Chapter 1699: Wuzhuo's Shock

Hua Qianying thought for a moment and shook her head. "I won't go for now. The Flower Realm has just stabilized, and Hua Niang was only recently born. I want to stay longer, and we can discuss it another day."

"Very well then. I'll have to ask you to take good care of the Nine Provinces for now."

Lu Ye left the Flower Realm with Little Nine, holding it in his arms and rubbing it. "Well done!"

"Hehe," Little Nine chuckled triumphantly. "Now you shouldn't have to spend so much time on the road."

Little Nine knew the route from the Nine Provinces to the Myriad Manifestations Sea, as Lu Ye had told it the details. So, after learning about Hua Niang's abilities, Little Nine had an idea.

Lu Ye was now a Moon-tier cultivator, and he also had a Blood Servant, Ma Shangsi. If only the two of them, both Moon-tier, traveled, it would naturally be much faster and more convenient than traveling with a group of Star-tier cultivators.

For one thing, the risk of passing through the Chaotic Blast Zone would be significantly reduced.

Naturally, Hua Niang was completely obedient to Little Nine. Thus, at Little Nine's urging, Lu Ye received the Small Flower Realm as a gift.

What Little Nine didn't know was that its and Hua Niang's actions this time would be even more helpful than it had imagined.

Because with the Small Flower Realm, Lu Ye wouldn't need to take his previous route to the Myriad Manifestations Sea; he could simply pass through the Soul Clan Ancestral Land!

This would save even more time and effort.

In a flash, Lu Ye had already finalized his plan for the journey to the Myriad Manifestations Sea.

In Tianzhou, before the Nine Provinces Guardian Hall, three hundred Star-tier cultivators gathered, eagerly awaiting.

A figure appeared out of thin air. The many Star-tier cultivators looked over; who else could it be but Lu Ye? They enthusiastically greeted him.

After a brief exchange of greetings with everyone, Lu Ye directly opened the portal to the Small Flower Realm. Although the Star-tier cultivators didn't know what it was, they eagerly entered one by one.

A short while later, all three hundred Star-tier cultivators had entered the Small Flower Realm.

Lu Ye quietly sensed it and found that, based on the Small Flower Realm's capacity, it could accommodate roughly five hundred more early-stage Star-tier cultivators like those from the Nine Provinces before reaching its limit.

In other words, the Small Flower Realm could accommodate nearly eight hundred early-stage Star-tier cultivators. If these cultivators were mid- or late-stage, the number it could hold would be significantly reduced.

If it were to accommodate Moon-tier cultivators, the number would be even smaller.

Zhang Yuan looked at Lu Ye with a bitter smile. "Yi Ye, when you come back next time, you absolutely must take me with you."

He also wanted to go to the Myriad Manifestations Sea, but unfortunately, his one-year term as Guardian had not yet expired. As a result, he didn't even get a chance to draw lots this time, which was truly disheartening.

Lu Ye smiled and readily agreed, "Okay!"

Now with the Small Flower Realm and the ability to pass through the Soul Clan Ancestral Land, traveling between the Myriad Manifestations Sea and the Nine Provinces wouldn't be as troublesome as before.

Bidding farewell to Zhang Yuan, Lu Ye's figure shot up into the sky.

He soon rendezvoused with Ma Shangsi, who was waiting outside the Nine Provinces. Lu Ye handed him the star map of Jade Snail, instructing him to follow the route.

The starship transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards the depths of the starry sky.

Last time he left, Lu Ye was still a bit worried about Little Nine, but this time there was no need. With Hua Niang as its companion, it would no longer be lonely.

Lu Ye planned to visit the Green Dawn Dao Realm first to see Wu Zhuo. If the Green Dawn Dao Realm was interested, he could help bring more people to the Myriad Manifestations Sea. However, if Wu Zhuo had no such intention, then that would be fine.

With Ma Shangsi, a peak Moon-tier cultivator, piloting the starship, Lu Ye was much more at ease. He focused on refining spirit jade for cultivation, while simultaneously using the power of the Talent Tree to deduce spirit runes.

Through his efforts over the years, he had largely deduced the spirit runes he previously possessed. There was no need to expend energy on those that weren't particularly useful.

The spirit rune he was now deducing was none other than the Spirit Rune of the Drawn Blade Slash.

The spirit rune passed down by Wang Xiu was very peculiar. It was likely something he had researched himself, but to Lu Ye, the entire rune seemed too cumbersome, requiring too many Yin and Yang elements to construct.

So, if this spirit rune were to be crafted into a scabbard, simplifying it would undoubtedly be better.

Of course, it would be even better if the power of the spirit rune could be enhanced.

Relying solely on Lu Ye's own mastery of the spirit rune path, he naturally couldn't achieve such a feat. Wang Xiu, as the creator of this spirit rune, possessed a mastery of the spirit rune path far beyond what Lu Ye currently had. Thus, improving the Drawn Blade Slash spirit rune was certainly not an easy task.

However, with the help of the Talent Tree, it was a different story. The Talent Tree's ability to deduce spirit runes was incomparably profound, making this endeavor highly promising.

Last time Lu Ye traveled from the Nine Provinces to the Green Dawn Dao Realm, it took him nearly three months.

But this time, it took less than half a month.

Lu Ye didn't directly force his way into the realm; instead, he greeted Wu Zhuo from outside. Only after receiving a response did he enter the Green Dawn Dao Realm.

This was also a matter of courtesy. Although the three major realms of the Jade Snail star system were now very close and unified in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, proper etiquette was still necessary when visiting someone else's home.

In front of the Divine Martial Hall, Wu Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, looking out. A starship broke through the air and stopped nearby. Lu Ye leaped down from the starship and spoke first: "Hall Master Wu!"

Sensing the fleeting spiritual power fluctuation from Lu Ye's body, Wu Zhuo froze on the spot, his face full of shock. "You... how are you Moon-tier now?"

After their last encounter, he knew that the Nine Heavens Realm was a newly ascended large realm. It was already astonishing enough for such a realm to produce a late-stage Star-tier cultivator in just over a decade. To see Lu Ye already at the Moon-tier today was incredible!

Wu Zhuo simply couldn't believe his eyes.

But the spiritual power fluctuations couldn't be faked; Wu Zhuo was certain that Lu Ye had indeed reached the Moon-tier.

"The Myriad Manifestations Sea really nurtures people," Lu Ye casually joked.

Wu Zhuo's eye twitched. Even if the legendary Myriad Manifestations Sea was truly nurturing, it couldn't possibly allow someone to advance to the Moon-tier so quickly. Furthermore, Wu Zhuo inexplicably felt a hint of pressure from Lu Ye.

And this was even without Lu Ye actively using any power.

He faintly felt that Lu Ye must have had some great fortuitous encounter; otherwise, his cultivation progress couldn't have been so fast.

"And this is..." Wu Zhuo then looked at Ma Shangsi, who was following Lu Ye and had put away the starship.

Another Moon-tier cultivator! And not just an ordinary one; Wu Zhuo could clearly sense the profound depth of Ma Shangsi's foundation.

Lu Ye explained, "A friend."

Ma Shangsi smiled at Wu Zhuo, cupping his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Hall Master Wu."

Wu Zhuo returned the bow: "You're too kind, fellow Daoist!" He secretly guessed that this late-Moon-tier cultivator was probably a friend Lu Ye had met in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, and by the looks of their relationship, they seemed quite close.

In just a few short years, the young junior who had struggled under his pressure had transformed, now having the qualifications to stand as his equal. Wu Zhuo couldn't help but feel a bit dazed... Was he getting old?

"Please, come inside first." Wu Zhuo composed himself and gestured with his hand.

A short while later, host and guests were seated. Wu Zhuo ordered spirit fruits and fragrant tea to be served, and then asked, "How are things... in the Myriad Manifestations Sea?"

He was actually quite concerned about the situation in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, but unfortunately, he was unable to go and investigate personally.

Lu Ye nodded and said, "Everything is well."

He then detailed the situation of the Three Realms Island. Hearing that the cultivators from the Three Realms had quickly established themselves there and now even possessed a medium-grade spirit island, Wu Zhuo couldn't help but be lost in thought.

In his mind, with the limited foundation of their star system, survival in the Myriad Manifestations Sea would surely be difficult. Even with Tang Jun and Luan Xiao'e, two Moon-tier cultivators, holding down the fort, it would be good enough if they could occupy a desolate island as a foothold. Who would have thought that in just a few years, they had actually occupied a medium-grade spirit island?

Moreover, according to Lu Ye, that medium-grade spirit island was still recovering and even had the potential to become a high-grade spirit island in the future.

What kind of luck was this?

While excited, he couldn't help but worry: "As you said, fellow Daoist, can the cultivators of the Three Realms defend Three Realms Island?"

He had never been to the Myriad Manifestations Sea, but Lu Ye had talked a lot about it during his last visit. Furthermore, Tang Jun had previously entrusted Lu Ye with a jade slip for him, which also contained a large amount of information about the Myriad Manifestations Sea.

So, Wu Zhuo had some understanding of the Myriad Manifestations Sea.

If the Three Realms cultivators only occupied a desolate island, that would be fine, as no one was interested in desolate islands, and there would generally be no trouble. But a medium-grade spirit island... that would definitely attract attention.

"Hall Master Wu, please rest assured on that point. Three Realms Island is not without backing over there; we also have an ally."

Wu Zhuo pondered for a moment, misunderstanding: "The cultivators from the Four Directions Star System?"

Lu Ye shook his head: "A tribe of merfolk living in the Myriad Manifestations Sea!"

The cultivators from the Four Directions Star System were stirring up trouble everywhere and had made many enemies, so Three Realms Island was not in a good position to establish contact with them for now.

"Living in the Myriad Manifestations Sea! Merfolk!" Wu Zhuo was bewildered. Hadn't he been told that the Myriad Manifestations Sea's water was extremely corrosive, so much so that even Sun-tier cultivators couldn't delve deep? How could merfolk live there?

"It's a long story. If you have the chance later, Hall Master Wu, you'll know if you go there yourself. In any case, the defensive strength of Three Realms Island is not weak; ordinary forces won't be able to conquer it." Lu Ye reassured him. "I came here this time because I want to bring some more people over to reinforce the strength of Three Realms Island. How many people can the Green Dawn Dao Realm send?"

Wu Zhuo regained his composure and didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Have you been to the Jade Snail Realm, fellow Daoist?"

Lu Ye shook his head: "I came from my homeland, arrived here first, and will go to Jade Snail next."

Wu Zhuo understood and then asked, "How many people did your realm dispatch this time?"

Lu Ye said, "The same as last time, three hundred Star-tier cultivators."

Wu Zhuo listened and pondered slightly: "How about two hundred? If that's not enough, then we can also dispatch three hundred Star-tier cultivators, just like your realm!"

Lu Ye was the leader, and by the looks of it, Three Realms Island was indeed developing well in the Myriad Manifestations Sea. If possible, Wu Zhuo naturally wanted to send more people. However, since Lu Ye, as the leader, only brought three hundred people from his own realm, it would not be appropriate for the Green Dawn Dao Realm to dispatch more.

"We don't need that many. My capacity is limited this time, and I can't bring so many people. Your realm can send one hundred people, just like last time."

Although the Small Flower Realm could still accommodate about five hundred early-stage Star-tier cultivators, the cultivators dispatched by the Green Dawn Dao Realm wouldn't all be early-stage; there would definitely be mid- and late-stage ones. Therefore, Lu Ye felt that one hundred people was just right, as he still needed to save some spots for the Jade Snail Realm.

"Alright!" Wu Zhuo didn't have many objections. If Lu Ye said a hundred people, then it would be a hundred people. He immediately sent out a message, instructing the Star-tier cultivators of the Green Dawn Dao Realm to prepare.