Chapter 2233: Killing Two Enemies with One Move

Fortunately, the direction of the *Banalan*'s drift is fixed. So, if he ever truly wanted to return, he would only need to follow the opposite direction of the *Banalan*'s movement to find the constellations he had previously recorded.

By his reckoning, nearly three years had passed since he left the starry sky. He had grown from a mere fifteenth-stage cultivator to his current level. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he advanced to the Integration Stage.

This was one reason he didn't want to leave the *Banalan*. Cultivating *Dao* bones by hunting enemies in the Star Abyss wasn't very efficient. In contrast, he could find more opportunities for growth within the *Banalan*.

Furthermore, he also wanted to visit humanity's home star.

He had a single opportunity to enter and observe the *Dao* Pattern Pavilion of both the War Alliance and the Yan Family. And *Dao* patterns were one of the key elements for advancing to the Integration Stage.

However, since he had been abducted, he wasn't sure if the conditions previously agreed upon would still be honored.

Given his current predicament, regaining the War Alliance's trust wouldn't be easy.

The vast *Banalan* drifted through the Star Abyss, devouring everything in its path—whether inert or living, even stars. That's how his Talent Tree avatar had been swallowed, forcing Lu Ye to reluctantly pursue it into the *Banalan*, where he became trapped.

While freedom was certainly enjoyable, it couldn't last forever.

Lu Ye sighed, then moved, preparing to re-enter the *Banalan*.

Just as he was about to depart, he suddenly felt something and turned his head to look in one direction. Two streaks of light were rapidly approaching from there.

The newcomers had clearly discovered the *Banalan* and were drawn to investigate. Such occurrences were common; most cultivators who became trapped in the *Banalan* were driven by curiosity, mistaking it for some treasure.

The *Banalan* was indeed a treasure, but it wasn't one that just anyone could covet.

They quickly drew near. Lu Ye glanced at them casually, unable to immediately identify their races. One of the two was humanoid, but bare-chested with dark skin, covered in numerous dense cracks that, strangely, were not wounds, making him look extremely bizarre.

The other was completely round, like a pink sphere, appearing quite delightful. The sphere faced Lu Ye and had blurry facial features. Unlike its pleasing exterior, those features were clouded with a look of distress, as if it had encountered something unpleasant.

The two also spotted Lu Ye. A glint of delight immediately appeared on the pink sphere's distressed face. "A human! We can take him back to cultivate bones!"

As it spoke, the pink body split open, and a sticky tentacle suddenly shot out from within, coiling towards Lu Ye like a whip.

Unlike its pink exterior, this tentacle was black and covered in suction cups. If he were caught by it, even with superior strength, he would likely find it difficult to break free.

This creature had just attacked him directly.

Lu Ye felt helpless. He hadn't provoked anyone; he was just about to return to the *Banalan*.

From what the creature said, Lu Ye immediately understood that his human identity had made him a target.

Back when he left the Star Abyss Gate, Uncle Duan, who was with Yin Luo, had warned Lu Ye that humanity's situation in the Star Abyss was not good. Uncle Duan hadn't specified the reasons.

Lu Ye had fallen into the *Banalan* not long after venturing into the Star Abyss, so he hadn't truly experienced any specific targeting or hardship regarding his situation until this moment.

What was wrong with humans? Lu Ye couldn't help but feel annoyed.

The tentacle coiled like lightning. As blade light flashed, the tentacle was severed in two, blood spattering as Lu Ye counterattacked.

The pink sphere shrieked in pain.

"How dare you!" a furious roar came, from the pink sphere's companion. The scar-like cracks on his body suddenly split open, revealing numerous crimson eyes.

Waves of red light surged directly towards Lu Ye.

The Thousand-Eyed Race! Lu Ye immediately recognized the creature's origin. He had seen members of the Thousand-Eyed Race before, at Yin Luo's Green Palace, but hadn't recognized this one at first.

In some ways, the Thousand-Eyed Race was similar to the Insect Mother; their primary cultivation focused on spiritual power.

The red light was a spiritual impact, now materialized.

Lu Ye's charging figure immediately seemed to sink into quicksand, abruptly stalling.

The Thousand-Eyed cultivator couldn't help but sneer at this sight. Just as he was about to exert more force, the stalled figure suddenly became agile again.

The Thousand-Eyed cultivator distinctly felt that his spiritual attack had been blocked by a solid defense.

All the eyes on his body widened in shock; he clearly realized that Lu Ye was not to be trifled with.

His long blade spun like a moon, and Lu Ye's figure passed through the pink sphere.

A spray of blood mist burst forth, and the pink sphere was severed in two!

Suddenly, there was a strange movement above. A white light descended from the sky, landing on Lu Ye.

"Star Abyss Blessing!" The Thousand-Eyed cultivator, still astonished by Lu Ye's power, gasped again upon seeing this phenomenon.

This human... was so lucky? A Star Abyss Blessing was a benefit coveted but rarely obtained by many Star Abyss cultivators.

With no time for further exclamations, the Thousand-Eyed cultivator turned and fled.

His companion was already dead, and their strengths were comparable, so how could he dare to stay any longer?

However, he hadn't run far before a killing intent enveloped him from behind. The dense eyes on his back widened in terror. No matter how he channeled his spiritual power, he couldn't impede Lu Ye in the slightest.

With a roar, he frantically turned around, a pair of eyes fixed on Lu Ye as blood trickled from their corners. Simultaneously, the numerous bizarre eyes on his body closed in unison, and the immense spiritual power he unleashed distorted the very space around him.

He was clearly fighting for his life.

Yet, the disparity in strength filled him with despair. Lu Ye, who was pursuing him, remained completely unfazed. A spiritual impact from a fourth-stage Integration cultivator couldn't hinder him in the slightest.

"Fellow cultivator, wait!" the Thousand-Eyed cultivator shouted.

But what awaited him was the merciless descent of the Mountain-Shattering Blade!

His vision went dark, and his consciousness faded...

Another white light descended from the sky, landing on Lu Ye and disappearing.

If the Thousand-Eyed cultivator had still been alive, he would likely have been utterly astounded by Lu Ye's prowess.

Killing two enemies and receiving two blessings—this couldn't simply be explained by good luck.

Lu Ye, however, stood rooted, his brow deeply furrowed.

He had received Star Abyss Blessings before, more than once. But the greatest benefit he gained from them was a profound spiritual boost, while the rest merely strengthened his physical body by a small margin.

The two Star Abyss Blessings he had just received were similar; they only served to slightly enhance his physical body.

This left him somewhat dissatisfied.

Because along with the Star Abyss Blessings came other indistinct, indefinable things, which were undoubtedly harmful to him.

His Talent Tree's reaction had become more violent.

His Talent Tree was already constantly burning away the constraints of vows, and now it had to burn away the anomalies that arrived with the Star Abyss Blessings...

Compared to the benefits gained, Lu Ye would rather not have received these two Star Abyss Blessings.

Why couldn't it be that kind of profound spiritual boost? If it were, he'd welcome more, and he could grow much faster.

On second thought, it seemed that cultivators at the Path Entry stage who killed those at the Integration stage were particularly prone to receiving Star Abyss Blessings.

It had been true before, and it was true now. Not only for him, but earlier at the Fengtai Outpost, a seventh-stage cultivator had, by chance, killed an Insect Race Integration cultivator and also received a Star Abyss Blessing.

With his current strength, killing ordinary Integration cultivators was not difficult. For example, the two he had just encountered were only at the third or fourth stage of Integration; he could kill them effortlessly.

This meant that if he found suitable opportunities, obtaining Star Abyss Blessings should be relatively easy for him.

As long as he killed enough, he would eventually get the benefits he truly desired!

A faint sense of anticipation stirred within Lu Ye.

He collected the spoils of battle and, without further delay, headed towards the *Banalan*.

Regardless of what the future held, for now, he still needed to return.

Before that, however, Lu Ye activated his Thousand-Faced Spiritual Mark to alter his appearance, a task he was quite adept at.

Upon re-entering the *Banalan*'s starry sky, Lu Ye immediately pulled out his star chart to check his location. Once he confirmed it, his brow lifted.

Even before returning, he knew one thing: he had no control over where he would reappear.

If he appeared in the territory of the Insect and Blood Races, You Die would undoubtedly find him and bring him back immediately.

Lu Ye didn't want to return. Although he and You Die were now bound by life and death, who would willingly face that bloated mountain of flesh constantly if they could be free?

He much preferred to appear in human territory!

Luckily, his reappearance was not within the Insect and Blood Races' territory but in a war zone.

There was a human war star nearby.

Using the star chart to identify his bearings, Lu Ye turned and sped towards the war star's location.

The moment he returned to the *Banalan*, You Die sensed it.

She couldn't quite understand why Lu Ye's movements were so elusive. One moment he was incredibly far away, and the next, his position had changed again. Although still distant, at least that ethereal, intangible feeling was gone.

"What is that scoundrel doing?" You Die was utterly perplexed. He had only gone to an ancient ruin, yet it felt as if she was losing control.

She deeply regretted not having sent an Integration cultivator to follow Lu Ye.

But even if she had, it wouldn't have hindered Lu Ye in the slightest, because Integration cultivators were forbidden from entering that ruin!

After a brief sensing to confirm Lu Ye's whereabouts, her divine consciousness surged, sending a message through the scattered stone worms.

No matter what, Lu Ye had to be brought back quickly.

He was not only You Die's hope but also connected to her very life; how could he not be taken seriously?

Lu Ye arrived gracefully at Shaochong War Star.

Having experienced his initial entry into the *Banalan*, Lu Ye naturally knew that the most important thing for him to do now was to acquire a new identity here and obtain his Alliance Guard Token.

Only then could he be considered a member of the Human War Alliance.

Throughout history, countless cultivators had inadvertently fallen into the *Banalan*. As newcomers, none possessed an Alliance Guard Token, and he had also altered his appearance, so Lu Ye wasn't worried about his identity being exposed.

Every war star had a registration point, located in the War Merit Hall.