Chapter 1647: The Building Collapsed

Lu Ye returned to Three Realms Island. His physique was already tempered to its peak, so there was no need to remain underwater any longer.

As he passed through the portal, he saw several Merfolk women waiting nearby. Upon seeing Lu Ye, they bowed gracefully before diving into the portal and returning to their Merfolk territory.

During the time he spent cultivating underwater, Lu Ye hadn't returned, but he opened the portal every few days. Merfolk who had their curse-poison resolved by him needed to use the portal to travel between the sea surface and the underwater world.

Consequently, Three Realms Island now hosted not only cultivators from the Three Realms but also some Merfolk. They traveled together, enjoying the scenery above the sea, which greatly broadened their horizons. However, only Merfolk women dared to venture out; male Merfolk could only wander around Three Realms Island.

This was because Merfolk women appeared no different from humans on the surface, except they were all exceptionally beautiful. Merfolk men, however, were different; they had fierce, intimidating appearances. Although they could also transform into human forms, it was ultimately inappropriate for them to show their faces outside. Wandering around Three Realms Island was still acceptable.

Extending his divine sense, Lu Ye noticed that while the number of cultivators on Three Realms Island had increased slightly, the overall liveliness had significantly decreased.

The basic infrastructure of Three Realms Island was already complete. Although the island had not yet reached the level of a mid-grade spirit island, the accumulation over these past months brought it close. Furthermore, with a stable source of spirit jade income, most Three Realms cultivators were focused on their cultivation.

As a result, the entire spirit island naturally appeared quieter, with fewer signs of people moving about.

Lu Ye estimated that at this rate, Three Realms Island would definitely be promoted to a mid-grade spirit island in another month or two. At that point, Three Realms cultivators practicing there would not only benefit from spirit jade but also from the island's own resources, significantly boosting their cultivation efficiency! It would be even more remarkable when it eventually advanced to a high-grade spirit island.

As Lu Ye appeared, Luan Xiao'e and Tang Jun arrived almost simultaneously.

Old Tang looked at Lu Ye, who hadn't shown himself in a long time: "You finally decided to come back, kid."

"My cultivation delayed me for a while," Lu Ye casually explained.

Tang Jun clearly didn't believe him. It was said that Lu Ye had a very good relationship with the Merfolk princess, and he had been staying underwater without returning. Who knew if he was just caught in a "land of tenderness"? A Merfolk princess...

Tang Jun's expression turned serious: "I have something to tell you."

Lu Ye nodded: "Coincidentally, I also have something to tell you both."

Luan Xiao'e said, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to the council hall."

A short while later, the three island masters of Three Realms Island gathered in the council hall.

Lu Ye took out the spirit tea that Hua Qianying had given him, brewed a pot, and poured cups for Luan Xiao'e and Tang Jun.

Tang Jun took a sip and found the tea to be excellent. He then simply took the teapot for himself. He was quite worldly; when he served as an elder worshipper on Unrivaled Island, many factions sought connections through him and gave him a lot of good tea. Yet, compared to the tea before him, all those other spirit teas seemed inferior.

It felt as if drinking this tea significantly calmed his mind. Long-term consumption could even enhance cultivation and improve strength. This was very rare, considering he was a mid-stage Moonfall realm cultivator. Ordinary spirit tea would only offer a taste to him, having no other effects whatsoever. Lu Ye's tea was clearly of a high grade. What a rich guy!

"What did you two want to discuss?" Lu Ye asked while sipping his tea.

Luan Xiao'e said, "It's not really a big deal, and it's not our own matter either."

Tang Jun interjected, "It's about Heavenflame Island."

"What happened to Heavenflame Island?" Lu Ye had his suspicions, but he still asked.

Tang Jun, holding the teapot, chuckled: "Heavenflame Island shows signs of weakening in its grade. I specifically went to check a few days ago, and it's true; Heavenflame Island is probably just a high-grade spirit island now."

He looked gleeful, clearly in a very good mood.

Heavenflame Island was formerly Unrivaled Island, which he had lost. Even though Lu Ye said it was fine if the island was lost as long as everyone was safe, it was, after all, a top-grade spirit island. Tang Jun might have appeared to accept it outwardly, but inwardly, he wasn't that open-minded. He constantly thought about when he could reclaim Heavenflame Island, yet he also knew the idea was unrealistic. Heavenflame Realm was a native realm, backed by an entire Myriad Manifestation Galaxy. Who could conquer it?

A few days ago, he suddenly heard that Heavenflame Island had changed, so he immediately went to investigate. He found that Heavenflame Island truly was just a high-grade spirit island now, and he was overjoyed, believing it to be retribution for Heavenflame Realm.

The changes in Heavenflame Island couldn't be hidden from attentive individuals. It was originally a commercial spirit island with countless cultivators coming and going, so the news simply couldn't be contained.

While a high-grade spirit island and a top-grade spirit island were only one level apart, in reality, they were worlds apart. One lacked a spirit jade mine, while the other possessed one, making their values incomparably different.

Spirit islands, from low-grade to high-grade, represented only improvements in quality, not fundamental changes. Only upon becoming a top-grade spirit island did a truly fundamental transformation occur.

Otherwise, Heavenflame Realm wouldn't have gone to such lengths to seize Unrivaled Island. They ultimately had to consider Jiuyan's reputation, but the allure of a top-grade spirit island was something no one could ignore.

"And I heard that Heavenflame Island's situation continues to change. If one day it turns into a mid-grade spirit island, then a low-grade, and then a barren island... Hehe, then there'll be a good show to watch!" By seizing Unrivaled Island, Heavenflame Island had offended Jiuyan. If a perfectly good top-grade spirit island were to degrade into a low-grade or even a barren island, it would truly be a case of "losing the wife and losing the army." No wonder Tang Jun was so delighted.

Lu Ye had long anticipated this situation.

The prosperity of Unrivaled Island was due to the Minor Star Palace. When he retrieved the Minor Star Palace that day, Unrivaled Island was bound to revert to its original state sooner or later. It had managed to sustain itself because it had accumulated a lot of stellar energy previously, but now, with only consumption and no accumulation, its grade naturally continued to decline.

It had now fallen from a top-grade spirit island to a high-grade one, and its degradation speed would only accelerate from now on. In less than half a year, Heavenflame Island would become a barren island. Lu Ye wondered what the powerful cultivators of Heavenflame Realm would think then.

"Kid, it really did turn out just as you said back then," Tang Jun said, chuckling.

When Lu Ye parted ways with Chu Shen outside Chime Realm, he told Chu Shen, "Watch him build his tall mansion, watch him feast his guests, and watch his mansion collapse." Now, hadn't that mansion indeed collapsed?

As he spoke, Tang Jun's expression suddenly turned serious.

Thinking it over carefully, something seemed amiss...

Unrivaled Island only began to flourish and gradually transform into a top-grade spirit island after Lu Ye took residence there. After Unrivaled Island was conquered and Lu Ye returned, a perfectly good top-grade spirit island degraded into a high-grade one within a few months, effectively reversing its progress.

Meanwhile, a barren island like Three Realms Island mysteriously came alive, and its quality was improving, just like Unrivaled Island back then.

Tang Jun's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but glance at Lu Ye.

Could Lu Ye somehow be involved in all of this? Otherwise, how could things be so coincidental?

And when Three Realms Island was chosen to build Unrivaled Island's foundation, Lu Ye seemed certain that this barren island could come alive. Indeed, his judgment proved to be accurate.

But this didn't seem to be merely a matter of good judgment.

Yet, if the changes in Three Realms Island and Heavenflame Island genuinely had something to do with Lu Ye, Tang Jun found it hard to comprehend.

What kind of astonishing method was this, capable of changing the quality of spirit islands at will!

"Kid, you..." Tang Jun began. Lu Ye turned to look, and seeing Tang Jun hesitate for a moment, he finally said, "Never mind!"

Regardless of whether this had anything to do with Lu Ye, it was ultimately something he was pleased to see. Moreover, if Lu Ye truly possessed such an incredible ability, it was better not to inquire too much.

"Is this what you two wanted to talk about?" Lu Ye asked.

Tang Jun nodded. Yes, that was it, nothing else. Three Realms Island had been peaceful recently, with the Constellation realm cultivators focused on their practice. The only difference from before was the frequent presence of Merfolk.

"What did you want to discuss?" Tang Jun asked, remembering Lu Ye's earlier words.

"I'll be leaving for a while," Lu Ye said. He had mentioned this to them before, but the time wasn't right then, as he had other matters to attend to and couldn't leave. Now, all his tasks were complete, and his Constellation realm cultivation had reached its peak. It was time for him to pursue higher realms.

Luan Xiao'e asked, "How long will you be gone?"

Though Lu Ye was only at the Constellation realm, much weaker than him in cultivation, he had been the backbone of the Three Realms cultivators ever since arriving in the Star Constellation Sea. All the current changes on Three Realms Island were brought about by his efforts. Among other things, if he hadn't facilitated the trade with the Merfolk, how would Three Realms cultivators have such abundant spirit jade for cultivation now? And the defensive array of Three Realms Island would never have been adequately funded.

In comparison, Luan Xiao'e felt quite useless, having nothing to offer except her late-stage Moonfall cultivation.

Lu Ye shook his head: "I don't know yet, but it won't be too soon."

He wasn't sure where the Soul Clan ancestral land was. He first had to send Li Shang back before he could attend to his own matters and visit that Yin-Yang Great Mill.

Luan Xiao'e pondered for a moment before speaking: "This island is currently undergoing continuous revitalization. According to Daoist Tang's past experience, if this continues, the island is expected to be promoted to a high-grade spirit island within a year! Even if it only reaches mid-grade, it will still be attractive enough to outside cultivators. However, our Three Realms cultivators' foundation might not be able to withstand overly powerful opponents. What should we do if enemies attack?"

Tang Jun chimed in, "That's right, Yi Ye. Daoist Luan and I have been concerned about this lately. Your relationship with the Merfolk is good, so could you ask them to help us if needed? Of course, if everything remains peaceful, there'll be no issue."

They knew Lu Ye had a good relationship with the Merfolk, but they weren't sure just how good it was.

Hearing this, Lu Ye said, "You two don't need to worry about that. Although the Merfolk's base is underwater, our Three Realms Island also serves as a transit point for them to come to the surface. If they want to come above the sea, they must pass through Three Realms Island. I once helped the Merfolk with a small matter, and now we have long-term trade cooperation. They can be considered Three Realms Island's most steadfast allies. If this island ever faces trouble, you can simply ask the Merfolk for assistance."