. After he refined and absorbed it, he not only gained the Blood Tribe's bloodline inheritance but also the abilities of a Sacred Seed.

A pleasant surprise!

When he set off from Thousand Stream Blessed Land, Lan Qiyue had given him a Sacred Blood Jade. It was an item she had nurtured with her own bloodline, and when activated, it had a great deterrent effect on ordinary Blood Tribe members.

But several years had passed, and the Sacred Blood Jade had gradually lost its efficacy; otherwise, Lu Ye would have used it in this battle.

Now that he himself possessed the sacred essence of a Sacred Seed, he no longer needed any Sacred Blood Jade.

This meant that he had the power of life and death over ordinary Blood Tribe members and could implant the Soul Control Divine Mark into any ordinary Blood Tribe member at will.

This clearly greatly aided his current mission.

"Are there any Grotto-Heavens nearby?" Lu Ye asked.

Lu Chang respectfully replied: "Three hundred miles to the east, there is a Sea Leap Grotto-Heaven. Your humble servant has some acquaintance with that Sea Leap Celestial Master."

"Lead the way!"

A moment later, two streaks of light soared into the sky, heading east. A short while later, they arrived at the Sea Leap Grotto-Heaven. Lu Chang indeed had a close relationship with the Sea Leap Celestial Master there. He led Lu Ye directly inside. The Blood Tribe members in the Grotto-Heaven not only didn't stop them but welcomed them warmly.

Lu Chang asked a few questions and learned that the Sea Leap Celestial Master was within the Grotto-Heaven. He continued without stopping, heading straight for the Grotto-Heaven's inner court.

A moment later, they met and exchanged greetings.

The Sea Leap Celestial Master was naturally curious about Lu Chang bringing a Human, but Lu Chang merely said this was his newly acquired blood slave, which made the Celestial Master quite envious for a while.

It should be known that although the Blood Tribe had the ability to take Human blood slaves, Blood Tribe members with higher cultivation would generally not do so, because it was basically impossible to find Humans who were too strong. What use was it for a Divine Sea Realm Blood Tribe member to take Cloud River Realm or Spirit Stream Realm blood slaves?

Generally, only Blood Tribe members with lower cultivation would take blood slaves. Therefore, Lu Ye, a Blood Slave of the Divine Sea Fifth-Layer Realm, was very enviable.

After a few casual words, Lu Chang, looking mysterious, said he had something good to show the Sea Leap Celestial Master, who then dismissed his attendants.

In an instant, the Blood River surged, and an invisible pressure suddenly descended. The Sea Leap Celestial Master experienced the same fate as Lu Chang.

Although he was somewhat puzzled as to how a Human could exert bloodline suppression over him, the aura of a Sacred Seed was undeniable. Confused, he was implanted with the Soul Control Divine Mark by Lu Ye, becoming another soul slave.

The subsequent matters were much simpler. Lu Ye had the Sea Leap Celestial Master find a suitable and hidden location, where he personally planted a Heavenly Secret Pillar. He then instructed the Sea Leap Celestial Master to designate this area as a forbidden zone, prohibiting any Blood Tribe members from entering or exiting.

The Sea Leap Celestial Master complied without question.

From entering the Sea Leap Grotto-Heaven to leaving, it was only about half an hour in total.

They continued their journey, constantly following a zigzag route on the map, searching for suitable places to plant Heavenly Secret Pillars.

With Lu Chang covering for him, the journey indeed encountered much less trouble. Not to mention anything else, simply entering various Grotto-Heavens became very easy.

Lu Ye acutely noticed that the Blood Tribe indeed showed signs of massing a large army, as numerous Blood Tribe members were stationed in every Grotto-Heaven, ready to be summoned and converge into a vast army to march on the Divine Palace Sea.

The reason they hadn't acted yet was clearly that the Blood Tribe was trying to gather as many forces as possible. The Scarlet Blood Holy Land, this festering sore, had plagued the Blood Tribe for ten years in the divine network. Now that they finally had the chance to eradicate it completely, how could they not go all out?

The signs of the Blood Tribe army gathering became more apparent the closer they got to the Divine Palace Sea.

From time to time, Lu Ye would see groups of Blood Tribe members flying south in the sky. When such instances occurred, Lu Ye would selectively engage.

Small numbers of Blood Tribe members were eliminated, while larger groups were temporarily let go.

His mission was to deploy as many Heavenly Secret Pillars as possible, and time was tight, so he couldn't waste it carelessly.

One month after leaving the Scarlet Blood Holy Land, he had used up over a dozen Heavenly Secret Pillars. At this rate, it would take him another six months to plant all the Heavenly Secret Pillars.

This was too long! Yet, he had no better solution for it. Feeling troubled, he could only travel as fast as possible, and whenever he reached a suitable location, he would act swiftly, subduing the Celestial Master Blood Tribe members as soul slaves and secretly burying Heavenly Secret Pillars.

Half a month later, Lu Ye was flying with Lu Chang when his expression suddenly changed. He grabbed a jade token from his waist. Immersing himself in its sensation, he clearly felt a faint guiding sensation emanating from the token.

The jade token had been given to him by his Senior Brother before he left. All the seniors who left the Scarlet Blood Holy Land carried such a token. Within a certain range, this token could serve to contact each other or request assistance.

This item was not like a Voice Transmission Stone; it couldn't transmit clear messages, but its range of effect was much larger than a Voice Transmission Stone.

His Senior Brother had given him this jade token so that if he encountered any danger while outside, he could use it to send out a distress signal. If any senior was nearby, they could come to his aid.

However, throughout his journey, Lu Ye hadn't needed to use the jade token, but he had kept it hung at his waist, just in case.

At this moment, the jade token showed activity, indicating that a senior nearby was gathering people or had encountered some danger and needed rescue.

He dared not delay and quickly followed the guiding sensation. After flying for two hours, he landed in a barren mountain. He then searched carefully and found a hidden cave entrance, into which he leisurely walked.

It was a mountain cave, quite spacious, but there was no sign of anyone.

Lu Ye spoke: "Which senior is here?"

Not far away, space rippled slightly, and a familiar figure appeared, showing a surprised expression: "Lu Ye, boy, what are you doing here? Have you returned from Kyushu?"

The one using the jade token to gather people was none other than Wuchang! He was also one of the few seniors most familiar with Lu Ye.

Lu Ye stared intently, carefully examining him. From his appearance, it didn't seem like he was injured or in danger. If so, then Lu Ye wondered why he was gathering people, but these seniors were all scattered, causing trouble. They wouldn't gather people like this unless something major had happened.

"Greetings, Senior." Lu Ye bowed.

Wuchang stepped forward and chuckled: "Good boy, I knew you'd definitely come back. When did you return?"

"About a month and a half ago," Lu Ye replied.

Lu Ye then explained the current situation in Kyushu and the decision to launch an expedition to the Blood Refinement Realm. For a moment, Wuchang listened, his blood boiling with excitement and emotion.