Chapter 1579: Departure

The matters of Xian Yuan City were settled. After days of discussion and debate, the issue of quotas for Kyushu Star Constellations traveling to the Myriad Phenomena Sea also reached a conclusion. While not everyone was completely satisfied, the outcome was ultimately accepted by most.

Once Kyushu cultivators establish a firm foothold in the Myriad Phenomena Sea, others who wish to join them can still do so later. For Star Constellations, a journey spanning several years is hardly an obstacle.

In front of the Kyushu Guardian Hall, numerous Star Constellations assembled. Starboats and Tiger Shark warships hovered in the air. At Lu Ye's command, everyone boarded their designated vessels.

The Star Constellations who qualified to board were naturally overjoyed, while those who did not qualify watched with envy.

Seven Starboats and three Tiger Shark warships were departing from Kyushu. Additionally, three Starboats and two Tiger Shark warships were awaiting them from the Peerless Continent. For this long voyage, Kyushu's fleet would comprise ten Starboats and five warships.

Lu Ye had originally purchased thirty Starboats and ten Tiger Shark warships from Peerless Island. The current fleet was utilizing only a fraction of these vessels; the remaining ones were naturally left in Kyushu and Peerless Continent. This ensured that cultivators of this realm had vessels for exploring the cosmos, saving them time and effort, and that future expeditions to the Myriad Phenomena Sea would not be hindered by a lack of available Starboats.

Lu Ye left more than just Starboats and warships in this realm. He also left five million Spirit Jade at the Kyushu Guardian Hall as a reserve. This substantial amount of Spirit Jade, if used prudently, should sustain the remaining Kyushu cultivators for a considerable period. Furthermore, they were not the type to merely exhaust their resources; their daily cultivation needs could be met by searching the cosmos. Only under specific circumstances would they potentially need to draw upon the Spirit Jade Lu Ye had left behind.

Lu Ye also left numerous 'Same Breath, Connected Branches' formation plates, which would enable Kyushu cultivators to form defensive arrays against adversaries.

He also left behind star maps for the Azure Dawn Dao Realm and the Myriad Phenomena Sea, and even some sections of the Samsara Tree trunk.

With all preparations complete, Lu Ye looked down at the numerous Kyushu Star Constellations gathered to see them off. He cupped his fists and said, 'I leave this realm in your capable hands.'

Pang Zhen, at the forefront, grinned, 'Don't worry, with us here, this realm will be safe and sound. As for you, while you're away, be sure to endure what you must, and avoid unnecessary bravado in all matters. If conditions outside prove too challenging, return early.'

It was reminiscent of an elder's earnest advice to a child embarking on a challenging journey far from home.

Lu Ye nodded, swiftly boarded the Starboat, and with a sweeping gesture of his hand, commanded, 'Depart!'

All Starboats and warships collectively changed course, sweeping away from Kyushu as their speed steadily increased.

The numerous remaining Star Constellations, led by Pang Zhen, cupped their fists in farewell and collectively shouted, 'May your journey be prosperous, and may all misfortunes turn to blessings!'

Aboard the Starboat, Lu Ye looked down at Kyushu. He raised his hand and pressed it against his battlefield imprint, his divine sense surging with a message: 'Xiao Jiu, I'm leaving now. Please watch over Kyushu carefully.'

In the preceding days, as he prepared for departure, he had sought out Xiao Jiu multiple times to bid it farewell, but Xiao Jiu completely ignored him. Lu Ye, of course, knew that Xiao Jiu must have sensed his calls; its silence likely stemmed from not wanting him to leave.

In all of Kyushu, only Zhang Zishan and Lu Ye knew of its existence. Previously, when Lu Ye was away, it could occasionally chat with Zhang Zishan. However, with Zhang Zishan now confined within the Myriad Soul Banner and destined for the Soul Clan ancestral land, Lu Ye was its sole remaining conversational companion.

If Lu Ye were to leave as well, Xiao Jiu would be left to guard Kyushu all alone.

It was like a clingy child...

Yet, some tasks were unavoidable. While remaining in Kyushu offered comfort and freedom from external perils, Kyushu, having ascended to a large realm, eventually needed to integrate with the cosmos. Only by strengthening its inherent foundations could the realm possess sufficient self-preservation capabilities against future dangers.

After a moment's wait, there was still no response from Xiao Jiu. Lu Ye sighed, understanding the child was upset, and decided not to press the matter.

But just then, Xiao Jiu's voice suddenly chimed in his ear: 'Then when you return next time, you must bring those delicious things with you!'

Lu Ye paused, then realized that Xiao Jiu was referring to the World-Devouring Beast's core he had retrieved previously, and the pink peculiar item from the nebula mound.

'All right! I'll bring you more next time,' Lu Ye readily agreed. The items from the nebula mound were likely unreliable, but if necessary, he would find a way to obtain some World-Devouring Beast cores and bring them back; he couldn't let Xiao Jiu down.

Although World-Devouring Beast cores were rare, they were not impossible to acquire with effort.

'Then it's settled!'

'Settled!' Lu Ye replied. Suddenly, he had a premonition; looking down, he saw a rabbit standing upright on a hillside not far from the Kyushu Guardian Hall, peering in their direction.

Lu Ye waved in its direction. The Starboat then surged through the clouds and swept into the cosmos.

Once the fleet entered the cosmos, the cultivators piloting the Starboats maintained a steady course according to the star maps. However, the cultivators assigned to the Tiger Shark warships became boisterous. After all, none of them had ever piloted a warship before, and each was eagerly familiarizing themselves with the warships' various capabilities. This caused the three escorting warships to behave like playful children, chasing and evading each other, maneuvering and darting during the voyage.

Tiger Shark warships were small vessels, capable of being piloted by three to five individuals. Compared to costly large warships, while their defensive and offensive capabilities were somewhat inferior, their significant advantage lay in their flexibility.

Initially, as everyone was still unfamiliar, piloting them was inevitably clumsy. However, as they gradually familiarized themselves, the three Tiger Sharks became significantly more agile.

Lu Ye stood on the deck, observing quietly.

His Starboat carried mostly those closest to him, including Hua Ci, Shui Yuan, and all members of Ding Jiu Team.

Amber lay at his feet, Yaya nestled in Amber's embrace, and nearby were Yi Yi and Li Shang.

Perhaps due to both being soul forms, Li Shang felt an innate affinity for Yi Yi. Despite only having met a few days prior, they had already grown quite familiar with each other.

After this extended period of interaction, Lu Ye had come to understand Li Shang's temperament. She was not one to quickly grow familiar with strangers; for instance, while Li Shang would occasionally exchange a few words with Hua Ci and Shui Yuan, their relationship wasn't particularly close.

However, Li Shang's attitude toward Yi Yi was entirely different; she genuinely treated her as a member of her own kin.

Lu Ye had a faint suspicion that there might be other underlying reasons.

After a brief chat, Yi Yi called Amber and prepared to resume her cultivation. Since her promotion to Star Constellation two years prior, Yi Yi had expected the gap between her and Lu Ye to diminish. However, upon Lu Ye's return this time, he had astonishingly reached the late Star Constellation stage.

The disparity in their cultivation had not only failed to shrink but had actually widened considerably.

Therefore, Yi Yi dared not slack off in her cultivation, becoming even more diligent than before.

As Amber departed, Yaya rubbed her sleepy eyes. Sitting on the ground, she looked around blankly for a moment, then, silently, she grabbed Lu Ye's trousers, climbed up like a monkey, nestled into his embrace, found a comfortable sleeping position, and closed her eyes once more.

Lu Ye held her with one arm, gazing down at her for a moment. Then remarked, 'Yaya has been quite sleepy lately.'

Previously, while Yaya did exhibit drowsiness, it was not this severe. She would only fall into a deep slumber after utilizing her Sun Gazer cultivation; most of the time, she was awake.

However, her recent behavior was noticeably different. Especially when near Amber, she would fall asleep almost immediately upon contact.

'Perhaps she is recovering, and her drowsiness is merely an outward manifestation of that recovery,' Li Shang speculated.

Lu Ye nodded, but quickly realized a potential issue: 'If she recovers, what might she do to us?'

Yaya was, after all, a Sun Gazer. With her consciousness currently impaired, she had mistaken him and Li Shang for her parents. If she were to recover later and recall these past events, what if she became enraged by shame...

What could Lu Ye do to defend against her? Both he and Li Shang would suffer then.

Li Shang said, 'Her consciousness is severely damaged; she won't recover quickly. And this matter isn't our fault. Even if she truly recovers, she should understand that her actions were her own initiative. Besides, you did save her life, after all.'

'That's true!' Lu Ye agreed. He had considered these very points when he saved Yaya years ago.

Li Shang hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject: 'Do you know why Yaya is so attached to Amber?'

Lu Ye inwardly noted, 'Here's the real question,' as he had observed Li Shang's keen interest in Amber since their first encounter. This interest also partly explained her rapid familiarity with Yi Yi. Instead of answering, he countered, 'Do you?'

Li Shang nodded, then shook her head. 'I don't know the exact reason. But Yaya, possessing the foundation of a Sun Gazer, must have a deeper reason for clinging to Amber than just Amber being likable. Perhaps her instincts tell her that staying near Amber will facilitate her recovery.' She paused, then continued, 'Amber likely possesses the bloodline of a White Tiger. Were you aware of that?'

'I've had a suspicion.' The White Tiger, one of the Four Divine Beasts, is renowned. How could Lu Ye not know of it? After all, the former Kyushu was a top-tier realm, and though it had been in decline for ten millennia, some remnants of the former Kyushu were still visible in the present realm.

Amber's bloodline was likely passed down, generation after generation, from the era of the former Kyushu.

Lu Ye had encountered many tiger-type demon beasts. Yet, no other demon beast had ever been able to transform into a Spirit of Despair like Amber. Thus, Lu Ye's statement about having suspicions regarding Amber's bloodline was truthful.

Ordinary tiger-type demon beasts simply lacked such extraordinary capabilities; only the legendary White Tiger was said to possess such powers.

However, suspicion remained suspicion; there was no way to confirm this fact, as he had never seen another White Tiger.

'It is said among people that the White Tiger presides over killing, being the fiercest in terms of destructive power among the Four Divine Beasts,' Li Shang's voice drifted calmly. 'But few know that the White Tiger possesses inherent benefits for soul bodies.'

'How so?' Lu Ye humbly inquired. Li Shang's sudden mention of Amber was clearly not a whim; she had clearly been observing Amber for days, and her statement now indicated she had reached a conclusion.