Chapter 1190: Another Celebration Banquet

Some of the first cultivators to join the Blood Sect had already advanced to the True Lake realm, and they had all participated in the previous expedition.

Compared to other sects in Kyushu, the Blood Sect and Ziwei Dao Palace suffered almost negligible losses during the expedition. This was due to Lan Qiyue assisting in the eradication of the Blood Tribe; while her cultivation might not be considered very high within the Divine Sea realm, the suppression from her sacred energy was deadly to the Blood Tribe.

Therefore, during the eradication of the Blood Tribe, the battles fought by these two sects were largely crushing victories.

Stationing at a branch sect carries significant responsibility. Sects with the means typically chose cultivators in the Divine Sea realm to oversee them. The Blood Sect currently lacks this capability due to their limited number of Divine Sea realm cultivators, so they can only dispatch True Lake realm cultivators. This is barely sufficient, though it means a bit more hardship.

The Cloud River realm is not suitable for this task. Firstly, their cultivation is insufficient, and secondly, their travel speed is too slow. A territory spanning a hundred thousand li is too vast; should anything happen, merely traveling would consume a great deal of time.

Kong Niu and the other two have many tasks ahead. At the very least, they must inform the human inhabitants of the branch sect's territory that the Blood Sect will be open to them, and anyone with sufficient aptitude can be recruited to travel to Kyushu and learn from a master.

Additionally, they need to organize manpower to mine resources. Of course, these tasks will be carried out as sect missions, and they will all receive ample rewards in cultivation resources.

After one or two years, the main sect will dispatch people to replace them, ensuring their own cultivation isn't too delayed.

This is roughly the process.

Lu Ye briefly handed over duties with the three and chatted with Pang Huanyin for a few moments. Only then did he transmit via the Heavenly Secret Pillar, returning to Kyushu.

He appeared in the Blood Sect's Heavenly Secret Hall. As soon as he returned to Kyushu, he vaguely perceived some subtle anomalies.

Due to the world's level, Kyushu cannot give birth to cultivators above the Divine Sea realm. For this reason, after cultivators advance to the Divine Sea realm, their cultivation progress becomes increasingly difficult.

This is also why many cultivators remain stagnant at the sixth, seventh, or eighth layers of the Divine Sea realm for many years, unable to advance. It's not due to insufficient talent or lack of cultivation resources, but rather the world's inherent restrictions.

Lu Ye also had similar feelings. Despite his rapid cultivation progress, after advancing to the Divine Sea realm, he clearly detected some invisible restrictive force. The higher his cultivation, the stronger this restrictive force became.

However, because his foundation was extremely solid and he had the Talent Tree by his side, although he could feel this restrictive force, it didn't significantly impede his advancement.

But after returning this time, he clearly felt that the invisible restrictive force had weakened!

This was undoubtedly the result of Kyushu absorbing the Blood Refining World's foundation and strengthening itself.

If he, currently at the sixth layer of the Divine Sea realm, could perceive this so clearly, then cultivators at the ninth layer of the Divine Sea realm would certainly feel it even more distinctly. This was because the world's restrictions were strongest and most directly perceptible for them.

This led to cultivators in the Divine Sea realm in Kyushu now, especially those at the ninth layer, all feeling joyful and full of anticipation.

And they finally confirmed that Lu Ye's statement about the world's foundation earlier was not empty talk.

At the celebration banquet after the insect plague ended, Lu Ye publicly made a shocking statement. Although it stunned everyone, there was ultimately no concrete evidence. No one could guarantee whether things were truly as Lu Ye described.

Moreover, given the situation at the time—the fact that the Blood Refining World was rapidly approaching Kyushu—cultivators couldn't delve into anything further. They could only prioritize self-preservation and respond to the Blood Refining World's invasion.

It wasn't until they pacified the Blood Refining World and returned to Kyushu that they immediately noticed a difference.

Thus, everyone was overjoyed.

Cultivators born in this era were extremely fortunate. In the post-Kyushu period, generations of cultivators included many with exceptional talent, but due to the limitations of the grand environment, countless individuals were confined to the Divine Sea realm for their entire lives, unable to advance.

Until this current era, Kyushu cultivators would finally emulate their ancient predecessors, breaking out of the realm that nurtured them and stepping into the starry sky.

Whether it was a blessing or a curse, no one knew. But a cultivator's life is ultimately about constant advancement, and they possess the instinct to pursue higher cultivation realms. Even if not in this present age, they would eventually step onto the grand stage of the starry sky.

This is something no world's restrictions could impede. Lu Ye returned to the Blood Sect and spent a few quiet days. A few days later, under the lead of the sect master, he went to Haotian City.

For no other reason than that Kyushu was preparing a celebration banquet for the great victory of the expedition to the Blood Refining World!

In fact, even before Lu Ye returned, Kyushu's cultivators were already preparing. The reason they waited until today was for Lu Ye's return.

Undeniably, Lu Ye had made immense contributions to the expedition to the Blood Refining World, both in the preliminary preparations and the subsequent conquests. Especially in the process of slaying the Saintly Seed, Lu Ye had exerted great effort. It would be somewhat inappropriate if this greatest contributor didn't participate in the celebration banquet, and the banquet would lose much of its luster.

Furthermore, considering the previous celebration banquet ended without a clear conclusion, this time, Kyushu was holding a truly grand event. The number of attendees at this grand gathering might be several times more than last time.

It was both a celebration banquet and a grand gathering where the leaders of the major sects from the nine great provinces would convene to discuss the future.

Kyushu's original structure had been broken. Although some understanding had been reached regarding how the Haotian Alliance and Ten-Thousand Demon Ridge, the two major factions, would interact in the future, many areas still needed discussion. Before the new structure fully formed, there would undoubtedly be many areas requiring adjustment.

Only the sect master and Lu Ye came from the Blood Sect. Shui Yuan did not like such lively environments, so she did not come. As for Lan Qiyue, she was new to Kyushu, and being a member of the Blood Tribe, it was inappropriate for her to show herself casually.

Haotian City was already packed with people. Divine Sea realm cultivators from major sects across Kyushu gathered together, meeting with their own groups, chatting and laughing cheerfully.

Due to the desire for future advancements and the sincere cooperation during the two previous events, the atmosphere was generally harmonious when powerful figures from the two major factions met, filled with pleasant conversation.

Not long after Lu Ye and the sect master arrived, the grand gathering began. From this, it seemed the sect master had timed their arrival perfectly.

Gatherings among cultivators typically didn't involve much pomp and circumstance. As the leader of the Haotian Alliance in Bing Province, Pang Zhen stepped forward and delivered a brief address. He concluded with the final words: "Eat and drink well, and let's not leave until we're drunk tonight!"

The atmosphere immediately became lively. On the vast plaza, tables were laden with exquisite fruits and delicacies, most of which were specialties from the Blood Refining World. Figures moved through the crowd, clearing empty plates and pitchers, and serving new wines and delicious food.

The entire plaza was bustling, resembling a mortal marketplace.

The top-tier elder cultivators were all present and seated at the highest positions. Cultivators continuously approached them to offer toasts.

Lu Ye's side was equally lively. Some came to thank him for his assistance during the expedition to the Blood Refining World, while others came to forge connections.

Everyone knew he was the most favored by the Heavenly Secret Scroll in this era; it could be said that this era belonged to him. Even Feng Wujiang from the previous era couldn't compare. Naturally, he couldn't be treated lightly; whether it would be useful or not, it was best to at least get acquainted.

Until a certain moment, a figure, swaying unsteadily, walked over with a wine cup in hand. Their face was flushed, suggesting they had drunk quite a lot.

Lu Ye quickly stood up. "How could I trouble you, senior?" he said. "It should be I who goes to toast you."

The one who had come was none other than Wuchang.

Beside Lu Ye, the sect master also stood up. Wuchang smiled and gestured with his hand, then unceremoniously plopped down opposite the table.

After Lu Ye and the sect master sat down again, Wuchang finally spoke. "They all put on airs as elders, but I don't care for that," he said. "I just want to ask, what is the path ahead for cultivators like us in the future? Are there any precautions we should take? And what realm lies beyond the Divine Sea?"

As soon as he spoke, the nearby chatter suddenly ceased, and then the silence spread rapidly. In just a moment, the vast plaza became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

What Wuchang wanted to know was precisely what all Divine Sea realm cultivators present wished to understand.

For a long time, the Divine Sea realm had been the limit of cultivation in Kyushu. No one knew what lay beyond the Divine Sea, nor was there any experience from predecessors to draw upon. For the current Kyushu cultivation world, this was akin to crossing a river by feeling for stones.

At this moment, if someone could offer some clarification, it would undoubtedly benefit the entire cultivation world immensely.

Lu Ye was surprised. "Senior, why would you ask me?" he said. "I'm only at the sixth layer of the Divine Sea realm..."

Wuchang glared at him. "Don't play dumb with me," he said. "The Heavenly Secret often gives you special treatment. Do you think us old fellows are blind? If there's anyone in this world who understands what lies beyond the Divine Sea, it's you, lad. If you can speak, then say a few words for us to hear. If you can't or don't know, then pretend I never asked."

These words resonated with everyone present, and immediately, pairs of eager eyes turned towards Lu Ye.

Lu Ye felt helpless. He seemingly unconsciously touched his battlefield imprint, but was actually communicating with Xiaojiu.

Lu Ye did have some understanding of what Wuchang asked, all of it from Xiaojiu. In the post-Kyushu period, cultivators' path stopped at the Divine Sea, and they were completely clueless about what lay beyond. But it wasn't like that in the pre-Kyushu period; Xiaojiu was jointly refined by the Kyushu mighty figures of that era, so it was naturally familiar with cultivation matters.

However, matters concerning the future of a realm were not originally meant to be spread by him, nor did he need to spread them, because when the time came, qualifying cultivators would naturally perceive it.

If it weren't for this, he would have already told the sect master and his senior brother about these things.

But it now seemed that Kyushu's top powerhouses were clearly getting impatient, which was why Wuchang had condescended to ask him.

With so many people watching, it seemed somewhat unreasonable not to give an explanation.

Moreover, this wasn't something that couldn't be said, but Lu Ye still needed to consult Xiaojiu.

Soon, Xiaojiu's reply came: "You may speak."