Chapter 1853: The Number One Person Under the Sunlight

Today, the Myriad Manifestations Sea was exceptionally lively because another major event had occurred: Purple Jade, a top-tier Spirit Island, had suddenly launched an attack on Three Realms Island. This operation involved three late-stage Moon Bloom cultivators and four thousand Star Constellation cultivators, forming a massive fleet.

As numerous messages spread, it didn't take long for this event to become widely known throughout the Myriad Manifestations Sea.

Cultivators nearby rushed over immediately to investigate the situation, while those from afar hurried to join, unwilling to miss such a grand occasion.

Throughout the vast Myriad Manifestations Sea, conflicts were constant. Battles and killings unfolded almost every moment, between cultivators and between Spirit Islands. The clashes between cultivators from various star systems kept the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea bustling with activity.

However, amidst all this activity, it was almost unheard of for a top-tier Spirit Island to launch an attack on another. This was because top-tier Spirit Islands were inherently powerful, and once they secured their position, they generally had no further ambitions. Unless there was significant animosity, they would not resort to bullying.

The most recent instance of a top-tier Spirit Island launching an expedition was nearly ten thousand years ago.

Thus, when news of Purple Jade's offensive spread, it attracted the attention of many cultivators. Furthermore, Purple Jade's target was the burgeoning Three Realms Island.

Having emerged less than a decade ago, Three Realms Island had already become one of the very few highly successful commercial Spirit Islands in the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea. Its rise was quite legendary. Whether it was its swift conquest of Hundred Yue Island or its offense to the Sunlit Guardian, these were all highly captivating events.

Although Purple Jade's official statement claimed that a newly promoted Moon Bloom cultivator from Three Realms Island had inexplicably killed a Purple Jade demon cultivator, prompting their attack, such an explanation could only deceive newcomers to the Myriad Manifestations Sea. Veteran cultivators who had spent years there knew well that this was merely a pretext. Only Purple Jade itself knew the true reason for its offensive.

Everyone believed that Three Realms Island was in for trouble this time, because in terms of both foundation and the number of cultivators, Purple Jade significantly surpassed Three Realms Island. The overall strength of the two sides was vastly disparate.

However, to everyone's surprise, the Purple Jade demon cultivators, who had launched a powerful offensive and assembled a massive fleet, were intercepted by a single individual. After a shocking massacre, Purple Jade lost hundreds of Star Constellation cultivators and one Moon Bloom cultivator. Ultimately, they were forced to retreat before even completing half their journey.

According to cultivators who witnessed the battle firsthand, this astonishing feat was accomplished by Lu Ye, the Third Island Master of Three Realms Island.

Although his cultivation was only at the mid-stage Moon Bloom level, his personal strength was terrifying. He single-handedly intercepted the Purple Jade fleet, boldly charging into it, effortlessly destroying several Tiger Shark warships, and drawing away Purple Jade's three Moon Bloom cultivators in pursuit.

Afterward, Lu Ye executed a sudden counterattack, single-handedly annihilating hundreds of Purple Jade demon cultivators.

Most astonishing of all, Yuan Che, Purple Jade's Third Island Master and a late-stage Moon Bloom cultivator, was forcefully cut down by Lu Ye with a single saber strike. Throughout the entire process, Yuan Che had no power to resist.

Rumors claimed that when that saber strike was unleashed, Lu Ye of Three Realms Island was like a war god descended, unstoppable, and the brilliance of that strike overshadowed the heavens and earth.

Following this, Hu Guang, Purple Jade's Second Island Master, realizing the dire situation, ordered the fleet to retreat. Lu Ye relentlessly pursued them, inflicting further significant casualties on Purple Jade, until the Purple Jade fleet retreated to their home island, at which point the conflict temporarily ceased.

One after another, messages spread from the distant cultivators who had watched the battle, reaching the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea almost instantly. All cultivators who had not witnessed it firsthand found it hard to believe these accounts were true. However, these reports did not come from a single source; many cultivators had been watching from afar at the time, and their testimonies could be corroborated.

This meant that these seemingly incredible reports were not false.

The entire Myriad Manifestations Sea was shaken.

Before today, no one had imagined that a Spirit Island conflict could be fought this way. To single-handedly block a massive fleet of nearly a thousand cultivators and inflict such heavy casualties on the enemy was unheard of, not just in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, but throughout the entire starry sky.

Looking back at this battle, Purple Jade had launched its offensive with great momentum, but it ended so haphazardly. Both its reputation and actual losses were unimaginable.

For someone to achieve such a feat, the formidable individual strength of Lu Ye of Three Realms Island was truly difficult to fathom.

Facing a stronger opponent with a weaker cultivation, yet cutting down Yuan Che with a single saber strike, though there were signs of a secret art being used, was still astonishing.

One must remember that Lu Ye of Three Realms Island was merely a mid-stage Moon Bloom cultivator. To possess such strength now, what would happen if he advanced to the late-stage Moon Bloom?

Currently, the Purple Jade demon cultivators remained confined to their island. Lu Ye, meanwhile, was stationed five hundred li outside Purple Jade Island, acting as if he completely disregarded Purple Jade. He also displayed a resolute stance: any demon cultivator daring to leave the island would be met with his deadly strike.

This directly resulted in no demon cultivator on the entire Purple Jade Island daring to leave easily.

Even the Purple Jade demon cultivators who had previously been outside the island went into hiding, not daring to show themselves.

In other words, the mighty Purple Jade Island was blockaded!

Innumerable cultivators eagerly anticipated how this conflict would unfold. The conflict between the two Spirit Islands had escalated to a point of no return, a fight to the death. Moreover, Purple Jade Island had enjoyed renown for many years. As a top-tier Spirit Island, how could it tolerate being besieged right at its doorstep?

One of these two parties was bound to make a sorrowful exit.

Five hundred li away from Purple Jade, on a tiny desolate island, Lu Ye sat cross-legged, his gaze calmly fixed on Purple Jade Island, contemplating how to breach their defensive grand array.

He had to admit one thing: although he had previously killed many Purple Jade demon cultivators, and even three Moon Bloom cultivators had fallen by his hand, this did not fundamentally shake Purple Jade Island. Because cultivators could be replaced if they died, as long as Purple Jade Island remained, the Purple Jade demon cultivators would have a foothold!

The enmity with Purple Jade was absolutely irreconcilable. From the moment Wei Po was devoured by Lionheart, Purple Jade had irrevocably positioned itself against Three Realms Island.

However, this top-tier Spirit Island was ultimately not comparable to something like Hundred Yue.

Against Hundred Yue, Lu Ye could weaken its defensive grand array by infiltrating and destroying its array foundations, thereby allowing Three Realms Island cultivators to breach it from outside. However, the same method was not applicable to Purple Jade.

Because even if he successfully destroyed a few array foundations, if he couldn't destroy all of them, Purple Jade's defensive grand array would not be broken. Even if its defensive power was somewhat weakened, Three Realms Island, with its current foundation, would still be unable to breach it completely.

The robustness of this defensive grand array, which had been maintained for tens of thousands of years, was beyond imagination. Unless a Sunlit cultivator intervened, it would be impossible to shake.

In that case, returning to the Nine Provinces and asking the Sunlit cultivators of the Little People for two red talismans was an option.

When he went to the Illusion Blood Demonic Eye years ago, the Little People had indeed given him three red talismans for self-defense: one for offense, one for defense, and one for escape.

The first two red talismans had already been used. He only had the escape talisman left, which was not suitable for this situation.

But even if he was swift, a round trip would take two months. If he were not in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, and Purple Jade Island made a move, Three Realms Island would be in danger.

Moreover, the red talismans from the Little People were not inexhaustible. The three tribes had previously pooled together to give him three. Even if he went back to request them, he might not get suitable ones.

But if he didn't rely on the power of the red talismans, how else could he breach Purple Jade's defensive grand array?

This matter gave Lu Ye a considerable headache, because in his plan, only by breaking the opponent's defensive grand array could he fully seize the initiative in the battle. Then, he could enter and leave Purple Jade Island as he pleased, and even Lionheart wouldn't be able to stop him.

After much thought, he still had no clear solution. He couldn't stay here indefinitely, as that would undoubtedly be a waste of time. What if Purple Jade simply remained cloistered on its island?

After a brief contemplation, Lu Ye simply set up an array formation on the spot. A moment later, the array activated, concealing his presence.

He did this primarily because many curious cultivators lingered nearby. Any action he took would be under their scrutiny, and there were bound to be Purple Jade's spies among them.

Hidden by the array, Lu Ye manifested a Talent Tree clone and dressed it in clothes, while his true body activated concealment and aura-suppressing spirit runes upon himself, and quietly departed.

Less than half a day later, Lu Ye quietly returned to Three Realms Island.

In the Council Hall, all Moon Bloom cultivators of the island were gathered.

Tang Jun smiled as he looked at Lu Ye, saying, "Little brother, you're quite impressive now! The entire Myriad Manifestations Sea is abuzz with rumors that you are the foremost under the Sunlit!"

The Myriad Manifestations Sea was a gathering place for cultivators from countless star systems. Moon Bloom cultivators were numerous, and those from various major powers varied in strength. Yet, even someone like Lionheart wouldn't dare claim to be the foremost under the Sunlit, because there was always someone stronger.

However, after this battle, Lu Ye's reputation as the foremost under the Sunlit was solidified. Yuan Che, as strong as he was, still couldn't withstand the might of his single saber strike. Looking across the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea, which Moon Bloom cultivator could achieve that?

Lu Ye, however, showed no joy, only calmly stating, "Those who say such things about me surely have ulterior motives."

Tang Jun was startled for a moment, then nodded, "Indeed."

Even with Lu Ye's record of cutting down Yuan Che with a single saber strike, the title 'foremost under the Sunlit' still carried too much weight. Many cultivators were fond of competing and fighting, and to have such a title without a sufficiently powerful background was not a good thing.

"But why are you back?" Tang Jun asked again. "Didn't you say you were blockading Purple Jade over there?"

"My clone is still there," Lu Ye replied, "and the Purple Jade demon cultivators probably won't dare to venture out for now."

Tang Jun nodded, a look of understanding on his face. If the Purple Jade demon cultivators weren't coming out, Lu Ye's continued presence there would indeed be a waste of time.

Luan Xiao'e asked, "Junior Brother, what are your plans next?"

Lu Ye replied, "If you don't kill a snake, it will come back to bite you. Of course, I want to conquer Purple Jade. Currently, Purple Jade has suffered significant losses, with two Guardian Moon Bloom cultivators missing. This is also a great opportunity."

Lost Moon Bloom guardians could be replaced, but they first needed to register with the Myriad Manifestations Sea authorities. That's why Lu Ye referred to this as an opportunity.