Chapter 2061: Ma Bin's Guidance

For an unknown number of years, Ma Bin's cultivation had made no progress. Only in recent years had he felt a slight loosening of the bottleneck that had long constrained him. This was clearly related to the advent of the great age that Lu Ye had mentioned.

After some thought, Ma Bin said, "Although I've never heard of a 'great age' descending, I do know that many top-tier Sun-rank cultivators in the Starry Sky, when their cultivation can no longer advance, will practice some special techniques. These techniques are said to prepare them for a certain future opportunity. However, throughout history, countless Sun-rank cultivators have adopted this practice, but it has never truly proven useful."

Lu Ye knew he was referring to methods like doppelgangers and inner elixirs.

Take Su Yuqing and Chen Xuanhai, for example. They also had no knowledge of a great age descending. The reason they refined their inner elixirs and talismanic swords was merely to prepare for a certain future opportunity, a practice passed down through ancient texts. As for what this opportunity was, they were unclear.

Before them, countless predecessors had done the same.

"I will pay attention to investigating matters of this kind," Ma Bin said. "If I get any solid information, I'll return and tell you."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Senior."

"Oh, right," Ma Bin added, recalling something else. "Three Realms Island is acquiring a large amount of fire-attribute resources. Is that for your cultivation?" Although he had been in seclusion recuperating in the Spirit Jade Mine, he still paid much attention to Three Realms Island, so it was not surprising that he knew about this.

Others didn't know why Lu Ye needed so many fire-attribute resources, but Ma Bin knew. This was clearly because of the Dao Tree, as Chao Nian had also required a large amount of fire-attribute resources during her cultivation.

"Yes," Lu Ye nodded.

"If you have a need in the future and the resources in the Myriad Manifestations Sea can't satisfy you, then go to the Hengyue Star System," Ma Bin suggested. "You might find something there."

"Hengyue Star System?" Lu Ye pondered. He hadn't heard of that star system, and there were no spirit islands in the Myriad Manifestations Sea named after it. This suggested that its foundation was not strong.

"That was the star system where the former Nine Provinces were located," Ma Bin explained. "They just changed its name after the Nine Provinces disappeared."

Ma Bin left. He didn't even use a Wormhole to return to the Myriad Manifestations Sea, but instead flew directly into the depths of the Starry Sky. With his departure, Lu Ye didn't know when he would see him again.

But what Ma Bin had mentioned earlier left him bewildered.

The information obtained from the Blood Jade Realm indicated that with the advent of the great age, the Insect and Blood races would gain immense benefits, even having the chance to dominate the Starry Sky. This would undoubtedly be a disaster for all other races.

But in fact, Ma Bin had already felt a slight loosening of his own bottleneck. Undoubtedly, this loosening would become increasingly apparent as the great age progressed, and perhaps one day, Ma Bin's cultivation might break through.

Ma Bin was not the only supreme expert in the Starry Sky.

Looking at it this way, perhaps the advent of the great age wasn't entirely a bad thing. For cultivators like Ma Bin, whose cultivation hadn't advanced for years, it was, on the contrary, a tremendous blessing.

Lu Ye returned to Fangcun Mountain again, found Chen Xuanhai, and asked about his situation.

In Lu Ye's perception, Chen Xuanhai and Ma Bin should be experts of the same level. If Ma Bin had such a feeling, shouldn't Chen Xuanhai have sensed it too?

But after a conversation, Lu Ye learned that Chen Xuanhai and Ma Bin's situations were not the same. In terms of cultivation, both were indeed at the same level, having reached the limit of the Starry Sky and unable to advance further.

However, Ma Bin already possessed his own Dao Foundation, while Chen Xuanhai was still striving for this step. Therefore, even if their cultivation levels were the same, if they were to truly fight, Ma Bin would be much stronger.

And looking across the entire Starry Sky, there might be very few experts who had forged their own Dao Foundations.

Lu Ye had once asked Ma Bin about the Dao Foundation, as Ma Bin's injury was a Dao Foundation injury that required recuperation in the Spirit Jade Mine.

Because of this, he had a vague understanding of the Dao Foundation. But only today did he truly understand how incredibly difficult it was for a cultivator to forge their own Dao Foundation.

Leaving Fangcun Mountain once more, a little over half a day later, Lu Ye returned to Three Realms Island.

He immediately summoned Old Tang.

A moment later, He Baichuan arrived at Lu Ye's temporary palace and spoke with him.

Lu Ye was greatly shocked: "What? Old Tang is in seclusion? What kind of seclusion is he entering at his age?"

He Baichuan chuckled, "Island Master, you may not know, but Elder Tang suddenly had an epiphany a few months ago, saying he might be on the verge of a breakthrough. He then hastily entered seclusion and has not emerged since."

Lu Ye was dumbfounded: "Old Tang is going to break through? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Old Tang's potential had long been exhausted. When he first came to the Myriad Manifestations Sea, he was already at the mid-Moon Bloom stage, and he remained at that stage to this day. He himself was aware of this, so he had never strived in cultivation all these years. He had continuously helped Lu Ye manage Three Realms Island, working diligently and tirelessly.

Yet today, He Baichuan actually told him that Old Tang was in seclusion, with the possibility of breaking through his shackles. How could Lu Ye not be shocked?

As soon as Old Tang went into seclusion, the affairs of Three Realms Island fell to He Baichuan.

Currently, the Nine Provinces controlled the four top-tier spirit islands of the Myriad Manifestations Sea. Jiuyan was stationed on Myriad Manifestations Island, Su Yuqing on Fangcun Island, while Luan Xiao'e and Yan Miao were stationed on Winged Sky Island, which was now renamed Mermaid Island. The Mermaid Race, which had disappeared for many years, had also reappeared before the world.

The teleportation arrays between the four great spirit islands had also long been completed, allowing for constant communication and travel. With the four great spirit islands mutually assisting each other, and the presence of a supreme Starry Sky treasure like Little Gua for deterrence, the Nine Provinces' dominion over the Myriad Manifestations Sea could be said to be unbreakable.

Lu Ye was speaking with He Baichuan when he suddenly looked up towards the outside, sensing a familiar aura rapidly approaching.

A moment later, Tang Jun's figure appeared. He plopped down onto a chair beside He Baichuan, letting out a heavy sigh.

Lu Ye looked at him, puzzled: "Weren't you in seclusion? Why are you out?"

Tang Jun sighed again: "My seclusion failed. Can't you tell something so simple?"

Lu Ye looked at him suspiciously: "Are you just trying to be lazy, old man, or were you really in seclusion?"

Tang Jun huffed indignantly: "What do you mean, trying to be lazy? I've worked tirelessly for so many years, without complaint, devoting myself entirely to our Three Realms Island, contributing who knows how much. Look at how white my hair has become! Is that the kind of person you think I am? Apologize, you brat!"

"Elder Tang, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you," Lu Ye promptly apologized.

Only then did Tang Jun huff, "That's better."

"You really had a feeling?" Lu Ye looked at him curiously. For an old cultivator whose potential was exhausted to actually show signs of a breakthrough, this was clearly abnormal.

Tang Jun nodded seriously: "Yes, I did have a feeling, but it wasn't the right time yet. Furthermore... as time passes, this feeling is growing stronger and stronger. I can confirm that if this situation persists for a few more years, I will definitely be able to break through my shackles!"

He Baichuan said, "Actually, it's not just Elder Tang. I've been paying special attention to the situation outside recently. Leaving our island aside, on other spirit islands too, there are many cultivators like Elder Tang who have similar feelings."

"And also," Tang Jun looked at Lu Ye, "you haven't been in the Myriad Manifestations Sea recently, so you might not know this, but Imperial Spring Island has been promoted to a top-tier spirit island."

"Imperial Spring Island..." Lu Ye thought for a moment and immediately remembered this spirit island.

This spirit island was relatively well-known in the Myriad Manifestations Sea because it was a high-grade spirit island with a very good foundation.

Old Tang had told him last time that there had been several instances of desolate islands becoming active in the Myriad Manifestations Sea. This had happened before, but not with such frequency. Now, for a high-grade spirit island like Imperial Spring Island to actually be promoted to a top-tier spirit island, this was a very significant event in the Myriad Manifestations Sea.

The former Peerless Island, now Three Realms Island, was able to transform from a desolate island into a top-tier spirit island because of the little Star Constellation Palace at work; it wasn't an autonomous change. Imperial Spring Island's promotion, however, was.

"News from Four Directions Island indicates that the spiritual energy on the island is gradually becoming denser, and it might also become a top-tier spirit island in a few years," He Baichuan added. "There are many other spirit islands in the Myriad Manifestations Sea undergoing similar changes, all transforming for the better."

Many thoughts shifted in Lu Ye's mind. These changes were undoubtedly related to the advent of the great age, and even the breakthrough opportunity Old Tang felt was as well.

Looking at it this way, the advent of the great age was indeed not entirely a bad thing.

Although Old Tang's seclusion failed this time, no one could say what the future held. Old Tang's change was merely a microcosm of countless cultivators, demonstrating the immense impact the advent of the great age would have on the entire Starry Sky.

"There's something I need you two to do," Lu Ye said, looking at Old Tang and He Baichuan. He then explained the Insect Race's perspective on the advent of the great age, emphasizing the schemes of the Insect and Blood races, and instructed them to find a way to publicize this information.

Since the Insect and Blood races intended to act covertly, they absolutely could not be allowed to achieve their goals. News spread incredibly quickly in the Myriad Manifestations Sea. It wouldn't be long before the schemes of these two races would be known throughout the Starry Sky. At that point, no matter what plans the Insect and Blood races had, countless eyes would be watching them.

After listening, both of them looked solemn. They immediately went to seek their connections to publicize the matter.

One day later, in the temporary palace, Lu Ye's Talent Tree clone sat in meditation. He held a fire gourd, and around him were piled numerous storage rings, all containing fire-attribute resources recently acquired by Three Realms Island.

Currently, in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, the price of fire-attribute resources was steadily rising. It could be said that Lu Ye had single-handedly changed this sector of the market.

Because a portion of the Talent Tree was also within the clone, it could absorb the strange flames cultivated in the fire gourd to accelerate the progress of its transformation. Then, the main body would simply need to reclaim the clone.

Meanwhile, Lu Ye's main body had already delved deep into the Myriad Manifestations Sea to cultivate in peace!

Even though his current cultivation efficiency was terrifyingly high, achieving an advancement at the Sun-rank level was not something that could be accomplished in a short time. Naturally, he had to seize every available opportunity.

Cultivating strange flames required fire-attribute resources, and Lu Ye's own cultivation also required a large amount of fire-attribute resources. Although Three Realms Island's acquisitions could meet the demand for a short time, it would become difficult to sustain in the long run.