Chapter 2002: Test

When a Spirit Treasure unleashes its power, it can almost rival the strength of a peak Sun-Gazing realm cultivator. And the power of one Spirit Treasure can only be nullified by another Spirit Treasure. Ma Bin's words reminded him of the clash between Yuan Se and Shangcheng Yue. One had summoned the Fire Gourd, and the other, the Sword Qi of the Heavenly Swirl Sword. Such a confrontation was indeed far beyond the scale of a typical battle.

“Are there many Spirit Treasures?” Lu Ye asked. Just he alone had encountered quite a few, so it was easy to imagine how many existed throughout the starry sky.

Ma Bin pondered for a moment before replying, “The number of Spirit Treasures is indeed not small, but most are used as realm-stabilizing artifacts and are not easily deployed. After all, these treasures typically relate to the stability of a realm or even an entire star system. Their greatest deterrent effect comes from not being used externally.”

Lu Ye understood.

If the people from the Boundless Palace hadn't caused such a severe disturbance this time, Yuan Se probably wouldn't have brought the Fire Gourd. He had initially believed the Fire Gourd's power would easily resolve the crisis, but Shangcheng Yue was unexpectedly prepared, having obtained a wisp of Sword Qi from the Heavenly Swirl Sword.

Speaking of the Heavenly Swirl Sword Qi, Lu Ye had felt a sense of familiarity when he first saw it, as if he had vaguely encountered it somewhere before. Only now did a memory suddenly resurface… It was from not long after he had advanced to the Constellation realm, during his first exploration into the starry sky after leaving Kyushu. He had encountered a powerful cultivator named Feng Rumou, who was being frantically chased by a beam of sword light. That individual had asked Lu Ye for some food and drink. Later, under Feng Rumou's guidance, Lu Ye encountered the Ghost Ship and met Haitang there.

The Heavenly Swirl Sword Qi summoned by Shangcheng Yue felt quite similar to the sword light that had pursued Feng Rumou. At that time, Lu Ye wasn't strong enough to discern Feng Rumou’s true capabilities. Now, looking back, Feng Rumou must have been on par with Ma Bin. For such a powerful cultivator to be chased by a beam of sword light, could it have been the ultimate treasure, the Heavenly Swirl Sword itself? But on second thought, that didn't seem right; if it were truly the ultimate treasure, Feng Rumou wouldn't have been able to resist it. Yet, if that golden light was merely the Sword Qi of the Heavenly Swirl Sword, it seemed too powerful. Lu Ye couldn't quite figure it out, but the only thing he could confirm was that the sword qi pursuing Feng Rumou was somehow related to the Heavenly Swirl Sword.

He wondered what had become of the powerful cultivator he had met by chance all those years ago.

Lu Ye then inquired about the Saintess of the Boundless Palace. Unfortunately, while Ma Bin knew of the Boundless Palace, he didn't have much detailed information about its Saintess. Now that Yaya was on the run, Lu Ye didn't know where to find her, but since she had chosen to unseal her strength and memories, she should be able to handle things herself.

One day later, the Three Realms Island was bustling with activity. Island masters from numerous spirit islands gathered, and under Tang Jun’s supervision, the official handover of resources began. Each great spirit island had self-reported their specific losses and the types of resources they had forfeited. It was inevitable that some individuals would exaggerate their claims and take advantage of the situation, but the Three Realms Island had no means of verification. Tang Jun had anticipated this and was not overly concerned; he chose to turn a blind eye as long as it wasn't too excessive. This was because the current gains were simply too immense; all the resources from the Myriad Manifestations Chamber of Commerce and Purple Jade Island now belonged to Three Realms Island, akin to getting rich overnight.

Amidst an atmosphere of gratitude, the handover proceeded smoothly. The island masters from the various spirit islands showered them with praise, and Tang Jun responded with a smile. Although they were grateful for the return of their previously plundered resources, every single spirit island only expressed thanks, and none readily acknowledged the Three Realms Island’s jurisdiction over the Myriad Manifestations Sea.

At this very moment, in Lu Ye’s personal pavilion, he sat opposite Mang Dang.

Just an hour earlier, Mang Dang had arrived uninvited. He and Lu Ye had a good relationship, and even though Lu Ye had now advanced to the Sun-Gazing realm, there was no sense of estrangement between them. Mang Dang’s visit at such a time naturally implied more than a simple courtesy call.

“My old master said that the major powers are willing to let the Myriad Manifestations Star System govern the Myriad Manifestations Sea primarily because the sea is located within this star system. The Myriad Manifestations Star System itself possesses a natural advantage, and its overall strength is quite decent, which is why everyone has been willing to abide by the rules of the Myriad Manifestations Sea for so many years.”

Could the native star system truly resist if the top-tier powers genuinely intended to lay claim to a treasure trove like the Myriad Manifestations Sea? Most likely, no. However, if everyone wanted a piece, it would ultimately lead to a chaotic free-for-all, with no one gaining an advantage. It was precisely this mutual deterrence that prevented any single entity from dominating. Given the native star system's natural geographical advantage and its decent overall strength, their management was naturally legitimate.

The ‘old master’ he referred to was a seasoned Sun-Gazing realm cultivator from the Five-Colored Domain. After the incident at Myriad Manifestations Sea, he had rushed over immediately. However, like other Sun-Gazing realm cultivators from various star systems, this powerful figure from the Five-Colored Domain did not enter the Myriad Manifestations Sea, choosing instead to remain stationed outside.

“Now, if Three Realms Island wishes to take control of the Myriad Manifestations Sea, it must display enough power to make others abandon their covetous desires!” Mang Dang stated, clearly relaying the message from the Five-Colored Domain’s Sun-Gazing cultivator, rather than speaking for himself.

This was undoubtedly a form of guidance, given the established relationship between Three Realms Island and Five-Colored Island.

“Was the previous battle not enough?” Lu Ye asked. They had first forced back the Boundless Palace and then repelled the Sun-Gazing realm cultivators of the Myriad Manifestations Star System. Moreover, seven Sun-Gazing realm cultivators had died in that conflict. Was such a deterrent still insufficient?

Mang Dang replied helplessly, “That battle didn’t happen directly under their noses, after all. To them, everything is just hearsay. And to be honest, Three Realms Island’s current foundation is indeed a bit thin.”

Three Realms Island currently displayed only four Sun-Gazing realm cultivators to the outside world, and Lu Ye, Luan Xiao'e, and Yan Miao had all only recently advanced to that realm.

Ma Bin, though long-renowned, was known to be severely injured, making it difficult for him to exert sufficient deterrent power at this stage.

Admittedly, the Golden Light Spirit Treasure had already made a name for itself; everyone knew that Three Realms Island possessed a mysterious golden light Spirit Treasure capable of sealing Sun-Gazing realm cultivators. But for those top-tier realms, who among them didn't possess a Spirit Treasure?

Without its Spirit Treasure, Three Realms Island was nothing in the eyes of the top powers. A severely injured Ma Bin couldn't carry the burden alone.

Lu Ye understood. “So they want to see the foundation of my Three Realms Island with their own eyes?”

Mang Dang nodded. “That’s roughly it.”

If Three Realms Island could demonstrate a sufficiently powerful foundation, taking control of the Myriad Manifestations Sea would naturally be easy. But if not… then complications were sure to arise.

“How do they intend to observe?” Lu Ye asked.

“I don’t know,” Mang Dang shrugged. “But the old master said we should find out soon enough.”

As the two were speaking, Lu Ye suddenly turned his head to face a certain direction, an expression of realization dawning on him. “So that’s it!”

He sensed the aura of a Sun-Gazing realm cultivator entering the Myriad Manifestations Sea, but judging by the direction of their travel, they weren't heading for Three Realms Island but rather to another location!

This was an open provocation.

At the same time, Mang Dang clearly received a message. He quickly checked his sound transmission talisman, then looked up at Lu Ye and said, “Shen Yun from Winged Heaven Star, a peak Sun-Gazing realm cultivator, possesses the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Net Umbrella, which grants immunity to all spells! My old master says he was sworn brothers with Gu Xi from the Heavenly Flame Realm when they were young. He comes with ill intentions!”

Lu Ye’s interest was immediately piqued. “Heavenly Net Umbrella?”

Winged Heaven Star was also a top-tier realm, and Shen Yun, hailing from it, possessed peak Sun-Gazing realm cultivation. With a Spirit Treasure like the Heavenly Net Umbrella, it could be said that there was nowhere in the vast starry sky he couldn't go.

Moreover, the name ‘Heavenly Net Umbrella’ sounded like a defensive artifact, so it was no wonder he dared to openly trespass into the Myriad Manifestations Sea; he clearly had something to rely on.

He had even been sworn brothers with the deceased Gu Xi in their youth… It was no secret that Gu Xi had died by Lu Ye’s hand. While no one had witnessed the exact process, if Lu Ye could publicly slay two Sun-Gazing realm cultivators from the Boundless Palace, what was killing a Gu Xi?

Not only Gu Xi, but the deaths of Yuan Du and Chen Xuanba were also inextricably linked to him—a fact many Sun-Gazing realm cultivators were well aware of.

“I’m going out for a bit,” Lu Ye said, standing up.

“Be careful!” Mang Dang couldn't help but feel worried. While Lu Ye’s performance in the previous battle had been astonishing, it was largely due to the power of his Spirit Treasure. Now, Shen Yun had come prepared. If Lu Ye’s Spirit Treasure couldn’t be effectively utilized, then with his newly advanced Sun-Gazing realm cultivation, he certainly wouldn't be Shen Yun’s match.

And if Lu Ye were defeated, Three Realms Island’s ambition to control the Myriad Manifestations Sea would become a joke.

Lu Ye nodded, exited the pavilion, and ascended into the sky, making no attempt to conceal his Sun-Gazing realm aura.

At that very moment, around the periphery of the Myriad Manifestations Sea, pairs of eyes converged, and streams of divine sense darted back and forth. Everyone clearly knew that the moment to decide the future ownership of the Myriad Manifestations Sea had arrived.

Shen Yun was an old man with a sinister expression. His aged appearance, despite being a peak Sun-Gazing realm cultivator, clearly indicated his advanced age. He had been renowned for many years, and an early stroke of luck had granted him the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Net Umbrella. Since then, he had truly never encountered one in this world capable of piercing the Heavenly Net Umbrella's defenses.

When news of the Myriad Manifestations Sea’s upheaval reached him, he immediately realized it was a prime opportunity for Winged Heaven Star to seize control of the sea. As for Three Realms Island, he truly didn't take it seriously.

He could sense many Sun-Gazing realm cultivators lingering and observing around the periphery of the Myriad Manifestations Sea, but this had no effect on him. The Myriad Manifestations Sea was currently without a master, so naturally, it was best to strike first. Those who prided themselves on their caution and wisdom were, in reality, missing a golden opportunity; it was truly laughable.

As he sped towards Winged Heaven Island, he suddenly felt a divine sense remotely settling upon him. “Hmph!” Shen Yun snorted coldly, turning his head towards the source of the divine sense. He vaguely saw a figure rapidly approaching him from that direction. This greatly displeased him, as such a blatant act of probing with divine sense was a clear provocation.

Lu Ye of Three Realms Island? Shen Yun almost immediately identified the newcomer, knowing that at such a time, only someone from Three Realms Island would come looking for him.