Chapter 2142: Brotherly Affection

The establishment of the Merit Pavilion will not disrupt the current trading system, but future wars will.

Once a major war breaks out, if there are no standards set by the Merit Pavilion, all prices, especially for war-related materials, will skyrocket. Therefore, foresighted factions are already beginning to deposit their controlled resources into the Merit Pavilion, converting them into corresponding merit points for future use. Given that the Merit Pavilion was formed from the Myriad Manifestations Trading Company, handling this matter comes naturally and easily to them.

Lu Ye listened for a while longer, confirming that Myriad Manifestations Sea had already prepared for the Star Abyss invasion. He couldn't help but sigh, "Having an elder at home is truly like having a treasure." If it weren't for Elder Tree, the eleven of them would have faced countless tedious tasks upon returning from the Star Abyss. First and foremost, uniting the various factions across the entire starry sky and convincing those with grievances to set aside their prejudices would not have been easy. But thanks to Elder Tree, all these troubles have been smoothed over.

"So, there's a question now," Lu Ye slowly began. "Myriad Manifestations Sea is destined to be one of the targets of the Star Abyss invasion. Where will the Star Abyss Gate open?"

Mang Dang replied, "It should be near Jade Sword Island. It opened there once before, so Elder Tree speculates that the Star Abyss Gate will open there again."

Lu Ye nodded, confirming it aligned with his own guess. Back then, the insectoids used some unknown method to exploit a flaw there, briefly opening the Star Abyss Gate. If it happened once, it's bound to happen again.

"The area around Jade Sword Island has been cleared. And with Jade Sword Island as the center, there are over a dozen small islands nearby that can serve as staging points. We can set up our defenses there as the front line of our resistance."

Lu Ye nodded slightly. Afterwards, he conversed extensively with many Sun-blessed cultivators before finally taking his leave.

As the guests departed, Lu Ye and the others from Three Realms Island rose to see them off. He didn't need to worry much about Myriad Manifestations Sea; with Jiu Yan overseeing everything, there would be no problems. Moreover, Zhong Yue would also be arriving. Currently, he was still in the Defiled Lands and hadn't returned. When the two Nine-Paths join forces, any Star Abyss cultivators who invade in the early stages will be courting death.

After watching everyone leave, Lu Ye turned to Ma Bin, "Senior, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Ma Bin smiled, "You want to ask me how I established my Dao foundation, don't you?"

"Precisely," Lu Ye nodded. If he could understand this and emulate it, perhaps some Dao Realm cultivators could be produced ahead of schedule.

"Jiu Yan already asked me about this before," Ma Bin began. "However, my opportunity cannot be replicated. I cultivated in a celestial wonder, and by pure chance, I managed to establish my Dao foundation. I didn't understand how it happened back then, but now I realize it was because some Star Abyss energy lingered in that celestial wonder. However, after I established my Dao foundation, that Star Abyss energy disappeared."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ye showed a hint of regret. If that was the case, it truly couldn't be replicated. As for the Star Abyss energy Ma Bin encountered, it should have been remnants from the previous Star Abyss invasion. As for Feng Rumao, his ability to establish a Dao foundation was entirely due to being pursued for a millennium by the Heavenly Pivot Sword Qi. He continuously comprehended the profound mysteries within the sword qi, achieving success under the immense pressure of life-or-death crises. Lu Ye even suspected this was intentional on the part of the Heavenly Pivot Sword's will; otherwise, no matter how strong Feng Rumao was, he couldn't have survived such a pursuit for a thousand years.

Indeed, there was more than one method to establish a Dao foundation besides the Furnace Method. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, this very starry sky already possessed several methods for achieving it, and Elder Tree had since passed them down for cultivators of various factions who needed them.

Lu Ye thought for a moment, then took out the Sword Gourd and handed it to Ma Bin. "Senior, this is for you." The Sword Gourd, Fire Gourd, and Sky Net Umbrella were three affiliated treasures Lu Ye had previously distributed, but they had been returned to him upon everyone's return.

Ma Bin paused, then shook his head. "This treasure is valuable, but it's useless to me. Jiu Yan said that once the Star Abyss energy invades, I can enter and cultivate, refining Dao power."

Lu Ye explained, "This isn't for your defense; it's for cultivation."

"Oh? How does one cultivate with it?" Ma Bin asked, surprised.

Lu Ye explained that the sword qi nurtured within the Sword Gourd was equivalent to a Dao power, immediately piquing Ma Bin's interest. He wasn't entirely sure if Ma Bin could acquire Dao power by refining the sword qi; Lu Ye himself could do it because of his Talent Tree. However, back in the Mechanist Starry Sky, some Star Abyss cultivators were very interested in his affiliated treasures. So, Lu Ye thought that Ma Bin should be able to refine that sword qi. While nurturing each wisp of sword qi required significant resources, if it allowed Ma Bin to acquire Dao power ahead of time, it would make his future cultivation within the Star Abyss energy safer.

"In that case, I'll take it for now." Ma Bin accepted the Sword Gourd, then suddenly looked to the side, smiling slightly. "You all chat; I'm going to cultivate." A figure was approaching from the side. Lu Ye turned to look, and his eye twitched involuntarily.

"Brother, you're finally back!" Chu Shen laughed, stepped forward, and gave Lu Ye a hug without a word, looking as if he had missed him greatly.

"I'm back," Lu Ye coughed lightly, looking him up and down. "Your cultivation has progressed well."

Chu Shen said, "I haven't dared to relax for a moment these past years, only wanting to become stronger sooner to search for you, Brother, and Mother. Who knew you'd both run off to some Star Abyss?"

On the day the Ghost Sedan captured both Lu Ye and Jiu Yan, Chu Shen was undoubtedly the most anxious. In the entire Myriad Manifestations Sea, those two were the people he cared about most. Later, despite numerous inquiries, he found no clues and could only bury himself in arduous cultivation, hoping to become stronger. It wasn't until Jiu Yan's return that he learned the truth.

"Have you seen your mother?" Lu Ye asked, a little guiltily.

"Yes, I saw her as soon as she returned," Chu Shen nodded. "Hehe, Mother told me a lot about you two!"

Lu Ye's expression stiffened. "She said... what?" Some things are easier done than said. Lu Ye had never known how to tell Chu Shen about this matter, always feeling as if he had wronged his brother. But if Jiu Yan had revealed it...

"Mother said that this time was fraught with danger, and if it weren't for your care, Brother, she would have certainly been in grave peril. Moreover, she was able to enter the Dao Realm thanks to you, Brother." As Chu Shen spoke, he bowed solemnly. "Brother, your younger brother thanks you here. From now on, if there's ever anything your younger brother can do for you, just say the word. I'll go through fire and water for you, without hesitation!"

Lu Ye clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Between us brothers, there's no need for such words!"

Chu Shen's eyes welled up with tears, and he exclaimed emotionally, "Brother, the greatest fortune in my life has been getting to know you!"

"Come on, I'll treat you to some drinks!"

"Good, we won't go home until we're drunk today!"

Half a day later, Chu Shen was utterly drunk, and Lu Ye was also somewhat tipsy. The two returned arm in arm, like boisterous companions, and from a distance, they saw a plump figure standing there, smiling as she watched them. Seeing that familiar smile, Lu Ye's spirits immediately lifted, and he sobered up considerably. The scene he had previously witnessed near the Soul-Nourishing Lotus instantly flashed through his mind. He recalled how that senior was surrounded by seven or eight women, some slender, some plump, embracing them both left and right—what joy! Truly a role model for their generation, to be emulated. He immediately straightened his back.

He patted Chu Shen's shoulder. "Little brother, go on. Your elder brother has encountered a powerful foe, a great menace to my heart. Today, I shall subdue her and let her know my might!" As he spoke, he channeled his spiritual power, dispelling the alcohol, and strode forward swiftly.

Chu Shen stumbled slightly, looked up, carefully discerning for a moment, then instantly understood. He chuckled, cupped his fists, and said, "Then I wish Brother swift success and a triumphant victory!"

Lu Ye, without turning his head, raised a hand. "Wait for my good news!" He walked directly to the woman, gazing down at her imperiously, then, amidst her surprised cry, swept her up in his arms, laughing arrogantly like a bandit chieftain carrying off his captive wife, and flew towards his residence.

Several days passed in a flash!

On the chaotic battlefield, Lu Ye lay sprawled out, his eyes vacant. Hua Ci stood by the bed, unhurriedly putting on her clothes, her face flushed and radiant. She went to the mirror, casually styled her hair beautifully, then turned and said softly, "Husband, I'm going now. I need to cultivate. I'll come back to see you later."

Lu Ye's body seemed to twitch involuntarily. Hua Ci lightly chuckled, covering her mouth, and floated away.

After a long while, Lu Ye finally sat up on the bed, his expression bitter. That woman, Hua Ci... she's simply toxic! Over these past few days, she seemed on the verge of death countless times, yet she would fully recover her vitality moments later. This woman has such resilience; it's as if she simply cannot be defeated! On the contrary, judging by the outcome, he was utterly defeated...

Lu Ye came to a realization: it seemed that no matter what one did, choosing a good opponent was crucial. A good opponent was the start of victory. At this moment, he deeply missed Su Yuqing and Jiu Yan. Those two were much easier to handle.

After several more days of rest, Lu Ye finally recovered. With the minor affairs concluded, it was time for serious business. Leaving a Talent Tree clone to hold the fort, his main body plunged into the Myriad Manifestations Sea, descending tens of thousands of miles. Immediately, he activated the power of the Talent Tree, and its invisible roots frantically spread outwards, extending thousands of miles in an instant, then tens of thousands of miles...

With a thought, an invisible devouring force emanated from the roots. Lu Ye immediately felt an incredibly surging spiritual energy pouring into his body, his Law Source roaring as it operated. It reached a limit where the efficiency of its refining couldn't keep up with the speed of absorption. This was Lu Ye's first time cultivating in Myriad Manifestations Sea since the Talent Tree's fourth metamorphosis, and the feeling was entirely different from before. The Talent Tree's devouring ability was terrifying; even his perfect-grade Law Source had now become a bottleneck for his cultivation advancement. This kind of situation would never happen to anyone else. For all cultivators, the refining of the Law Source could never reach its limit because no other cultivator could absorb spiritual energy so rapidly. But for Lu Ye, the situation was reversed. It was, frankly, quite amusing.