Chapter 1539: 獠

Outside Dog Star, many cultivators were stationed. These cultivators were either like Li Shang, not part of the combat cultivator faction, and were excluded when the trial began, or like Du Lang, who persisted inside for varying lengths of time but ultimately failed and withdrew.

However, even in defeat, due to the unique nature of the trial, almost all combat cultivators who participated experienced different degrees of growth. This growth was not about cultivation foundation, but rather about combat abilities. Everyone saw many of their own shortcomings during the trial.

Such growth was incredibly valuable, because if these shortcomings were discovered during a fight with a powerful enemy, it could potentially lead to a great price. Now that the combat cultivators have realized their deficiencies, they will naturally strive to remedy and correct them.

The cultivators from the Four Quadrant star systems had not yet left, not merely to watch the spectacle, but also due to an underlying competition.

Everyone wanted to see which star system's cultivators could last the longest in this trial. Such unspoken rivalries had occurred several times over the past century, with one happening each time a major opportunity emerged.

Currently, everyone from the Jingyue and Beixuan star systems had been eliminated. Only Wuding's Xu Dingyang and Daluo's Luo Shenzi remained inside the Dog Star. The ultimate victor would undoubtedly be one of them.

However, regardless of who it was, even the people from the Wuding star system believed that Luo Shenzi would likely last longer. After all, the title of 'strongest Star Constellation' in these Four Quadrant star systems wasn't merely spoken into existence; it was earned through battle.

And indeed, a moment later, a figure abruptly appeared, covered in blood and looking quite disheveled. It was none other than Wuding's Xu Dingyang.

Several cultivators from the Wuding Realm quickly went up to him, inquiring with concern. Xu Dingyang shook his head with dim eyes, then looked around but didn't find Luo Shenzi, making his expression even more dejected.

He knew that in this competition for the opportunity, he had lost again.

After waiting for another half day, Luo Shenzi emerged. Although he also looked very disheveled, his condition was undoubtedly much better than Xu Dingyang's.

A group of Daluo star system cultivators immediately stepped forward to offer congratulations. Luo Shenzi exchanged a few pleasantries with them, a faint smile on his face. His gaze inadvertently swept over a certain spot in the starry sky, and he suddenly frowned, asking, "Has that fellow cultivator over there not come out yet?"

Everyone looked in the direction he indicated, towards the starship where Du Lang and Li Shang were, and indeed, they didn't see Lu Ye.

Luo Shenzi had intentionally approached Lu Ye and spoken a few words to him earlier, which everyone had witnessed, so they still had some impression of Lu Ye.

However, Lu Ye was ultimately an unfamiliar face and not well-known, so even though he hadn't appeared, no one paid much attention until Luo Shenzi's inquiry now made them realize it.

A Daluo cultivator said, "It's not surprising if he hasn't come out. Maybe he died inside."

Although the trial opportunity inside Dog Star itself was not fatal, there were Star Beasts inside Dog Star, and even an escaped Moon Glimmer Star Beast. If one were to accidentally encounter it, a Star Constellation cultivator wouldn't be able to resist.

Not all cultivators who entered Dog Star earlier had returned safely; some unlucky ones had indeed fallen asleep eternally inside Dog Star, though their numbers were not large.

Now that Lu Ye wasn't seen, everyone naturally assumed he had likely met a grim fate.

Luo Shenzi remained silent, only vaguely feeling that such a person shouldn't have died inside Dog Star. He was born with a keen eye, capable of seeing things others couldn't, and he could generally discern the strength of a cultivator's foundation.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have proactively greeted Lu Ye when they met, because he had felt a certain threat from Lu Ye at the time, believing Lu Ye was a Star Constellation cultivator whose strength was no less than his own.

If such a person were to die inside Dog Star, there was only one possibility: they accidentally encountered the Moon Glimmer Star Beast and were killed!

The cultivators waited here because they wanted to see who could last until the end. Now that the result was out, they naturally had no interest in lingering.

Moreover, such an opportunity could only be participated in once in a combat cultivator's lifetime. Even if someone else found the opportunity again in the future, they wouldn't be able to participate again.

They all prepared to return home.

Just then, another figure abruptly appeared. In an instant, everyone's gaze from all four directions focused on it. After seeing clearly, they all showed expressions of confusion, doubt, shock, and surprise.

They had all thought Luo Shenzi would be the one to last until the end, but unexpectedly, it wasn't! A person who appeared from nowhere had actually surpassed Luo Shenzi.

Lu Ye, who had just appeared, had no idea what was going on. Feeling the gaze from all four directions, he slightly raised his left hand, pressing it against the hilt of the Panshan Blade at his waist, his thumb gently caressing it, his eyelids slightly lowered.

However, he quickly realized that although those people were all looking at him, there was no malice or hostility, but rather more curiosity and shock.

He frowned and flashed towards Li Shang and Du Lang, planning to meet up with them first.

"Fellow cultivator, please wait!" a voice came from behind him.

Lu Ye turned his head and saw Luo Shenzi leap out of the crowd and float over, stopping in front of Lu Ye, his eyes burning as he looked at him.

"What is it?" Lu Ye asked, looking at him.

Luo Shenzi bowed first, his expression solemn: "Fellow cultivator, I wish to fight you!"

He was truly curious why Lu Ye could last longer than him. Although he believed Lu Ye's strength was considerable, he was confident that he would not lose to any cultivator of the same rank.

He had fought against all Star Constellation cultivators with some reputation in these Four Quadrant star systems and had never been defeated, which cemented his title as the strongest Star Constellation.

He had thought it would be difficult to find a suitable opponent in these Four Quadrant star systems again, but unexpectedly, another one appeared today.

For Luo Shenzi, how could such an opportunity be missed? Competing with a strong opponent, especially one from the same combat cultivator faction, was something that made him impatient and his blood boil just thinking about it.

Lu Ye scrutinized him from head to toe. He didn't feel any malice from him, only intense battle intent, and he roughly guessed what was going on with this person.

If he were truly a cultivator from these Four Quadrant star systems, agreeing to this fight would be fine, but he was ultimately just a passerby and didn't want to stir up trouble.

Furthermore, Lu Ye had roughly assessed Luo Shenzi's strength earlier: he would have no problem ranking among the top hundred in the Contention Star Constellation Hall, but entering the top fifty would be difficult. He had defeated many such individuals when he was in the mid-Star Constellation stage. Now that he was in the late-Star Constellation stage, why would he be interested in competing with Luo Shenzi?

So, he simply replied indifferently, "I'm busy!"

Luo Shenzi quickly said, "Then when will you be free, fellow cultivator? You set the time and place; I have no problem!"

Lu Ye walked past him, waving his hand, "Let's talk about it when I'm free."

Luo Shenzi shouted after him, "Then it's settled!"

The numerous cultivators from the Four Quadrant star systems were stunned. Although they all knew Luo Shenzi enjoyed fighting strong opponents, such eagerness was rarely seen. For a moment, they couldn't understand why Luo Shenzi would act this way.

The fact that Lu Ye had lasted longer inside Dog Star than Luo Shenzi was something that happened in plain sight, but this didn't necessarily mean Lu Ye's strength was truly superior.

Some early-stage Star Constellation cultivators even lasted longer than late-stage Star Constellation cultivators, but one couldn't therefore say that those early-stage cultivators were stronger.

After Lu Ye reunited with Li Shang, he summoned his Star Beast and, taking Li Shang and Du Lang, soared towards the depths of the starry sky. For the next period, he would have to traverse this desolate region, enter the Wuding star system, and then cross the entire Wuding!

The road ahead was long.

After Lu Ye and his companions left, the cultivators gathered at Dog Star also quickly dispersed.

Luo Shenzi didn't leave; he simply gazed in the direction Lu Ye had departed and asked, "Zong Yun, didn't the Grand Elder say he was planning a trip to the Wuding Realm earlier?"

A young man beside him replied, "The Grand Elder did say that. By my reckoning, preparations should be underway. As you know, Wuding and our Daluo are on good terms, and there are often exchanges between us."

Luo Shenzi nodded and turned, saying, "Let's go, home!"

Even for someone like Luo Shenzi, it wasn't appropriate to rashly intrude upon another star system. However, if he were to follow his elders from the sect for a visit, that would be different.

He could tell that Lu Ye had no intention of fighting him, yet he was eager for a match to see who was stronger. This visit to Wuding with the Grand Elder might provide an opportunity, and even if it didn't, he could create one!

In any case, he was determined to have this fight.

On the starship, Lu Ye sat cross-legged. Du Lang had already taken control of the starship, being from the Wuding star system and naturally familiar with the route.

The Panshan Blade lay across his lap. Lu Ye lowered his head, gazing at his Panshan Blade, still somewhat incredulous.

Mainly, the scene that had transpired in that green great hall was too peculiar.

The figure identical to him had swallowed the Panshan Blade. At the time, he thought his cherished blade was gone forever, and he felt a great deal of heartache and anger.

Who would have thought that after that figure melted, it would transform into the exact likeness of the Panshan Blade, appearing identical to his previous Panshan Blade without the slightest difference?

But he could clearly sense that the current Panshan Blade was completely different from the old one.

This was information transmitted from within the blade when he first touched the new Panshan Blade, and it was also the name of that figure.

At this moment, the Panshan Blade was more suitably called Liao Blade, though the hilt still bore the characters for Panshan.

Liao was a living entity, but not a living creature in the traditional sense, nor could it be considered a sentient being. It was a peculiar existence, so peculiar that Lu Ye had never even heard of it before.

While he was deep in thought, Li Shang's spiritual message suddenly reached his ear: "Lu Ye, the opportunity you encountered might be a Weapon Clan member!"

Lu Ye was surprised. He had only learned its true identity after acquiring Liao, so he didn't expect Li Shang, who hadn't even participated in the trial, to have figured it out.

He turned to look at Li Shang, who explained, "Our Soul Clan is a rare race, and the Weapon Clan is even rarer; they can even be said to be one of the rarest races in this world. That's why our Soul Clan has a slight understanding of them."