Chapter 1810: Life and Destiny (With Notice)

The cultivators approaching were not in perfect condition, appearing to have just been through a major battle and looking quite disheveled.

Upon seeing Lu Ye approaching, the leading Moon-Tier cultivator immediately stepped forward, clasping his fists from a distance. "I am Lin Ran of Myriad Essence," he said, "greetings, fellow Daoist!"

Lin Ran had previously seen Lu Ye from afar because, a few days earlier, when Lu Ye guided the core into that chaotic battlefield, he was seated atop it without concealing his presence. Thus, many cultivators had seen him from a distance.

For the Myriad Essence Realm, the removal of one of the two Insect Race Sun-Tier cultivators and the breaching of the insect nest were undoubtedly a tremendous help. Without it, the Myriad Essence Realm would likely be in ruins by now. Therefore, even though Lin Ran didn't know Lu Ye's background, he appeared profoundly grateful upon seeing him; this was, after all, a genuine act of salvation.

The cultivators who had followed him also bowed in unison.

Lu Ye returned the greeting, saying, "Lu Ye, from Jade Snail."

He had initially intended to check on the battle situation, but upon seeing Lin Ran and his companions, he realized there was no need. If the battle hadn't concluded, these few people wouldn't have come over. From their demeanor, it was clear they were searching for him.

Myriad Essence Realm must have won.

Despite his conjecture, Lu Ye still asked a question.

As expected, Lin Ran informed him that the Insect Race had retreated.

The Insect Race's greatest assets were their two Sun-Tier cultivators and the insect nest. However, with one Sun-Tier cultivator mysteriously gone and the insect nest shattered, they instantly lost all their advantages.

Numerous cultivators from the Myriad Essence Realm rose up in resistance, slaying countless Insect Race members.

The remaining Insect Race Sun-Tier cultivator, seeing the unfavorable situation, immediately retreated. He was likely wary of Lu Ye, as his companion's disappearance was too strange. Before he could ascertain his companion's whereabouts or whether they were alive, he dared not linger outside the Myriad Essence Realm.

Although Myriad Essence Realm won this battle and preserved their realm, their losses were considerable. Their own Sun-Tier cultivator was severely wounded and was currently recuperating within the realm.

"I was dispatched by Uncle-Master Qin Jiang to investigate, Fellow Daoist Lu," Lin Ran said, looking at Lu Ye. "That Insect Race Sun-Tier cultivator..." Qin Jiang, whom he mentioned, was undoubtedly the Myriad Essence Realm's own Sun-Tier cultivator.

Lu Ye replied, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, that Insect Race Sun-Tier cultivator is dead."

Lin Ran and the other human cultivators were overjoyed, quickly asking, "May I ask which senior lent a hand?"

It wasn't that he looked down on Lu Ye; it was simply that Lu Ye's mid-Moon-Tier cultivation was evident at a glance, and the gap between him and a Sun-Tier cultivator was far too vast for him to have accomplished such a feat.

Lu Ye also realized this. After a brief pause, he replied, "My esteemed master personally intervened and slew him." Since it wasn't appropriate to claim the kill himself, fabricating someone else was the easiest option.

Lin Ran's expression showed understanding. He glanced behind Lu Ye, then asked, "May I ask where your esteemed master is now...?"

Lu Ye replied without hesitation, "My master sustained injuries during a fierce struggle with the enemy and is currently recuperating. He instructed me to check on the progress of your battle."

Lin Ran's expression tightened. He asked with concern, "Are the injuries severe?"

"Not too severe," Lu Ye replied.

"If you don't mind," Lin Ran pressed, "could we invite your esteemed master to the Myriad Essence Realm for healing? Our realm will provide the best healing resources, and Uncle-Master Qin Jiang also wishes to express his gratitude in person."

Lu Ye shook his head. "That won't be necessary. My master's temperament is... rather reclusive, and he's not very accustomed to interacting with others. Since the battle in your realm has concluded, my master and I will not linger here. Fellow Daoist, take care!"

Lu Ye clasped his fists and turned to leave.

Lin Ran grew anxious. "Fellow Daoist, please wait! We cannot repay such a great kindness. Please allow us to do something, no matter what, or I won't be able to explain it to Uncle-Master Qin Jiang when I return."

Lu Ye stopped and turned to look at him. Just as he was about to refuse, he suddenly seemed to remember something. "In that case," he said, "please collect some fire-attributed resources, Fellow Daoist. My master has great use for them!" He had completely exhausted all his fire-attributed resources, and even the fuel reserves of his Talent Tree were depleted. He had originally planned to replenish them later, but now that he had the chance, he could acquire some to make do.

Furthermore, while this battle didn't significantly deplete his personal resources, it actually consumed the core world's foundation!

The power used to seal the Insect Race Sun-Tier cultivator came from the core world's foundation. This was also why Lu Ye used the "Grand Windmill" secret technique at the last moment, as sealing a Sun-Tier cultivator consumed a significant portion of the core world's foundation. The sooner the opponent was dealt with, the sooner this consumption would cease.

Otherwise, Lu Ye could have slowly worn down that Sun-Tier cultivator to death without needing to take any risks at all.

When a realm's foundation is depleted, its recovery is quite troublesome. Lu Ye was merely asking Myriad Essence Realm for some fire-attributed resources, which was nothing compared to the consumption of his realm's foundation.

Lin Ran's eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded. "Fellow Daoist, please wait."

As he spoke, he took out a sound-transmitting talisman, sent a message, and gave some instructions.

Soon, he looked at Lu Ye again. "The realm will dedicate all efforts to collecting fire-attributed resources and deliver them within half a day."

While waiting, Lin Ran chatted with Lu Ye, repeatedly suggesting that he wished to meet the non-existent master to express his gratitude in person. However, Lu Ye managed to fend him off each time.

Lu Ye also thought of a question. "Although this battle was won, how will you cope if the Insect Race returns?"

The Insect Race Sun-Tier cultivator didn't die; he escaped. There's no guarantee he won't find other insect nests and lead them to the Myriad Essence Realm.

This might take a long time, but that day could very likely come.

Lin Ran couldn't help but sigh. "There aren't many good ways to deal with it. We can only strive to cultivate harder. Hopefully, when that day comes, our realm will have enough power to protect itself."

Lu Ye remained silent. He had been in the right place at the right time to help Myriad Essence Realm and save them from dire straits, but next time, they wouldn't be so lucky. They truly had to rely on their own efforts.

The Insect and Blood races are the most infamous races in the starry sky. Relatively speaking, the Insect Race poses a greater threat than the Blood Race, which is related to their respective modes of survival.

The Blood Race possesses several realms, all formed from the remnants of the Blood Ancestor's body after his death. These realms are essentially fixed. Even when the Blood Race embarks on external conquests, they merely abduct living beings to bring back and cultivate, ensuring a supply of blood sustenance.

The Insect Race, however, is different. This race has no fixed place of rest. They typically use their insect nests as a base, drifting throughout the starry sky. If they encounter any suitable targets for invasion along the way, they will initiate war.

However, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes, Blood Race members can also be found within insect nests, and these two races often engage in cooperation.

Half a day later, a cultivator hurried from the direction of the Myriad Essence Realm, bringing several storage rings and handing them to Lin Ran.

Lin Ran briefly inspected them and then passed them to Lu Ye.

"Fellow Daoist, are you truly unable to invite your esteemed master to the Myriad Essence Realm for healing?" Lin Ran asked, making a final effort.

Lu Ye shook his head. "I appreciate your kind offer, Fellow Daoist. My master and I have no fixed abode and wander across the four directions. As fellow humans, it is our duty to assist our brethren in distress. As for coming to your realm for healing, that won't be necessary. My master is currently in meditation, and it would be inappropriate to disturb him rashly."

Lin Ran sighed deeply. "Your esteemed master's righteousness is profound! All of Myriad Essence Realm will engrave this in our hearts. If we are destined to meet again in the future, we will surely repay this kindness."

"Until we meet again," Lu Ye said, clasping his fists. He took the rings and flashed away.

Lin Ran and the others watched him leave.

A moment later, Lu Ye returned to the core's location, sat cross-legged upon it, and with a thought, guided the core to continue his journey.

While traveling, he refined the fire-attributed resources he had acquired from Myriad Essence Realm, finishing them within a few days.

Checking his Talent Tree, Lu Ye felt a little more at ease. The lack of fuel in the Talent Tree had made him feel uneasy, and now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

However, this amount of fuel was not enough for his immediate needs. He hadn't actually fully refined the Ancestral Blood mixed in his origin and would have to figure that out later. At the very least, he needed to settle the core first.

Another storage ring appeared in his hand; this one was left behind by the deceased Insect Race Sun-Tier cultivator.

Lu Ye was filled with anticipation for the legacy of a Sun-Tier cultivator and focused on breaking the storage ring's restrictive lock.

More than half a day later, when the ring's restrictive lock was finally broken, Lu Ye inspected its contents and couldn't help but frown.

The legacy within the ring was vastly different from what he expected; there was hardly anything valuable inside, and even spirit jades and spirit crystals were scarce!

Upon closer thought, this was not surprising.

The Insect Race's mode of survival dictated that their powerful cultivators would not carry many resources on them. The resources they acquired were generally invested into the insect nest, which could transform them into nutrients. The Insect Race's cultivation, healing, and growth all took place within the insect nest.

This was somewhat similar to his own method of storing fuel in his Talent Tree, except that the insect nest stored nutrients derived from the Insect Race's acquired resources.

Now, the vast accumulation of nutrients from countless resources had also vanished with the shattering of the insect nest.

Lu Ye felt quite helpless.

Traveling onward, the core finally reached its designated location.

In the void, Lu Ye's divine sense surged. Using the Seven-Colored Divine Lotus in his sea of consciousness, he connected with the Soul Race ancestral land. As time passed, that subtle connection grew increasingly stronger.

Until a certain moment, a portal suddenly opened in the void ahead.

Lu Ye guided the core and plunged through the portal.

After a moment of dizziness and disorientation, when he regained his senses, familiar scenery greeted his eyes.

The Soul Race ancestral land—he had arrived!

At the same time, on Immortal Spirit Peak in Fangcun Mountain to the east, Su Yuqing, who was meditating with her eyes closed, suddenly opened her eyes, revealing a puzzled expression.

Just at that moment, she had suddenly felt a strange anomaly, one she had never experienced before.

Not just her, but on Misty Peak, Wu Qimo, who was watching the surging sea of clouds, also showed a look of surprise and doubt at the same time.

On Cloud Sea Peak, Chen Xuanhai stood with his hands behind his back. He suddenly looked up at the sky, his eyebrows raised. After a slight contemplation, he suddenly shot into the sky.

Sensing Chen Xuanhai's movement, Su Yuqing and Wu Qimo also moved in unison and rushed towards the sky.

The three Sun-Tier cultivators already had a conjecture, but they still needed to verify it with their own eyes.

Even powerful cultivators like them now looked excited and expectant, because if their conjecture proved true, it would be a joyous event that the Spirit Race had anticipated for countless years!

Sickness truly strikes like a collapsing mountain... Yesterday, it was just a sore throat, but by the afternoon, I started having a fever. The fever lasted all night, and when I woke up this morning, both my eye sockets were aching, and my whole body felt sore and weak. I need to go to the hospital.

Therefore, only one update today. Please forgive me.

(End of this chapter)