Chapter 1582: Luan Xiao'e

"I'm coming!" Shi Chuan announced kindly, his spiritual power surging as he lunged at Lu Ye like thunder, his long saber slashing down fiercely.

The power of this strike was not outwardly apparent, fully contained within, demonstrating his perfect control over his own strength.

Inside the main hall, Luan Xiao'e nodded slightly. Among the Star Constellations of this generation, Shi Chuan and a few others were of comparable strength, but Luan Xiao'e favored Shi Chuan the most. His superior control over his power meant that once he ascended to the Moon-Gatherer realm, he would naturally surpass the others.

Wu Zhuo also sensed the power of this strike and sighed inwardly. The Jade Snail Realm was indeed the Jade Snail Realm; their own Star Constellations were clearly not on par with Shi Chuan. If Shi Chuan's strength were found in the Azure Reed Dao Realm, he would be considered invincible among his peers.

However, his focus was not primarily on Shi Chuan, but on Lu Ye, whose expression remained utterly calm even as Shi Chuan's long saber descended.

The moment Shi Chuan's long saber fell, a clang resounded as Lu Ye drew his own. Without any embellishment, he struck out with a single slash, almost mirroring Shi Chuan's angle and motion.

Wu Zhuo's eyebrows rose. He had noticed the instant Lu Ye struck that Lu Ye's speed was slightly superior to Shi Chuan's. Therefore, despite striking later, Lu Ye did not concede any ground in this exchange.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the two long sabers collided, appearing no different from a clash between two mortals, with not a trace of spiritual energy visible.

But the very next instant, spiritual power burst forth from the point of impact, and a visible wave of saber energy violently rippled outwards.

Many of the Jade Snail Star Constellations still wore amused expressions, anticipating a good show, but in that moment, all their faces froze, turning to astonishment.

As the saber-aura expanded, Lu Ye remained motionless, while Shi Chuan's body visibly shuddered, and he was forced to lean backward involuntarily.

Someone, unable to contain their awe, gasped aloud. Many others stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they had just seen.

With a single clash, Shi Chuan was clearly at a disadvantage—it was simply unbelievable!

Even more astonishingly, before Shi Chuan could even stabilize his backward-leaning posture, Lu Ye's second strike had already descended.

Shi Chuan immediately roared in fury, hastily raising his saber to block. Yet, after this second collision, his reaction was even more violent than before; he leaned back much further, the floor beneath his feet pulverizing as both his feet sank deep into it. His previously contained power was now utterly dispersed.

He abruptly raised his other hand, gripping his long saber with both hands, watching helplessly as Lu Ye's third strike swept across. Then, he was sent flying backward, propelled directly into the main hall!

The Jade Snail Star Constellations watching from all sides were stunned into silence.

The cultivator who had just claimed Lu Ye wouldn't withstand three of Shi Chuan's strikes now had a rigid expression and a twitching eye. Indeed, three strikes hadn't been withstood—but it was Shi Chuan who couldn't withstand Lu Ye's.

He wondered if Lu Ye had heard his words and deliberately done this... If so, that would be terrifying.

Shi Chuan was already considered a top-tier Star Constellation in the Jade Snail Realm. For such an elite figure to be sent flying by three strikes, and for the other person to show no change in expression, no blush or heavy breathing, clearly indicated he hadn't used his full strength.

Could a Star Constellation be this powerful? Was he perhaps a Moon-Gatherer in disguise?

Staring at Lu Ye in utter shock, pairs of eyes felt as though a new door was slowly opening before them after witnessing this incredible spectacle.

In the profound silence, Lu Ye sheathed his saber and said, "I accept your concession!"

He then walked deeper into the hall.

Qing Tang's dual-saber style was indeed formidable. Although Lu Ye had not yet fully passed Qing Tang's trials, these numerous tests had allowed him to grasp some of its core essence.

Although he had only used a single saber just now, he had incorporated some of the subtleties of Qing Tang's dual-saber style. The core principle of that style is that each strike is heavier and faster than the one before it.

Lu Ye had delivered three strikes to Shi Chuan, each one heavier and faster than the last. Shi Chuan, of course, couldn't withstand them. Even if he had, Lu Ye had a fourth, a fifth, and so on; there would always be a point where he would fail.

Upon entering the main hall, he immediately saw Wu Zhuo and a woman with a high ponytail.

At this moment, both Moon-Gatherers stared at Lu Ye with utter shock as he entered. Although Wu Zhuo had heard about the Clear Wind Realm from Zhou Dingtian and knew Lu Ye was powerful, he hadn't anticipated such an extraordinary level of strength. He had expected Lu Ye's victory over Shi Chuan, if any, to be a narrow one. Instead, it was an overwhelming defeat, akin to autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, with one of Jade Snail's most outstanding Star Constellations proving as vulnerable as a child before him.

Luan Xiao'e was even more astounded that such an incredible feat was possible.

When she was a Star Constellation, her strength was comparable to Shi Chuan's. She had believed that level was nearly the limit for Star Constellations, unaware that she was merely a frog in a well, perceiving the sky as only as wide as its opening.

She had originally intended for Shi Chuan to humble this Lu Yiye from the Nine Heavens Realm. Now, not only had he failed to suppress him, but he had allowed Lu Ye to showcase his overwhelming power instead.

She had clearly perceived that Shi Chuan's defeat wasn't merely due to a lack of physical strength, but also because his spiritual power shattered instantly upon clashing with Lu Ye's. In other words, Lu Yiye's spiritual power was far more refined and potent than Shi Chuan's.

With both physical and spiritual strength inferior, how could Shi Chuan possibly contend in such a direct, unadorned clash?

Furthermore, when Lu Yiye from the Nine Heavens Realm struck, he had used the back of his saber! Shi Chuan might not have even realized this, but it certainly did not escape her or Wu Zhuo's perception.

Lu Ye used the back of his saber because he feared damaging Shi Chuan's spiritual treasure blade. His current Mountain Stopper Saber, having been transformed from a Weapon Clan member, possessed a sharpness far beyond that of ordinary spiritual treasures. Such a collision could easily harm an opponent's weapon.

Lu Ye merely wanted to showcase the strength of cultivators from the Nine Provinces; he had no intention of making enemies, so he naturally held back.

Shi Chuan stood beside Luan Xiao'e, his saber-gripping hand still trembling violently. The web between his thumb and forefinger had split open, bleeding, and his face alternated between pallor and flush, clearly indicating he hadn't yet recovered from his swift defeat.

Before he had even struck, he had considered whether to save Lu Ye some face and not be too aggressive. He never expected that it would be *he* who was utterly suppressed.

After a long moment of silence, Shi Chuan finally took a deep breath and bowed formally to Lu Ye, saying, "I've been taught!"

It is common for cultivators to experience defeat in contests. As one of the most outstanding Star Constellations of Jade Snail's generation, Shi Chuan's ability to quickly adjust his mindset and learn from the experience demonstrated his excellent character as a cultivator.

Luan Xiao'e added, "Victory and defeat are common in martial arts. It's fortunate to encounter someone stronger than yourself, for only then will you have a goal to strive for and pursue in your cultivation!"

"Yes!" Shi Chuan replied, glancing at Lu Ye once more before withdrawing.

Lu Ye clasped his hands and bowed, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wu!"

Wu Zhuo returned the bow. The last time he first met Lu Ye, he had considered testing his capabilities to see if he was worthy of being called a fellow Daoist. However, after witnessing Lu Ye's battle with Shi Chuan today, he understood that once Lu Ye ascended to the Moon-Gatherer realm, he would undoubtedly possess strength equal to his own.

For someone like Lu Ye, ascending to the Moon-Gatherer realm would likely be no challenge; he certainly possessed the qualifications to be addressed as a fellow Daoist. Wu Zhuo then took the initiative to introduce, "This is Luan Xiao'e from the Jade Snail Realm, Fellow Daoist Luan!"

Lu Ye bowed again, saying, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Luan!"

Luan Xiao'e merely nodded gently without speaking, though a hint of curiosity was clearly discernible in her cool eyes.

She truly had never encountered a Star Constellation quite like Lu Ye.

"Please, have a seat," Wu Zhuo gestured.

Lu Ye accepted without formality, taking a seat below Wu Zhuo, directly across from Luan Xiao'e.

"Fellow Daoist, allow me to explain the arrangements between the Azure Reed and Jade Snail Realms," Wu Zhuo offered.

"Please do, Hall Master Wu," Lu Ye replied.

Wu Zhuo explained, "After you departed last time, I made an urgent trip to the Jade Snail Realm. They expressed great interest in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, and thus decided that Fellow Daoist Luan would lead a contingent of one hundred Star Constellations. Those individuals are currently awaiting in my Azure Reed Dao Realm. As for my own realm, we will also dispatch one hundred Star Constellations, bringing the total number to two hundred from both the Jade Snail and Azure Reed Realms. Unfortunately, I must remain to oversee my own realm and cannot accompany you, which is truly a pity, as I will miss witnessing the grandeur of the Myriad Manifestations Sea firsthand."

The Jade Snail Realm's decision to send a hundred Star Constellations was a cautious one, given their complete lack of knowledge about the Myriad Manifestations Sea. A late-stage Moon-Gatherer leading the expedition was deemed sufficient.

The Azure Reed Dao Realm also only dispatched one hundred individuals, likely due to the Jade Snail Realm's limit, to avoid sending too many.

Wu Zhuo added, "However, rest assured, Fellow Daoist, fully thirty percent of the Star Constellations dispatched by both my Azure Reed Dao Realm and the Jade Snail Realm are late-stage, while the remaining seventy percent are mid-stage Star Constellations!"

Lu Ye nodded and said, "As for the personnel arrangements from your two realms, please decide as you see fit. This tripartite cooperation to venture into the Myriad Manifestations Sea is merely a beginning. We can assess the situation and make further decisions once we see results in the future."

"That was my thinking as well," Wu Zhuo agreed.

Luan Xiao'e suddenly interjected, "How many people does the Nine Heavens Realm intend to send?"

"Three hundred in total," Lu Ye replied, "but all are early-stage Star Constellations, so their cultivation cannot compare to those from your two realms."

"Is the Nine Heavens Realm truly a recently promoted large realm?" Luan Xiao'e asked. She hadn't doubted Wu Zhuo's previous statement that the Nine Heavens Realm was newly advanced. However, after witnessing Lu Ye's strength and cultivation, she felt a renewed sense of confusion, and hearing now that the Nine Heavens Realm was dispatching only early-stage Star Constellations left her utterly perplexed.

"Our realm ascended to a large realm less than ten years ago!" Lu Ye replied earnestly.

"But Fellow Daoist's cultivation..." Luan Xiao'e began.

A newly promoted large realm shouldn't possibly have late-stage Star Constellations.

"The Myriad Manifestations Sea is vast and encompasses everything; in such a place, any miracle can occur!" Lu Ye explained. "Not long after I ascended to Star Constellation, I found myself drifting into the Myriad Manifestations Sea, and my current cultivation was also developed there."

This wasn't entirely a fabrication; he had indeed cultivated in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, though the method he employed was beyond others' ability to replicate.

As for the "miracles" part, Luan Xiao'e could interpret it as she pleased.