Chapter 2218: Secret

The armored figure dispersed, leaving behind a faint glow from which Lu Ye detected the aura of Dao power.

The Blood tộc cultivator, however, reached out and grabbed the glow, then directly put it into his mouth while Lu Ye watched in astonishment.

Lu Ye seemed thoughtful.

After doing this, the Blood tộc called out, "Let's go!"

He led the way, though a cautious expression crossed his face. Lu Ye quietly followed behind him.

A moment later, the Blood tộc stopped. Something unusual appeared ahead. Lu Ye watched as a strange figure materialized out of thin air, blocking their path.

Unlike the previous armored figure, this one, at first glance, resembled a leopard—a common wild beast found in mountains and fields.

Yet, like the armored figure, it showed no signs of life.

This was undoubtedly another projection of power!

The Blood tộc said nothing, stepped forward, and engaged the leopard. In a short while, he dealt with it. Another glow was left behind, which the Blood tộc again picked up and put into his mouth.

Lu Ye vaguely guessed that the glow must contain residual pure Dao power, which the Blood tộc consumed to replenish his own depleted Dao power. Only the Blood tộc would know the exact amount of residual Dao power it contained.

What exactly was this place? Why were there so many strange phenomena?

As they continued their journey, figures of various forms—humanoid and beast-like, from different races—periodically appeared to block their way. The further they advanced, the stronger these figures became.

Initially, the Blood tộc could easily dispatch the blockers, but as time passed, it became less effortless for him.

The strength he displayed far exceeded that of an ordinary Dao Entry cultivator, yet he possessed no Dao artifacts.

Lu Ye couldn't help but show an interested expression.

After more than half a day and a dozen arduous battles for the Blood tộc, the two finally reached the end of the passage.

At the end was an ancient bronze door, exceedingly heavy. In front of it stood two guard-like figures, one on the left and one on the right.

The Blood tộc's expression became very solemn. Clearly, even with his strength, defeating these two guards would not be simple.

He turned to Lu Ye and cautioned, "Stay far back."

Lu Ye lightly stepped back, retreating a hundred zhang.

The Blood tộc nodded in satisfaction, then turned around and, with a surge of his Blood Sea, rushed forward!

In previous battles, he had never used his Blood Sea because it wasn't necessary. This time, however, was different. He was confident he could defeat one opponent alone, but not two. Without the aid of his Blood Sea, he would be no match.

Lu Ye watched from a distance, feeling a bit bored.

The battle lasted for quite some time, nearly half a day. When the Blood Sea dissipated, the Blood tộc's weary figure was revealed, covered in numerous injuries.

His typically sanguine complexion had even become slightly pale due to the immense exertion.

He immediately sat down cross-legged on the spot, silently recovering.

It was a long while before he finally rose, turned to Lu Ye who was still in the distance, and beckoned, "It's alright now!"

Lu Ye walked towards him.

A moment later, the two figures stood before the bronze door. The Blood tộc exerted force and pushed it open.

A grand hall came into Lu Ye's view.

The Blood tộc entered first, with Lu Ye following closely.

Looking around, Lu Ye saw that the hall was empty, save for a raised platform in the very center, which was unmistakably the altar he had seen before.

"Let's go!" the Blood tộc said, leading Lu Ye towards the altar.

Lu Ye's eyes flickered. He followed behind, stepped onto the altar, and looked down, seeing intricate and complex patterns crisscrossing its surface.

The Blood tộc stood beside him, and Dao power began to surge, flowing into the altar beneath them.

The intricate patterns slowly began to glow.

"What exactly is this place?" Lu Ye suddenly asked.

The Blood tộc ignored him, still concentrating on channeling his Dao power. If it weren't for the Mother Worm's command, he wouldn't be expending so much effort. He truly couldn't understand why this human was so important that the Mother Worm would throw him in here and then order him to rescue him.

"I'm asking you a question," Lu Ye's voice was calm.

However, the Blood tộc felt as if struck by lightning. His surging Dao power seemed to be smoothed by an invisible hand, and he involuntarily fell to his knees.

The terrifying pressure came and went swiftly, as if it had been merely an illusion.

Only then did the kneeling Blood tộc realize that his clothes were soaked. He turned his head, looking up at Lu Ye in a strange posture, his expression a mix of shock and uncertainty.

Lu Ye stood quietly beside him, looking down with the same calm expression, as if the recent upheaval had nothing to do with him.

The Blood tộc cultivator hurriedly got up and stared at Lu Ye for a moment. "You... what did you do?"

"First, answer my question. I've asked you several times."

The Blood tộc's expression flickered, then he snorted coldly, "Playing tricks? I'll knock you out first!"

The Mother Worm's mission was paramount; he could still take Lu Ye out even if he was unconscious.

From a very close range, he threw a punch.

With a bang, a figure flew up like a rag doll, slammed hard into the hall wall, bounced off, and fell to the ground.

The Blood tộc was stunned!

Although he hadn't used his full strength just now, he had exerted sixteen Dao powers. Yet, with Lu Ye's gentle wave, his power instantly dissipated.

He felt like an egg hitting a rock, so utterly fragile.

His whole body ached; from just that single blow, he felt he had sustained significant injuries.

Just as he was about to get up, a figure appeared beside him.

The Blood tộc cultivator looked up, his face filled with horror. "Dao Fusion?"

Only a Dao Fusion cultivator in this world could injure him so casually!

But then he quickly exclaimed, "No, that's wrong, you're not Dao Fusion. Dao Fusion cultivators cannot enter this ruin!"

"Ruin?" Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "What kind of ruin is this?"

The Blood tộc seemed not to hear, his mind too overwhelmed by horror to think clearly. He blurted out, "Who exactly are you?"

This human was truly unusual; no wonder the Mother Worm cared so much.

Lu Ye frowned. He had many questions, but the Blood tộc in front of him was clearly not in a good state, giving irrelevant answers.

With a surge of intense holiness, the Blood tộc's eyes immediately widened. He felt the same pressure as before, and his entire body slumped to the ground. His initial horror was now mixed with profound awe. His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Lu Ye looked down at him, his expression indifferent, like a superior deity gazing upon an ant.

The terrifying holiness suddenly receded.

The Blood tộc gasped for air, taking a long time to recover.

Lu Ye waited for a moment before speaking. "Can you talk now?"

The Blood tộc slowly got up, glancing at him timidly. "What does Milord wish to know?"

He had clearly misunderstood Lu Ye's identity, assuming he was a Blood tộc in disguise, which was not uncommon. However, what he couldn't comprehend was why Lu Ye's holiness was so terrifying.

He had experienced the holiness of several Dao Fusion Blood tộc, and in comparison, they weren't even fit to carry Lu Ye's shoes.

And since Lu Ye could be here, he couldn't be a Dao Fusion cultivator.

"Tell me everything you know."

The Blood tộc cultivator composed himself, then slowly began to speak.

An incense stick's time later, Lu Ye slowly pieced together the current situation.

"So, this is an ancient ruin that might contain a way to leave Banyan?" Lu Ye's expression was strange.

Ever since entering Banyan, he had been trying to find a way out, but unfortunately, he had gained nothing.

He hadn't expected to learn clues from a Blood tộc today. It was truly a case of finding what one seeks when one least expects it.

"It's just a legend; no one has confirmed it yet," the Blood tộc cultivator replied respectfully.

The reason it hadn't been confirmed was that the legendary method of departure was said to be hidden in the deepest part of the ruin. However, with the Blood tộc's current strength, he could only explore as far as this hall. He wasn't strong enough to go any further, and he had no idea where the deepest part of the ruin was.

Not only were the Insect and Blood races exploring this ruin, but the Human War Alliance and the Giant race were also doing so.

Furthermore, because Dao Fusion cultivators could not enter this ruin, only Dao Entry cultivators were qualified to explore it.

These were not ordinary Dao Entry cultivators, but Dao Entry cultivators possessing Bìfú. The figures in the passage could exert strength that ordinary Dao Entry cultivators could not contend with, not even with high-grade Dao artifacts.

This Blood tộc, for instance, possessed a Bìfú.

Lu Ye had suspected this earlier, because the Blood tộc's strength throughout their journey had clearly surpassed the Dao Entry level, which was abnormal.

Aside from those possessing Bìfú, Lu Ye couldn't think of any other Dao Entry cultivators who could exert such power.

This made him suddenly recall that Zi Ying had previously told him there were currently five Bìfú with clear owners: one originally belonged to the human race, one to the Giant race, two to the Insect and Blood races, and one that Lu Ye had obtained was taken by the Yan family, giving the human race two...

However, her understanding of five items was incorrect, because the one Lu Ye obtained was actually seized from an Insect tộc cultivator, meaning there were only four.

The Insect race's Bìfú had been seized by him, and now the Blood race's Bìfú was right before him...

Lu Ye also remembered Zi Ying saying that Bìfú were not merely ancient Dao artifacts, but involved something far greater, which was why the major top families valued them so highly.

At the time, he hadn't understood what this involvement was, but now he did.

What the Bìfú were involved with was clearly the qualification to explore this ruin.

As for Huang Zhihuan of the Huang family, despite his extraordinary talent, he had confined himself to the Dao Entry realm for hundreds of years without progressing. It wasn't that he couldn't advance to Dao Fusion.

Rather, it was his own unwillingness or the Huang family's command.

Because entering Dao Fusion would prevent him from continuing to explore this ruin, and he wanted to find a way to leave within it.

Yan Hong was similar; he could have already begun preparations to advance to Dao Fusion, but he gave up after acquiring a Bìfú. His intention was likely to explore the ruin.

Besides the altar in the center, the hall only had two large doors. One was where Lu Ye and the Blood tộc entered, and directly opposite it was another closed door.

Lu Ye turned to look at it. "What's over there?"

The Blood tộc replied respectfully, "It's another passage, but the trials there are even more severe. I've tried, but I'm not strong enough."

Lu Ye understood. With the Blood tộc's strength, even with a Bìfú, he could only explore this far and couldn't delve any deeper.