Chapter 1549: Borrowing the Way

Lu Ye didn't know why Luo Shenzi had come here. Luo Shenzi was from the Great Luo Star System and, by rights, shouldn't have been present.

However, upon seeing the Moonfall cultivator beside Luo Shenzi, Lu Ye understood that he must have accompanied his elder.

Judging by the current situation, Jiang Shang was likely hosting the Moonfall cultivator. Since Lu Ye had arrived with Ya Ya, they were included in the reception.

Ordinarily, a Sun-illuminated cultivator wouldn't pay such close attention to a typical Moonfall. However, among the four surrounding star systems, Great Luo was the strongest. Therefore, even with just one Moonfall cultivator present, Jiang Shang couldn't afford to be neglectful.

At that moment, all eyes in the hall converged on Lu Ye, and everyone's gaze was filled with shock.

Even the Great Luo Moonfall cultivator beside Luo Shenzi was no exception. Although he didn't know Ya Ya's background, someone who could move freely under the powerful aura of Jiang Shang, a Sun-illuminated cultivator, was undoubtedly also a Sun-illuminated cultivator.

Such a Sun-illuminated cultivator, who already seemed so strange, was now calling a Star Host "Daddy"... What was going on?

Lu Ye looked down at Ya Ya, patted her head, and softly said, "Eat by yourself."

He then turned to Jiang Shang, cupped his fists, and bowed, "Lu Yiye of Nine Heavens, greetings, Realm Master!"

Jiang Shang gently fanned himself with his feather fan, his imposing aura completely withdrawn. He smiled faintly and said, "Have a seat!"

While Ya Ya's peculiarities were certainly surprising, as a Sun-illuminated cultivator with extraordinary mental cultivation, he naturally wouldn't show any sudden shock.

Under Kang Cheng's arrangement, Lu Ye took a seat at the table to Jiang Shang's lower left, and the various Moonfall cultivators also sat down.

Soon, young and beautiful female cultivators from Boundless presented spirit fruits and fine wine. Ya Ya had already finished her grape-like berries and was delighted to see many more spirit fruits. She paid no mind to what others thought and simply indulged herself.

Jiang Shang's gaze finally moved from Ya Ya to Lu Ye, and he mused, "Lu Yiye of Nine Heavens, I seem to have heard that name somewhere before."

Across from Lu Ye, the Great Luo Star System's Moonfall cultivator stroked his beard, "I believe I've heard it too."

The female Moonfall cultivator who had recognized Lu Ye earlier immediately spoke up, "Realm Master, several years ago, the Blood Clan and Insect Clan jointly issued a bounty. Does the Realm Master recall it?"

At this, Jiang Shang suddenly showed a look of realization. He looked at Lu Ye and asked, "Young friend, are you perhaps Lu Yiye of Nine Heavens, the one who annihilated the Blood Clan and left only one Insect Clan member alive in the Grand Primordial Realm?"

Lu Ye himself was unaware of this, a look of surprise on his face. "The Blood Clan and Insect Clan issued a bounty on me?" he wondered. "Could there be a mistake?" Yet, he was the only one who had wiped out the Blood Clan and killed the Insect Clan in the Grand Primordial Realm.

He suddenly remembered that in the Azure Jade Realm, a Blood Clan Star Host had recognized him instantly, and later, a Blood Clan Moonfall cultivator had pursued him for millions of miles.

At the time, he had wondered how a Blood Clan Star Host, whom he had never met, could know him. But if the Blood Clan had already been aware of him and even placed a bounty on him, then it made sense.

Back in the Grand Primordial Realm, he had completely wiped out the Blood Clan's Divine Seas, and only one Insect Clan Divine Sea cultivator had survived. It must have been that Insect Clan Divine Sea cultivator who left an image of him without his knowledge.

"Young friend, you didn't know?" Jiang Shang asked, smiling at him.

Lu Ye shook his head, "This is the first I've heard of it."

Jiang Shang joked, "The bounty issued by the two clans together was very generous; even Moonfall cultivators would be tempted. Young friend, you'll need to be careful when traveling in the starry sky from now on."

Lu Ye nodded, "Thank you for the warning, Realm Master." In the past, he would indeed have had to be cautious, but now with Ya Ya by his side, he wasn't afraid. If anyone truly sought trouble, Ya Ya would certainly teach them a lesson.

Luo Shenzi looked at him excitedly, "So, Brother Lu has such a glorious past! No wonder you're so extraordinary." From his expression, he seemed even more interested in Lu Ye.

In contrast, the Moonfall cultivator beside Luo Shenzi looked puzzled. According to the timeline, the last Divine Sea conflict was only a few years ago. At that time, Lu Yiye of Nine Heavens was merely at the Divine Sea stage. How could he now be at the late Star Host stage? This cultivation speed was simply astonishing. He vaguely wondered if this Lu Yiye of Nine Heavens was actually the same person as the one from before.

Jiang Shang spoke again, "The Nine Heavens Realm where young friend originates, it shouldn't be in a nearby star system, should it?"

Lu Ye replied, "The Nine Heavens Realm is located in the Jade Snail Star System."

"Jade Snail!" Jiang Shang pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "I haven't heard of it."

Even if the Jade Snail Star System wasn't too far from here, the starry sky radiated in all directions. Although Jiang Shang had traveled through many star systems, he naturally wouldn't have heard of Jade Snail if he hadn't visited its specific location.

"Young friend, are you traveling here?" Jiang Shang asked again.

"Not exactly traveling; I'm returning to Jade Snail and passing through this area."

Jiang Shang praised him highly, "When I was your age and cultivation level, I only dared to travel around my own star system. Yet, young friend, you have already journeyed millions of miles. Truly, you are young and promising."

"It was out of necessity," Lu Ye sighed. "I accidentally passed through a wormhole in my star system and ended up in an unfamiliar one. It took me a long time to inquire about the route home before I could finally set out on my return journey!"

"Oh?" Jiang Shang was surprised. He naturally knew about wormholes; there was an known wormhole within the Boundless Star System. However, that particular wormhole connected to a very desolate star system, posing no threat or value to Boundless. He casually asked, "Which star system did young friend enter through the wormhole?"

Since Lu Ye, a mere Star Host, could travel from there, the star system's location probably wasn't too far. Perhaps Jiang Shang had heard of it or even visited it before.

Lu Ye gazed at him, and lightly stated, "The Myriad Manifestations Star System!"

In the hall, the Moonfall cultivators had been minding their own business, drinking wine, eating spirit fruits, and chatting softly. But when the words "Myriad Manifestations Star System" rang out, everyone's movements froze, and they all looked towards Lu Ye.

Even Jiang Shang, seated above, was stunned for a moment, and the Great Luo Moonfall cultivator across from Lu Ye's eyes burst with bright light.

Everyone had clearly heard of the Myriad Manifestations Star System's great reputation!

After a long moment, Jiang Shang slowly spoke, "This master has indeed heard of a Myriad Manifestations Star System. I heard it has countless wormholes, where cultivators from numerous star systems gather from all directions. Its prosperity is incomparable to ordinary star systems, and it's rumored to be the center of the entire starry sky!"

Lu Ye nodded, "That's the Myriad Manifestations Star System."

Jiang Shang's expression was solemn, yet with a hint of excitement. "Young friend, you're not mistaken?"

Lu Ye said, "I lived there for several years, so I can't be mistaken. There's a Myriad Manifestations Sea there, vast and boundless, where cultivators from all directions gather and live."

*Crack...*

Someone accidentally crushed the wine cup in their hand, and the wine spilled through their fingers. Yet, they didn't care; instead, with an agitated expression, they asked, "Young friend Lu, you came from the Myriad Manifestations Star System, how long did it take you?"

"One year!" Lu Ye turned to look at him.

What happened next was just like Lu Ye's previous conversation with Hua Sheng. After learning that Lu Ye had only taken one year to travel from the Myriad Manifestations Star System to here, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became fervent.

As Lu Ye had expected, anyone who knew of the Myriad Manifestations Star System's renown was interested in this famous system. No one wanted to remain stagnant. With such a good opportunity to connect with cultivators from other star systems, no one wanted to miss out. If they could integrate into it, they might even get a share of the benefits.

The Moonfall cultivators became even more excited upon learning that there was a wormhole in that desolate starfield connecting to the outside world.

The Great Luo Moonfall cultivator asked, "Young friend, could you tell us the exact location of that wormhole?"

He was a guest, and by rights, it wasn't his place to ask. However, this matter was too significant, and he was eager to know the specific details.

Lu Ye didn't hide anything and replied, "That wormhole is within the Mist Dragon!"

Those words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the warmth in everyone's hearts and leaving them chilled.

Everyone naturally knew about the Mist Dragon, that peculiar celestial phenomenon. They had all explored that desolate starfield, but the Mist Dragon's strangeness was something they couldn't contend with. Let alone Moonfall cultivators, even Sun-illuminated ones would lose their way inside. Countless powerful cultivators throughout history had been lost within it.

Jiang Shang mused, "Since young friend could emerge from the Mist Dragon, I presume you have your own method?"

Lu Ye nodded, "This junior is not particularly talented, but I received guidance from the Reincarnation Tree, so I do have my own method."

"Guidance from the Reincarnation Tree?" A group of people's eyes widened again.

As the most renowned celestial treasure in this part of the starry sky, who hadn't heard of the Reincarnation Tree? It was an ancient entity born alongside this starry sky, and it had nurtured countless cultivators. One could say that anyone favored by the Reincarnation Tree was certainly not ordinary.

The fact that Lu Ye could receive guidance from the Reincarnation Tree was quite intriguing.

"To be honest with everyone," Lu Ye continued, "the star map I'm using to travel from the Myriad Manifestations Star System to Jade Snail was also bestowed by Elder Tree. Otherwise, with my limited experience, how could I possibly know the way home?" Lu Ye continued to leverage the prestige of the Reincarnation Tree, though what he said was also true.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately felt relieved. So, the Reincarnation Tree was involved. It made sense why a Star Host so young dared to travel from the Myriad Manifestations Star System to Jade Snail.

Jiang Shang clarified his thoughts and spoke, "So, young friend, your journey from the Myriad Manifestations Star System, through the wormhole into the Mist Dragon, and then arriving here, is all just part of your route?"

"Precisely!"

"I heard from Kang Cheng and the others earlier that young friend came here to discuss an important matter. May I ask what it is you wish to discuss with me in my realm?"

"This junior wishes to borrow a path!" Lu Ye looked at him.

"Borrow a path?" Everyone was puzzled.

Jiang Shang smiled even more broadly, "Young friend is merely passing through and holds no ill will towards my star system. Borrowing a path is naturally not a problem." He continued, "Even if Lu Ye hadn't specifically come to greet him, merely passing through wouldn't be a major issue. Throughout history, many star systems not aligned with Boundless have passed through here; as long as they don't cause trouble, no one interferes—mainly because they couldn't."

Lu Ye, however, shook his head, "Realm Master, you misunderstand. I'm not borrowing a path for myself. Let me explain: I plan to bring a group of people out after returning to Jade Snail. We will inevitably pass through your esteemed star system again, so I would appreciate it if your star system could facilitate our passage at that time."