Chapter 1951: Belonging Treasure in Hand

"Throughout history, many have tried to gain access to the Asura Arena. That's why we often release special items, leading outsiders to believe they've found clues to the Asura Arena, but in reality, they eventually discover that all seemingly genuine clues are false," Aqi Duo explained from the side.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ye felt a pang of sympathy for Gu Sheng. He immediately understood that the information Gu Sheng had obtained was intentionally leaked by the Celestial Asura tribe. Their expedition was destined to yield no real results, at best earning them some basic Asura Seals as a reward.

"Put it away," Lu Ye said, no longer looking at it. As for encountering Abro and Gu Sheng again in the future, he would just find a way to explain, perhaps saying he was trapped somewhere and couldn't receive messages.

Aqi Duo put away the mirror-like object.

Mi Shi had not yet returned.

As Lu Ye looked around, he suddenly remembered something else and quickly took it out of his pocket.

Seeing it, Aqi Duo couldn't help but smile. Clearly, from observing Lu Ye, she knew his attitude towards this item was one of both fondness and apprehension.

"Senior Brother doesn't need to worry too much about this treasure," Aqi Duo began. "In the Asura Arena, every time you enter a trial scenario, whether you want it to or not, it will shake once. But if you take it outside, you won't have this problem."

Holding the Dice of Fate, Lu Ye asked curiously, "Then this time..."

This time it hadn't shaken. Given his previous experience, Lu Ye had simply kept it on him, knowing that even if he left it in his cave abode, it would still suddenly appear.

"This place is our tribe's secluded living space, not a trial ground, which is why it hasn't reacted," Aqi Duo explained.

Lu Ye understood. If that were the case, this treasure could still be kept. Once he left the Asura Arena in the future, it wouldn't randomly shake anymore.

While Lu Ye chatted with Aqi Duo, the treasury suddenly vibrated—not physically, but in the hearts of those present.

The reason was simple: the Asura Arena artifact, valued at ten billion Asura Seals, had suddenly vanished!

This item had been displayed in the treasury plaza. Any cultivator entering the treasury would see it as soon as they turned around. Consequently, almost every cultivator who came to the Asura Arena for trials had seen it multiple times. It had remained there, untouched for countless years.

Until today!

The news spread rapidly. In just a few moments, countless cultivators gathered from all directions at the treasury plaza. They were astonished to see that the Asura Arena artifact had indeed disappeared.

No one knew who had been so audacious as to redeem such an item!

It wasn't a million Asura Seals, nor ten million; it was ten billion!

With such an immense amount of Asura Seals, any resources redeemed would be far more valuable than a single Asura Arena artifact.

All the cultivators who learned of this news discussed it animatedly, making various guesses, but they had no clues whatsoever. No one had seen the person who redeemed the treasure; it had simply vanished into thin air.

In front of the wooden house, Mi Shi finally returned. Lu Ye held the Asura Arena artifact, valued at ten billion Asura Seals, feeling a sense of unreality.

This item, which he had initially given up on, was now actually in his possession!

"The tribe leader is indeed trustworthy. Let's sign the contract," Lu Ye said, putting away the Asura Arena artifact. He and Mi Shi immediately placed their respective imprints on the Asura Covenant.

The Asura Covenant disintegrated into specks of shimmering light, scattering and vanishing into Lu Ye and Mi Shi.

Mi Shi said with great anticipation, "Young friend, we're relying on you now."

Lu Ye nodded. "Receiving payment and resolving problems for others is what I do. Tribe leader, please go first."

"Good!" Mi Shi readily agreed.

As they spoke, another Celestial Asura tribe member appeared, bringing several storage rings and respectfully placing them before Lu Ye.

Lu Ye picked them up to examine them, finding that they were all fire-attribute treasures. He immediately put them away.

This was a clause in the contract: incinerating the Bloodline Curse Poison for the Celestial Asura tribe required consuming the fuel of the Talent Tree. While the consumption for one or two people wouldn't be much, the quota of fifteen hundred people was enormous. Even if Lu Ye used up all his Talent Tree's stored fuel, it likely wouldn't be enough, so he had to rely on the Celestial Asura tribe to replenish it.

Mi Shi didn't ask Lu Ye what he needed these items for, but he had a general idea.

Before Aqi Duo's Bloodline Curse Poison was incinerated, the Celestial Asura tribe only knew from ancestral teachings that the Dao Tree lineage could solve their tribe's predicament. However, they didn't know exactly how it would be solved.

At the table, Lu Ye reached out and grasped Mi Shi's wrist. Invisible roots extended, penetrating into Mi Shi's body, and the power of the Talent Tree began to activate.

Mi Shi immediately showed a pained expression, sweat beading on his forehead.

Lu Ye didn't dare to exert too much force. Mi Shi, after all, was not as young as Aqi Duo. If anything went wrong during the curse's incineration, it would be detrimental to both him and the Celestial Asura tribe.

Fortunately, despite his age, Mi Shi's will was extremely strong. Even though the process of incinerating the curse was arduous, he persevered.

After enduring the most difficult part, Mi Shi even found the mood to chat with Lu Ye.

The Celestial Asura tribe was, in fact, a tragic one. With a lifespan of no more than two hundred years, even the most exceptionally gifted among them could not cultivate to very high levels. Since the last Sun-Illuminated realm cultivator in their tribe passed away many years ago, they had not produced another.

Ordinary tribe members were confined to this secluded scenario from birth. Those like Aqi Duo could participate in trials and experience more scenarios, but these were ultimately illusions created by the power of the Asura Arena.

No one knew what the outside world truly looked like.

As Mi Shi chatted with Lu Ye, listening to him describe the Myriad Manifestation Sea and various stellar wonders, both the old tribe leader Mi Shi and Aqi Duo couldn't help but show signs of longing.

"By the way, Tribe Leader, what is the origin of this Bloodline Curse Poison of yours?" Lu Ye suddenly asked during their conversation.

Mi Shi shook his head. "It's too ancient; its origin can no longer be traced. Although many ancient texts remain in our tribe, over countless years, various traditions and knowledge have been lost. How could we possibly know the origin?"

That was true. For a tribe with a lifespan of no more than two hundred years, it was indeed unlikely to trace events from tens of thousands of years ago, or even further back.

Aqi Duo, who was nearby, suddenly spoke up. "Tribe Leader, I once saw some records about this in the Sea River Pavilion."

"Oh?" Mi Shi's expression showed interest. "What did the records say?"

Lu Ye also turned his head to look at Aqi Duo.

Aqi Duo replied, "The jade slip containing this information is incomplete, so I couldn't see everything. But it seems our ancestors experienced a great war against a race called the 'Gan people.' It was after that war that our tribe was afflicted with the Bloodline Curse Poison."

"The Gan people?" Mi Shi raised an eyebrow, looking at Lu Ye. "Young friend, you are well-traveled and knowledgeable. Have you heard of them?"

Lu Ye shook his head. In truth, if anyone was well-traveled and knowledgeable, it was the Celestial Asura tribe, as the Asura Arena recorded countless cultivators and races from ancient times to the present. If even the Celestial Asura tribe didn't know about the Gan people, how could he?

He said, "There's a mermaid tribe in the Myriad Manifestation Sea that also suffers from a Bloodline Curse Poison, though its manifestation is different from yours. Under its influence, they also find it very difficult to produce their own Sun-Illuminated realm cultivators, and they cannot leave the Myriad Manifestation Sea."

Both tribes suffered from Bloodline Curse Poison. Could it be that both had encountered the Gan people?

"The mermaid tribe..." Mi Shi pondered for a moment, then said, "This old man remembers classical texts recording that among the tribes our people once governed, there was indeed a mermaid tribe!"

He said "governed," but in reality, it likely meant enslaved.

Lu Ye's heart stirred. From this perspective, the origin of Yan Miao's mermaid tribe might be related to the Celestial Asura tribe. However, these were events from ancient times, irrelevant to the present.

What piqued Lu Ye's interest was the Gan people. The strength of this race might be beyond imagination. Until now, Lu Ye truly hadn't known of any method that could affect a race's bloodline continuation.

About three hours later, Lu Ye withdrew his hand. "Tribe Leader, it's done."

Mi Shi's eyes were closed, but his face showed pure joy. Although his appearance hadn't changed much, the signs of his former old age and declining vitality had vanished without a trace.

He had originally been only three years away from his two-hundred-year lifespan limit. In other words, he was certain to die in three years, and he could feel it himself.

But at this moment, that sense of impending death was completely gone.

He felt his own flesh and blood rejuvenated with vitality. In this state, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would undoubtedly live for a very long time...

The Bloodline Curse Poison was resolved!

Although Aqi Duo had served as a precedent, it wasn't a personal experience. Only at this moment did Mi Shi truly understand how light and unburdened he felt after the Bloodline Curse Poison was resolved.

Most importantly, his previously somewhat dissipated cultivation had stabilized again. Moreover, with the dissolution of the Bloodline Curse Poison, he faintly perceived a barrier he hadn't even noticed during his peak. This meant that if he could recover his cultivation, he might be able to ascend to a higher level.

To hold the position of tribe leader, Mi Shi's aptitude was undoubtedly formidable. In less than two hundred years of cultivation, he had already reached the peak of the Moon-Illuminated realm.

But as he aged, his essence, energy, and spirit weakened, gradually leading him to his end...

He slowly rose, his eyes gleaming with vitality, and bowed deeply to Lu Ye. "Young friend, this old man will forever remember your grace of rebirth!"

This was his personal expression of gratitude to Lu Ye.

Lu Ye raised a hand. "Tribe Leader, there's no need to be so polite. We simply got what we each needed."

Mi Shi shook his head. "That may be true, but today's experience is undoubtedly a new beginning for this old man. In the future, if you ever need help, young friend, feel free to find me in the Asura Arena. As long as it's within my ability, I will never refuse!"

"Very well, very well!" Lu Ye nodded with a smile.

The Celestial Asura tribe leader's promise, even if it was a personal one, was incredibly valuable.