Chapter 1299: Broken Spirit Boat

The Wind Rises in Kyushu

What quality must a flying sword possess to pursue a Sun-level expert, forcing them to flee without a backward glance? Lu Ye had no idea. Moreover, such a flying sword was sentient. Lu Ye mused that if it were to target him, he would have only one option: to prepare for his demise. Currently, what targeted him was not the flying sword's true form, but merely a splintered sword light! In that case, resistance might not be impossible. As Lu Ye unleashed the first stance of the Overlord Blade with his Pan Mountain Saber, the weapon case at his waist vibrated, and a controlled artifact swiftly flew forth. This served as a safeguard; he remained uncertain if he could withstand the sword light until actual contact.

Points of starlight burst forth from afar, piercing the incoming sword light with unerring precision. Lu Ye's expression tightened, his long saber spun like a turning moon, and in an instant, saber gleams like snow, a flurry of crescent-shaped saber strikes, shot out to meet it. Yet, neither the first nor the second stance of the Overlord Blade could halt the sword light's advance. This sword light, though seemingly inconspicuous, surged forward with an unstoppable momentum, breaking through everything. His saber strikes, upon contact, dissipated completely, like snowflakes under a blazing sun! Was this something a Constellation-level cultivator could genuinely withstand? That Feng Rumao was practically trying to get him killed!

Upon realizing something was amiss, Lu Ye immediately turned and fled. With his spiritual power fully unleashed, his speed quickly reached its peak. However, the sensation of being pricked in the back intensified. The sword light drew closer, its sharp and potent aura making Lu Ye realize that even with his robust physique, he absolutely could not withstand being pierced by such a sword light. After fleeing for less than five breaths, Lu Ye was compelled to activate a Void Spirit Rune, instantly vanishing from his current location. Almost instantaneously upon his disappearance, the sword light pierced through the spot where he had previously stood.

A thousand miles away, Lu Ye reappeared. Before he could even catch his breath, the sensation of being locked onto by a spiritual aura returned. Looking up, he saw a speck of light rapidly approaching him from a thousand miles away. Even as a mere splintered sword light, it possessed the ability to lock onto and pursue an enemy. Lu Ye's single displacement had not shaken it off at all, primarily due to the haste and insufficient distance covered during the transfer. The controlled artifacts he had just recalled were launched once more, and this time, not just one, but five or six of them, swiftly darted in all directions within the starry expanse.

Lu Ye stood firm, saber in hand, gazing at the sword light rapidly closing in on him, assessing the distance between them. Only when it was a hundred miles away did he powerfully unleash his saber, sending forth a barrage of saber strikes. He was certain that even if he were to use another Void Spirit Rune for displacement, the sword light would still pursue him. Continuing this pursuit would consume an inordinate amount of time. Therefore, there was only one way to escape this sword light: relentlessly deplete its power! After all, it was merely a splintered sword light, like a tree without roots or water without a source; its power would naturally dwindle and vanish once depleted to a certain extent. Lu Ye dared not allow it to approach, so he could only respond by unleashing saber strikes. While the exact effect remained uncertain, it prioritized safety. Any other Constellation-level cultivator would undoubtedly be unable to replicate his approach. When faced with such a sword light, they would have no choice but to engage in a direct confrontation, which would likely lead to a dire outcome.

Crescent-shaped saber strikes continuously impacted the sword light as Lu Ye wielded his Pan Mountain Saber, hitting it with precision. Only when the distance between them narrowed to approximately five miles did Lu Ye activate the void, departing from his position. He reappeared in another location, and predictably, the sword light pursued him once more. He continued the process!

Initially, no discernible results appeared; the sword light showed no signs of diminished luster or power. However, as time elapsed and Lu Ye's continuous efforts persisted, he could distinctly feel the sword light's power waning. After half a day, the sword light's luster had dimmed to an almost imperceptible degree. This time, Lu Ye did not activate a Void Spirit Rune; instead, he charged towards the sword light with his saber. The instant they passed each other, he unleashed a single strike. The sword light shattered! The sensation of being targeted simultaneously vanished. Lu Ye stood still, a sigh escaping him.

A mere sword light had taken him half a day to neutralize. How terrifying must the flying sword's true form be? And fundamentally, this was not something a Constellation-level cultivator could escape or withstand. Was Feng Rumao perhaps trying to kill him? But if he genuinely intended to, why bother with such a roundabout method?

Lu Ye had indeed misjudged the situation. Since Feng Rumao had allowed Lu Ye to leave at that specific moment, he was confident that the splintered sword light would not claim his life. Naturally, enduring some hardship and injuries was unavoidable, but at the Constellation level, recovery capabilities were enhanced. As long as he survived the initial impact, he would eventually recover with some rest. According to Feng Rumao's estimation, the injuries Lu Ye sustained from this encounter would take approximately one to two months to fully recover, after which he would be safe. However, he had underestimated Lu Ye's capabilities. Primarily relying on Void Spirit Runes for displacement was a feat difficult even for Sun-level cultivators, let alone those at the Constellation stage, unless they had made prior preparations. Lu Ye had employed a clever tactic, effectively avoiding significant hardship.

After resolving the sword light, Lu Ye located a nearby barren planet. In the starry expanse, such barren planets and drifting meteorites were plentiful, almost ubiquitous. These barren planets harbored no life and would not nurture any creatures, yet there was a high probability of discovering spirit jade on them. Lu Ye had previously made discoveries on several barren planets. This time, however, he was not searching for spirit jade; he simply required a place to recover and to ascertain his current position. Being carried along by Feng Rumao had taken him beyond his pre-planned trajectory, but fortunately, the distance wasn't excessive, so it posed no significant problem. His entanglement with the sword light had exhausted him considerably. He retrieved a spirit jade, held it in his palm, and activated the Talent Tree's power to absorb energy, carefully controlling the process for efficient, waste-free absorption. Only then did Lu Ye determine his current position by referencing the locations of the Sun Star and the Venus Star. He had experimented with this method numerous times during his previous journeys and had gained some proficiency, so shortly thereafter, he had a general understanding of his location relative to Kyushu.

He then proceeded to examine his Pan Mountain Saber. Feng Rumao had mentioned a secret technique sealed within the Pan Mountain Saber, but he hadn't specified its nature, and Lu Ye remained unaware. Upon close inspection, he indeed found traces of a seal within the Pan Mountain Saber. However, this particular seal was not robust, meaning he could break it by infusing a sufficient amount of spiritual energy, thereby unleashing the secret technique contained within. This was likely the method to activate this secret technique. Lu Ye was unsure of its power, as it was a one-time use, and he couldn't simply test it. However, as it originated from a Sun-level cultivator, it ought to be extraordinary.

After resting for half a day, he had fully recovered. Only then did Lu Ye begin to consider the opportunity Feng Rumao had indicated. He had two options: one was to follow Feng Rumao's guidance and investigate, as the secret technique sealed within the Pan Mountain Saber was specifically prepared for this very opportunity. Of course, Lu Ye could also choose not to go; the seal within the Pan Mountain Saber was already a benefit, and preserving it might offer an additional life-saving trump card in the future. Furthermore, Feng Rumao had stated that it was indeed an opportunity, albeit one accompanied by danger. However, what opportunity comes without risk? Having journeyed so far, Lu Ye certainly understood this principle. An opportunity revealed by a Sun-level expert was something Lu Ye was quite reluctant to miss, so he leaped up and flew in the direction Feng Rumao had indicated. He decided to investigate first; if it proved too dangerous, he would simply abandon it. He couldn't simply ignore it. Cultivators were never afraid of challenges, especially someone like Lu Ye. If he were unaware, it would be one thing, but having gained knowledge, he felt compelled to explore. To some extent, intense curiosity was not exclusive to the demon race; it was a trait found in almost every species of creature.

Feng Rumao had merely pointed in a casual manner back then, and Lu Ye had constantly shifted and changed positions during his entanglement with the sword light. Thus, accurately determining the direction Feng Rumao had originally indicated now presented some difficulty. Without suitable reference points in the starry expanse, discerning directions like up, down, left, or right was impossible. Often, a single misjudgment could lead to being off by thousands of miles. Fortunately, Lu Ye possessed a decent sense of direction and a broad-minded temperament. Approaching the search with the attitude of 'I'll look if I find it, and it's fine if I don't,' he felt no pressure. He flew and searched continuously, but found nothing. He flew for a full half month, discovering nothing beyond some spirit jade. Lu Ye began to contemplate returning. He suspected he might have taken the wrong direction; otherwise, he should have already located the opportunity Feng Rumao had indicated. He resolved to search the vicinity for another half month. If nothing was discovered by then, he would proceed with his original plan to return towards Kyushu, exploring on his way back. With that thought, he felt more at ease.

As it happened, it took less than half a month; in under ten days, Lu Ye spotted a dilapidated spirit boat in the distance. The spirit boat was large, with three levels, similar in design to the spirit boats found in Kyushu, but evidently of superior quality and suited for long-distance voyages in the starry expanse. This spirit boat immediately struck him as an aggressively designed type. Its overall form appeared rather menacing, akin to a hibernating fierce beast. However, it was unclear what it had endured. The entire hull appeared battered and torn, as if it had survived an extremely arduous and brutal conflict. The most striking damage was a massive hole on the side of the hull, extending directly into its interior. In the starry expanse, such a menacing and battered spirit boat drifted slowly, exuding a strange and eerie ambiance. Was this the opportunity Feng Rumao had spoken of? Lu Ye couldn't be certain. However, if his chosen direction was correct, then this must be it. What sort of opportunity could such a dilapidated spirit boat represent? Lu Ye did not approach rashly. Instead, he circled the spirit boat several times, cautiously extending his divine sense to investigate from a distance.