Chapter 2062: Hengyue Star System (Previous Chapter Published in Error, Update Available)

This cultivation took Lu Ye approximately one year.

A year later, his true self returned from beneath the sea. He couldn't continue his cultivation, as his consumption of fire-element resources was too immense. For the past six months, even with Three Realms Island making every effort, the acquired fire-element resources had become insufficient to cover his needs. This resulted in his cultivation being intermittent. Currently, the Talent Tree still held a small reserve of fuel, but it wasn't advisable to deplete it further. He needed to keep some in reserve, just in case.

In this year of cultivation, Lu Ye's cultivation level indeed grew significantly, but it was far from reaching the mid-stage breakthrough. After reaching Sun-Lit, the accumulation required for breakthroughs was clearly much greater than before. Upon examination, although the Talent Tree had undergone some changes, it was still far from a complete transformation. Lu Ye couldn't even determine how much more strange fire it needed to consume to achieve it; he only knew that the fourth transformation of the Talent Tree was a bottomless pit. This didn't discourage him; instead, it invigorated him. The sheer scale of the Talent Tree's demand this time indicated that once it completed its transformation, a massive change would surely occur. The former Nine Provinces' Dawn Thought likely never reached his current stage. In terms of growth potential alone, he had undoubtedly surpassed the previous generation's inheritors of the Dao Tree.

In just one year, the Myriad Manifestations Sea hadn't changed much. In fact, after the schemes of the Insect and Blood races were exposed, conflicts between various factions had significantly decreased. Currently, many powerful factions and cultivators were investigating the Insect and Blood races, while also trying to uncover the secret of the Great Trend's arrival. Unfortunately, no one had made any substantial progress so far.

Lu Ye did not stay long on Three Realms Island. A few days later, after instructing Old Tang and others to continue acquiring fire-element resources, he disguised himself and left the island. He was going to the Hengyue Star System, which was the former Nine Provinces Star System. Ma Bin had said some things to him before leaving, so Lu Ye was very eager to find out what was in the Hengyue Star System that could satisfy his need for fire-element resources. Before his departure, Lu Ye brought a large quantity of spirit jade, spirit crystals, and Soul Refining Pills to ensure he could cultivate with these resources at any time, even while traveling.

The star system where the former Nine Provinces was located had a direct wormhole connecting it to Myriad Manifestations. Once, while chatting with Ma Bin, Lu Ye curiously asked him why he killed the Sun-Lit cultivators of Myriad Manifestations. Was there some deep-seated enmity between the Myriad Manifestations Star System and the former Nine Provinces? Ma Bin's answer was that when various forces jointly besieged the Nine Provinces, they were able to gather and converge smoothly by leveraging the convenience provided by the Myriad Manifestations Star System. Those forces came from all over the starfield; if the Myriad Manifestations Star System hadn't allowed them passage, how could they have united so smoothly? Furthermore, the Myriad Manifestations Star System was also involved in the actions against the former Nine Provinces back then.

The past was like smoke; most of the cultivators from that era had died out. Only some long-lived races, like certain powerful demonic cultivators, were still alive. Ma Bin had largely completed his revenge over the years, so he didn't reveal to Lu Ye which specific forces participated in the siege of the former Nine Provinces, clearly not wanting to perpetuate that hatred. The matter of the former Nine Provinces would end with him. In summary, travel between Myriad Manifestations and the star system of the former Nine Provinces was very convenient.

The absence of guards at the wormhole undoubtedly indicated that the star system of the former Nine Provinces had completely declined. If any large realm still existed, the wormhole would not be left unattended. Lu Ye checked the state of the wormhole, confirmed it was stable, and proceeded straight through. A moment later, he arrived in the Hengyue Star System.

Looking back, the wormhole exit was behind him. As he looked around, Lu Ye frowned. Although he knew this star system was in decline, he hadn't expected it to be to such an extent. The abundant stars visible in other parts of the starry sky were barely seen here; the entire firmament was shrouded in vast patches of darkness, and even the spiritual energy of the void wasn't particularly dense. In such an environment, let alone giving birth to large realms, even the output of spirit jade was much lower than in normal places. Lu Ye immediately made a judgment: such a place was basically only slightly better than desolate star systems that had nothing at all.

Just as Lu Ye was contemplating which direction to go, there was a sudden stir behind him. Lu Ye turned his head to look back, seeing ripples at the wormhole exit, and figures gradually emerging indistinctly. Someone was coming! As expected, just three breaths later, two figures suddenly burst out of the wormhole. It was a man and a woman. Their power fluctuations were obvious as they had just passed through the wormhole. The man had early-stage Moon-Glow cultivation, while the woman was only at late-stage Constellation. However, the two were intimately close, holding hands, suggesting they were either a cultivation couple or siblings. Their auras were fiery, clearly indicating they both cultivated fire-element arts.

They clearly hadn't expected anyone to be at the wormhole exit. At first glance, seeing Lu Ye, they were both startled, their eyes full of vigilance, silently activating their powers. Lu Ye, of course, had no interest in them. Furthermore, he had made some disguises for this trip, so the man and woman didn't recognize him as the Lord of Myriad Manifestations Sea. Moreover, with Lu Ye standing still and his aura contained, they couldn't discern his true depth. Seemingly sensing no ill will from Lu Ye, the man gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, pulled the woman, and swept away to the side, quickly disappearing from sight.

Lu Ye paid them no mind, looking up at the starry sky. Where should he go? Ma Bin had only told him to come to the Hengyue Star System, but not what exactly was there. However, if there was truly anything useful to him in this star system, it shouldn't be difficult for him to discover it with his Sun-Lit cultivation. He might as well look around. This was, after all, the star system where the former Nine Provinces was located. To be able to nurture a top-tier realm like the former Nine Provinces, this star system should have some unique qualities.

He randomly chose a direction and shot off. He found nothing along the way until, after less than half a day, he suddenly turned his head towards a direction where spiritual energy fluctuations were emanating, as if someone was fighting. And as time passed, they were getting closer and closer to him. It wasn't a fight, but a chase.

Lu Ye focused his gaze and chuckled softly, realizing that the ones being pursued were the same man and woman he had seen earlier at the wormhole exit. At this moment, both were in disarray. The man, having higher cultivation, continuously used techniques to attack behind him while fleeing, attempting to obstruct their pursuer, but with little effect. Their pursuer wasn't a cultivator, but a star beast. It was an oval-shaped star beast, dozens of feet long, entirely white like a giant silkworm cocoon, with menacing large mouths at both ends, filled with spiraling, serrated fangs. Facing such a star beast, the fleeing pair were clearly outmatched. Lu Ye had never seen such a star beast. This wasn't due to his lack of knowledge; rather, the types of star beasts in the cosmos were simply too numerous and diverse. Even the most well-traveled cultivators wouldn't dare claim to know all of them.

The fleeing pair initially hadn't noticed Lu Ye, but as they drew closer, they finally detected his aura. The leading man first froze, then joyfully shouted, "Cultivator, have mercy! Please save us! My wife and I are willing to offer a five-star artifact as a thank-you!" He didn't know Lu Ye's exact cultivation level, but from their brief earlier encounter, he could sense that Lu Ye's strength surpassed his own. Furthermore, since Lu Ye dared to stand still, it indicated extreme confidence in his own power. Given their current predicament, seeking Lu Ye's help was undoubtedly the best option. To persuade Lu Ye, he even offered a reward. This was undoubtedly a well-thought-out consideration on his part. In a chance encounter in the starry sky, while still being pursued, if he had silently approached Lu Ye, he would undoubtedly be diverting disaster. If Lu Ye wasn't good-tempered, they might be killed by him before the star beast could even act. The cost of a five-star artifact was painful, but what was that compared to saving their lives?

After shouting, he carefully observed Lu Ye's reaction. He received no reply, yet the other person still stood there motionless, their attitude unclear. It was impossible to tell whether the other party was willing to help... However, their current situation didn't allow for further contemplation. The man gritted his teeth and declared, "Let's go for it!" He led the woman and quickly approached Lu Ye. Only when they had swept past Lu Ye without encountering any attack did the man finally relax.

Faint spiritual energy fluctuations emanated from behind him. When he looked back again, his expression froze. Because the originally fierce and overbearing star beast had been cleanly split in two, its two halves passing by the unknown expert's sides with neat cuts, without a single drop of blood touching the expert. Sun-Lit! The man's heart chilled, and he immediately deduced Lu Ye's cultivation level. The spiritual energy fluctuation from that instant couldn't be faked. Moreover, this star beast was at the late-stage Moon-Glow level. To kill it so effortlessly, there was no other possibility but Sun-Lit.

Calming himself, the man then led the woman to stand a short distance in front of Lu Ye, bowing respectfully with clasped fists: "Many thanks, Senior, for saving our lives!" Lu Ye turned his head to look at them, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Senior... He was certain that he was definitely younger than this couple, but that was how the cultivation world was: strength commanded respect. Especially in such a sparsely populated place, if the other party didn't show proper etiquette, they could be casually killed, and no one would ever know. Composing himself, Lu Ye gave a slight nod, maintaining the demeanor of a distinguished expert, which only deepened the couple's awe. Sun-Lit! That was a lofty, unattainable height for them.

As previously agreed, the man quickly took out a five-star artifact and respectfully handed it over, as a gesture of gratitude for Lu Ye's life-saving grace. Lu Ye casually accepted it. A five-star artifact held little value for him, but it could be consumed by the Sword Gourd to nourish sword energy, which he deserved. The woman even took the initiative to search for the star beast's corpse, retrieved the crystal core from it, and presented it to Lu Ye, her desire to please evident.

"Senior, are you also headed to Giant Red Star?" the man asked. Although Lu Ye appeared calm, his willingness to offer assistance indicated he wasn't cold-hearted. Such powerful experts were usually not difficult to get along with, which was why the man dared to ask.