Chapter 2195: Task Settlement

For Dao Artifact holders who want to enhance their defense, it’s simple: they can wear defensive Dao Artifacts. Like magic treasures, Dao Artifacts are categorized into offensive and defensive types. However, defensive Dao Artifacts are extremely rare, making them significantly more valuable.

For instance, according to the War Merit Hall’s exchange list, Alliance Guards who reach the Silver Guard rank are eligible to exchange for Dao Artifacts. Yet, only offensive types are available at that level. It's only on the Gold Guard's exchange list that one or two defensive types occasionally appear, and even those offer a relatively small boost.

This phenomenon seems to be due to the greater difficulty in refining defensive Dao Artifacts.

With fourteen strands of power, Lu Ye could naturally break through his opponent's defensive energy.

As his hammer struck, Lu Ye keenly noticed that the enemy’s defensive energy wasn’t just nine strands, but around eleven. This undoubtedly indicated that the insectoid was wearing a defensive Dao Artifact; the additional two strands of defensive power likely came from its enhancement.

Realizing something was wrong, the insectoid tilted its head at the critical moment. The hammer landed heavily on its shoulder, causing the arm to collapse inward.

At the same time, the short blade in the insectoid's hand also pierced Lu Ye's defenses and entered his body.

The insectoid had aimed this strike at Lu Ye’s heart, which, if hit, would have resulted in at least a severe injury. However, whether by coincidence or due to the impact of Lu Ye’s heavy hammer blow, the insectoid’s strike was slightly off, and the short blade pierced Lu Ye's side, just below the ribs, instead of his desired target.

In that instant of confrontation, both sides sustained injuries.

The insectoid’s cold eyes flickered, losing their previous resolve, as it realized that this human was unlike anyone it had encountered before.

It tried to pull back and retreat, but Lu Ye’s left hand was already raised, grasping its wrist tightly!

The insectoid was startled, looking up to meet Lu Ye’s cold gaze.

The short hammer was raised high once more, Dao power surging through Lu Ye’s body.

The insectoid realized that a moment of carelessness had plunged it into a dilemma!

If it broke free now, its Dao Artifact would be lost, and without it, it would be utterly unqualified to fight this enemy. But if it didn't escape immediately, its life would be in danger!

With no time to think, it forcefully strained its hand, which still held the short blade, attempting to break free from Lu Ye's grip.

It thought this would be simple, as with the power of its Dao Artifact, it could unleash fourteen strands of power, while Lu Ye’s left hand could at most wield only nine.

Under its violent struggles, the short blade thrashed wildly inside Lu Ye’s body. Yet, Lu Ye’s expression remained unchanged; instead, he showed a strange smile to the insectoid before him.

The insectoid was utterly horrified, as it couldn't break free from Lu Ye’s control. The power emanating from Lu Ye’s left hand was clearly far more than nine strands!

The short hammer struck a second time, carrying the force of fourteen strands, shattering half of the insectoid’s shoulder. Along with it, the defensive Dao Artifact it wore, resembling chainmail, was also destroyed.

The biggest flaw of Dao Artifacts was their lack of durability. Lu Ye had discovered this when he first killed the Clawed Blood Clan member: they were fine when imbued with Dao power, but without that enhancement, any Dao Artifact, regardless of its quality, was as fragile as porcelain.

Lu Ye’s hammer blow broke through the opponent’s defenses, destroying the chainmail along with it.

Normally, the insectoid would have been heartbroken and spitting blood, but at this moment, it had no time to worry about its Dao Artifact. It was already severely wounded, and if it couldn't break free from this restraint, it would surely die here.

In this critical moment, it made a decisive move, raising its other hand and twisting at the seized arm, instantly severing it.

At this cost, it finally regained its freedom.

It dared not linger and immediately attempted to flee.

However, Lu Ye’s third hammer strike was already launched. Having learned from the previous two encounters, this time he didn't strike downwards but delivered a horizontal sweep.

Just as the insectoid was about to activate its escape technique, its head exploded under the powerful blow.

The headless corpse spasmed uncontrollably.

Only then did Lu Ye turn his head, spit out a mouthful of blood, and pull the short blade from his side, blood spurting out.

After carefully considering his recent actions and confirming there were no major issues, he promptly began collecting the spoils of war.

It was laughable to think that he, a Dao cultivator with nearly forty strands of power, had to expend so much effort to kill an enemy with only fourteen.

However, with the Insect Matriarch present, it couldn't be helped. Although there was no concrete evidence, Lu Ye was almost certain that the Matriarch had been observing him through the insectoid’s vision during their confrontation.

But from start to finish, he hadn't revealed any weaknesses. In the Matriarch’s eyes, he should appear as merely a very formidable and highly experienced human fighter.

The insectoid’s death was largely due to its carelessness; otherwise, a powerful being with fourteen strands of power wouldn't have been killed so quickly.

A few breaths later, Lu Ye left the spot and found a nearby place to recover.

His injuries were not serious, practically negligible for him.

While healing, he took out his Alliance Guard token, considered it for a moment, and then sent a message.

He only needed one Dao Artifact for appearances; there was no need to keep more. Therefore, the short blade he had just acquired would ultimately have to be dealt with.

The best method, of course, was to sell it to those aristocratic families. Ordinary Dao Artifacts were not scarce for these families, but no one would object to having more high-grade Dao Artifacts like this one.

The Yan family was his only option at the moment.

He wasn't sure if Yan Hong was currently in seclusion. Yan Yong had mentioned last time that Yan Hong was resonating with 'Pifu'. Lu Ye wasn't sure what this specifically entailed, only guessing that such resonance might allow Yan Hong to better integrate with Pifu and unleash greater power.

The message was sent, and a reply quickly came: “Brother Lu, is something the matter?”

Lu Ye didn't waste words and went straight to the point: “I have a high-grade Dao Artifact that I just acquired. I heard that your aristocratic families are interested in buying such items.”

“Brother Lu is formidable!” Though he couldn't see him, Lu Ye could almost picture Yan Hong’s admiring expression. Enemies with high-grade Dao Artifacts were difficult to kill; even Yan Hong himself hadn't been certain of victory against such foes in the past, so he hadn't expected Lu Ye to actually acquire one.

“My Yan family is indeed interested in acquiring high-grade Dao Artifacts. If Brother Lu is willing, I'll make the decision to buy it for nine hundred Dao Bones.”

This was a hundred Dao Bones more than the price Lu Ye knew, clearly a friendly offer from Yan Hong, valuing their relationship.

Lu Ye was naturally pleased: “I'm currently on the Fir War Star. Brother Yan can send someone here to conduct the transaction with me.”

“I'll give the orders right away. However, for these nine hundred Dao Bones, would Brother Lu prefer my Yan family to pay in a single lump sum or in installments?”

Yan Hong asked this question out of consideration for Lu Ye, as nine hundred Dao Bones were too many for anyone to refine in a short period, which would lead to unnecessary waste.

Paying in installments was different: providing Lu Ye with a portion each month would allow him to refine them comfortably, while the Yan family could also slowly gather the resources.

“A single payment,” Lu Ye replied. “I've joined the Hunters, and some of these Dao Bones need to be distributed externally.”

“Brother Lu has also joined the Hunters? With Brother Lu’s abilities, you have a bright future ahead.”

“Brother Yan, could it be that you are…” Lu Ye’s heart stirred.

“I am Dragon Hawk!” Yan Hong replied. “What's your code name, Brother Lu?”

*All the good code names were taken by people like them!*

“How many days will it take for the Yan family to arrive?” Lu Ye changed the subject.

“In as few as three days, or as many as five. I'll contact Brother Lu then.”

After ending the communication with Yan Hong, Lu Ye took out the Dao Bones he had acquired earlier and began refining them.

Since he had to wait a few days anyway, he wasn't in a hurry to return to Fir War Star. He decided to wander around outside a bit more, hoping to make some new discoveries.

Several days later, on Fir War Star, at the War Merit Hall.

Lu Ye stepped inside, glanced around, and headed straight for a corner.

It was similar to the setup in Lan Shui: there was a table, and a young woman sat behind it. Seeing Lu Ye approach, she quickly stood up and greeted him: “Greetings, Dao Brother.”

Lu Ye raised his hand and placed his Hunter's token on the table: “Mission complete!”

There were no substantial rewards for settling missions with the Hunters, but if a mission wasn't settled, one couldn't accept the next.

The woman quickly picked up the Hunter’s token and examined it, her expression showing understanding: “So it's Dao Brother Owl. Please wait a moment. The mission rank Dao Brother accepted is…” As she spoke, her eyes widened. She looked up at Lu Ye in disbelief, then said uncertainly: “Red?”

Red-rank missions were rarely taken, and even if accepted, they weren't necessarily completable. This was because every red-rank mission targeted top-tier Dao cultivators, making them virtually impossible for ordinary Hunters to accomplish.

She had been stationed there for several years, and this was the first time anyone had come to settle a red-rank mission. Moreover, according to the mission records, this 'Owl' had only taken the mission recently, less than ten days ago.

Composing herself, the woman asked: “May I ask, Dao Brother, was the mission a failure or a success?”

This needed to be verified clearly.

“Completed,” Lu Ye said, handing over the short blade Dao Artifact and a storage ring.

The woman took the storage ring and checked its contents. There was nothing else inside but the insectoid's fragmented corpse. She then examined the short blade, confirming it matched the records.

“The situation is largely verified; mission settled.” The woman respectfully returned Lu Ye's items, then took her own Hunter's token and performed some actions, evidently clearing the previous mission entry.

By the time she finished and looked up, Lu Ye had vanished.

Outside the War Merit Hall, just as Lu Ye emerged, someone approached him in a hurry, scrutinizing him before asking: “Are you Daoist Lu Ye?”

Lu Ye glanced at him and nodded: “From the Yan family?”

The newcomer clasped his fists: “Yan Xiao Wu greets Daoist. I've been sent by my elder brother Yan Hong to conduct this transaction with Daoist Lu.”

“Yan Hong is your elder brother?”

“My cousin,” Yan Xiao Wu chuckled.

Lu Ye nodded slightly, well aware that powerful aristocratic clans like the Yan family had numerous branches and members. However, the fact that Yan Xiao Wu could represent Yan Hong in this transaction indicated that he was likely highly valued by Yan Hong.