Chapter 1282: Sanctuary

Jin De immediately feigned a moved expression. "Your Heavenly Venerable's boundless kindness truly touches me. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. The past is behind us; only the future matters. From this moment forth, whatever Your Heavenly Venerable commands, Jin De will obey without question."

This was his declaration of loyalty.

Wen Yufeng was very pleased with his demeanor. He glanced at Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen standing behind him. "I hear these are the gifts you've prepared for me?"

"Yes," Jin De nodded, stepping aside. "These two blood slaves possess considerable cultivation. I selected them meticulously."

"Oh?" Wen Yufeng smiled faintly, though he wasn't overly concerned. In his estimation, no matter how carefully Jin De chose, he wouldn't find exceptional blood food. However, Dao Thirteen's abundant vitality did spark a slight interest. "Since you put it that way, their cultivation must not be low. What are their levels?"

Jin De then spoke, "Your Heavenly Venerable wishes to see your cultivation. Why aren't you demonstrating it?"

The instant his words fell, Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen sprang into action. As the formidable pressure of the Divine Sea Realm surged forth, the smile on Wen Yufeng's face abruptly stiffened.

In his estimation, these two blood slaves would, at best, possess Cloud River Realm cultivation, which he would consider a significant gift.

Yet, he never imagined Dao Thirteen was in the Divine Sea Realm. The sheer intensity of the pressure even caused his heart to pound, making his breathing labored in an instant.

Before he could even react, Dao Thirteen's spiritual sense surged forth powerfully.

Wen Yufeng reeled as if struck by an invisible sledgehammer, his head snapping back as a grimace of pain contorted his features.

Concurrently, Lu Ye revealed the Sacred Blood Jade.

Wen Yufeng, instinctively attempting to resist, became even more terrified. He felt his entire bloodline being suppressed, and the power he frantically summoned instantly dissipated.

However, Lan Qiyue had cautioned Lu Ye when she first gave him the Sacred Blood Jade that its power might not be very intimidating to Divine Sea Realm Blood Race members, given her own cultivation limitations.

This proved true: the Sacred Blood Jade indeed suppressed Wen Yufeng for an instant, but he quickly broke free with sheer force.

Yet, seizing that fleeting moment, Dao Thirteen strode forward, clamping Wen Yufeng's mouth shut to prevent him from shouting. With his other hand, he grabbed Wen Yufeng's shoulder, lifted him high, and slammed him violently onto the ground.

With a resounding crash, the bedchamber vibrated. Even though Wen Yufeng had already advanced to the Divine Sea Realm, the impact left him disoriented.

This was not the end. From start to finish, Dao Thirteen's spiritual sense continuously surged, forming invisible impacts that battered Wen Yufeng's soul, leaving him dazed and his spiritual essence reeling.

Wen Yufeng's body bounced once on the ground before Dao Thirteen half-knelt on him, pinning him down and rendering him immobile.

Lu Ye swiftly approached, raised his hand, and pressed it against Wen Yufeng's forehead as his spiritual sense surged.

A moment later, Lu Ye, appearing somewhat weary, signaled Dao Thirteen. Only then did Dao Thirteen release the restrained Wen Yufeng.

Wen Yufeng rose clumsily, staggering and shaking his head, evidently still disoriented from the recent ordeal.

Lu Ye also gently shook his head.

It was still quite a struggle.

For him, killing Wen Yufeng would have been simple. Dao Thirteen's cultivation far surpassed Wen Yufeng's; even ten Wen Yufengs would be no match for him. However, enslaving Wen Yufeng using the Soul Control technique was a far more complex matter.

The primary challenge lay in Wen Yufeng's conscious resistance. Thus, even with Dao Thirteen's continuous spiritual assaults, they barely succeeded this time.

Lu Ye felt increasingly fortunate that Dao Thirteen had been unconscious when they entered the Blood Refinement World together. Furthermore, he happened to possess the Soul-Destroying Sword, which targets spiritual essences. Without these conditions, it would have been utterly impossible to implant the Soul Control mark on Dao Thirteen.

Slowly regaining his composure, Wen Yufeng looked at Lu Ye, unsure how to address him. With the Soul Control spiritual pattern imprinted upon his soul, Wen Yufeng naturally sensed Lu Ye's absolute dominion over him.

Jin De, standing nearby, introduced him: "This is Lord Holy Emissary."

Wen Yufeng quickly bowed. "Greetings, Holy Emissary."

Lu Ye nodded faintly.

Just then, the Blood Race member who had escorted Jin De earlier rushed back, asking with surprise and suspicion, "Heavenly Venerable, what has happened?"

Although the recent commotion was brief, the vibrations of a struggle had emanated. This Blood Race member had detected the anomaly and came to investigate the situation.

Wen Yufeng waved his hand. "It's nothing; you may leave."

The Blood Race member acknowledged him and withdrew, still somewhat suspicious.

"I will reside here for the next two days. If any guests arrive, lead them to this chamber," Lu Ye instructed.

"Understood!"

"Furthermore, no harm is to come to the humans here. As for the human women outside, return them to wherever they were captured from once this matter is resolved."

"Yes," Wen Yufeng affirmed once more.

The Blood Food Ceremony was a grand and lively affair. Wen Yufeng had sent out invitations long ago, and as the event drew near, guests continuously arrived.

The Fuzhus who came to offer their felicitations were ushered into Wen Yufeng's private chamber, departing after a short while.

After two such days, approximately thirty Fuzhus had arrived.

On the day of the main ceremony, new arrivals gradually dwindled; all expected guests had made their appearance.

Wen Yufeng made an appearance and celebrated with his numerous guests.

However, what puzzled many Blood Race members of Huangqiong Blessed Land was that their Heavenly Venerable had yet to order any blood food prepared. When they inquired, he even sternly reprimanded them, declaring that no one was to harm the blood food without his direct command.

While these anomalies bewildered the Blood Race members of Huangqiong Blessed Land, they dared not disobey their Heavenly Venerable's explicit command.

The captured blood food remained unharmed until the ceremony concluded. Moreover, during the event, Wen Yufeng even declared an order stating that Blood Race members within his jurisdiction were forbidden from wantonly harming humans, a directive that earned the unanimous approval of the many Fuzhus who had come to offer congratulations.

The Blood Race members of Huangqiong Blessed Land were left utterly bewildered, struggling to comprehend what was happening in their world.

At that very moment, Lu Ye, along with Dao Thirteen and Yu Lingfeng, was already a thousand miles away.

A single Blood Food Ceremony had allowed him to enslave one Divine Sea Realm Heavenly Venerable and nearly thirty True Lake Realm Fuzhus. The gains were more substantial than those of the previous two months combined.

With his commands, humans within the territories governed by these Blood Race members could at least enjoy a relatively safe living environment going forward.

However, this was ultimately a superficial solution, not a permanent one.

While the territories under these Blood Race members would be safe for a short time, there was no guarantee they would live indefinitely. Once they perished, Lu Ye's orders would no longer be enforced. Moreover, their subordinate Blood Race members might not willingly adhere to these commands, and covert actions might even go unnoticed by the Fuzhus themselves. They continued their journey southward.

Recently, Lu Ye's cultivation had progressed slowly, primarily due to a scarcity of cultivation resources. Although he had accumulated some blood crystals over time, it was not enough to enable his advancement to the ninth layer of the True Lake Realm.

The journey had been relatively smooth thus far.

Another two months passed in a blink. They had completed approximately seventy percent of their southward journey, with only the final thirty percent remaining until they reached Divine Palace Sea.

In a Blood Race Blessed Land, Lu Ye, Dao Thirteen, and Yu Lingfeng paused to rest.

Throughout their journey, the group occasionally rested at various locations, as constant travel was quite exhausting.

While resting, they suddenly heard a resonant voice call out, "Where is the Fuzhu of this land?"

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow slightly, his spiritual sense sweeping through the area. He detected an unfamiliar Blood Race figure within the Blessed Land. This newcomer possessed True Lake Ninth Layer cultivation, identical to that of the local Fuzhu.

The local Fuzhu quickly appeared to greet the newcomer, calling out, "I am the Fuzhu. May I ask who you are, honored guest...?"

The unfamiliar Blood Race member announced loudly, "By the order of Star Moon Holy Venerable, you are commanded to gather your local forces within three days and proceed to Star Moon Holy Land for assembly within ten days."

The Blood Race Fuzhu immediately responded with trepidation, "Your command is my duty!"

After delivering the order, the unfamiliar Blood Race member swiftly departed.

Lu Ye frowned slightly and signaled Yu Lingfeng, who was standing nearby. "Summon him."

Yu Lingfeng acknowledged the command and departed.

A short while later, Yu Lingfeng led the Blood Race Fuzhu into the chamber.

"My Lord," the Fuzhu greeted him with a bow.

Lu Ye inquired, "Why is Star Moon Holy Land gathering troops?"

The Blood Race Fuzhu explained, "Naturally, it's for an offensive on Divine Palace Sea. My Lord may not be aware, but nearly every few years, our Holy Race mounts a large-scale campaign against the Azure Blood Holy Land in Divine Palace Sea. The timing is approaching, which is why Star Moon Holy Land has initiated this action."

Lu Ye frowned slightly. "Azure Blood Holy Land—is that a human force in Divine Palace Sea?"

"Yes, it is."

Lu Ye was slightly taken aback. The name felt quite coincidental.

He hailed from the Azure Blood Sect, and it was unexpected to find another faction in the Blood Refinement World bearing the name "Azure Blood," particularly as it was the sole human force.

He felt an inexplicable sense of affinity.

"Does Star Moon Holy Land have a Holy Seed presiding over it?" Lu Ye inquired.

In the Blood Refinement World, Blood Race settlements are generally categorized into three ranks: Cave Dwellings, Blessed Lands, and Grotto-Heavens.

However, beyond Grotto-Heavens, there exists a transcendent category: Holy Lands, presided over by a Holy Seed.

If Qianliu Blessed Land continued to expand and prosper, it could become Qianliu Holy Land once Lan Qiyue advanced to the Divine Sea Realm.

However, throughout the Blood Refinement World, Holy Seeds are few, and consequently, so are Holy Lands.

This location was still a two-month journey from Divine Palace Sea, yet Star Moon Holy Land's call to arms had extended even here, indicating the massive scale of the Blood Race's mobilization.

Lu Ye had initially planned to simply proceed directly to Divine Palace Sea. However, if the Blood Race intended to launch an offensive against Azure Blood Holy Land, then a hasty advance would be ill-advised, as they were bound to encounter numerous perils along the way.

While Dao Thirteen was in the Divine Sea Realm, there were indeed Blood Race members in this Blood Refinement World whose cultivation was higher and whose strength surpassed his. The reason they hadn't encountered any thus far was that Lu Ye had deliberately avoided territories where powerful Blood Race members resided.

With the Blood Race currently mobilizing forces on such a grand scale, the path ahead was bound to be unstable. Acting rashly would very likely lead them to encounter an insurmountable foe.

With this thought, Lu Ye made a decision. "If Star Moon Holy Land commands you to gather forces, then do so. Include us as well."

"Yes, My Lord," the Blood Race Fuzhu responded.

Given the present circumstances, rather than rushing forward with Dao Thirteen alone, it would be better to move with the Blood Race army. This would provide a cover, and they could adapt their plans once they reached Divine Palace Sea.