Chapter 2282: Placement of Limitless City

Upon hearing that the human race here had suffered for countless years, kept by foreign races like livestock, and that human Dao cultivators were used as bone vessels, repeatedly harvesting their Dao bones, all the family patriarchs were filled with righteous indignation.

Even though they had never seen the humans of Boundless City, as members of the same race, the tragic plight of these humans naturally resonated with them.

The families of these patriarchs, regardless of size, had many members. Imagining their own kin enduring such a fate, how could they tolerate it?

"Lu Ye discovered this grand city deep within the ruins and, grieving the plight of its human inhabitants, invited me and others to assist in their rescue."

Chen Gushan continued.

As he spoke, everyone gradually understood what had happened, but many questions remained. The biggest question was why Lu Ye had only invited a few individuals for help. If this news had spread throughout the home star at that time, many Dao cultivators would surely have eagerly offered their assistance.

However, these words came from Chen Gushan, whose seniority was too great for any of the patriarchs present to easily question him.

A moment later, Chen Gushan recounted the origin of Boundless City, then added, "The many humans in this city have endured countless millennia of suffering. From now on, they will be settled here, under the protection of our home star, and personally overseen by myself and Junior Sister He. Do any of you have objections?"

No one had any objections. Even if some harbored reservations, they would not voice them at this moment.

Furthermore, they had just surveyed the situation within Boundless City. While there was considerable life within the city, their strength was generally low. Apart from the Dao-entered human "bone vessels," all others were below the Dao-entered stage.

Such a group of beings could only serve as reserves for the War Alliance; only when they entered the Dao would they be qualified to participate in battle.

"Since that's settled, you may all disperse. Please also inform your kin on the home star not to panic," Chen Gushan said, then looked at Yan Yao. "Yan Yao, stay. I have some words for you."

Yan Yao nodded silently, a faint suspicion mixed with sorrow on his face.

When Yan Zhixing left that day, he had greeted Yan Yao but hadn't specified his destination, only saying that he was going to a gathering called by an old friend.

Yet now, Chen Gushan and He Linglong were present, while Yan Zhixing was nowhere to be seen.

A short while later, all the family patriarchs departed, leaving only Yan Yao.

Chen Gushan turned to Lu Ye. "Young friend Lu..."

Lu Ye nodded and walked towards Yan Yao, then took out the patriarch token Yan Zhixing had left before his death and handed it to Yan Yao with both hands. "Patriarch Yan, Elder Yan asked me to give you this."

Yan Yao gazed at the patriarch token, raised his hand to take it, then looked at Lu Ye. "When our ancestor passed, did he encounter any hardship?"

Lu Ye shook his head. "Elder Yan passed away peacefully, even enjoying a final, grand drink."

Yan Yao lowered his head, showing no immediate reaction, but the sorrow in his eyes was gradually replaced by shock. As he picked up the patriarch token left by Yan Zhixing, a hidden message was transmitted from within it.

The message was brief, but its content sent a torrent of emotions through him.

Lu Ye's expression remained calm as he glanced at the patriarch token he held in his hand.

The token had no practical purpose; it was merely a symbol. However, Yan Zhixing had insisted that Lu Ye deliver it before his death, which clearly carried a deeper meaning.

Yan Zhixing likely intended to use this opportunity to foster a good relationship between Yan Yao and Lu Ye. Perhaps he had also left some information within the token.

Lu Ye was well aware of this but did not point it out, as, according to his prior discussion with Chen Gushan, certain matters needed to be disclosed to Yan Yao.

Not just Yan Yao, but all the patriarchs of the four top aristocratic families would have to be informed.

This was because the settlement of Boundless City involved many complexities. The city still held many living beings who, despite having lived there, ultimately originated from outside Banyan.

If anyone interacted with them and learned information, suspicions would inevitably arise, and the secret of Lu Ye and others having previously left Banyan would no longer be protected.

This was also why Chen Gushan and He Linglong needed to preside over Banyan and guard the city.

It was to prevent unauthorized individuals from contacting the cultivators of Boundless City.

However, this task could not be accomplished by the two elders alone. Chen Gushan's explanations today contained too many questionable points. The patriarchs were not fools; while they showed no reaction now, they might secretly try to investigate Boundless City's true nature.

Therefore, the four great families had to cooperate. Once they did, other families would be unable to cause any significant trouble.

The secret that Lu Ye could take people out of Banyan must not be widely disseminated. However, it could be spread on a small scale. As long as it remained limited, it would largely not affect the overall situation of the human race within Banyan.

Previously, Lu Ye had guarded this secret meticulously, partly due to his insufficient strength and partly because he had no one he could trust.

But times had changed. Now, not only had his strength significantly increased, but he also had Elders Chen and He to rely on.

Furthermore, to prepare for his advancement to the Dao Fusion stage, he would need to visit the home star. It would benefit him to observe the Dao Pattern Pavilions of both the War Alliance and the four top aristocratic families.

When the first Pí Fú was traded with the Yan family, Yan Yong had granted permission for Lu Ye to use a Yan family quota to enter the War Alliance Dao Pattern Pavilion once in the future. Lu Ye even had the opportunity to observe the Yan family's own Dao Pattern Pavilion.

However, besides the Yan family, there were three other great families. To observe their Dao Pattern Pavilions, Lu Ye needed leverage.

His ability to freely enter and exit Banyan, and even take people out, was his greatest leverage!

Yan Yao's slight abnormality was not obvious, but Lu Ye noticed it, and Chen Gushan certainly would not have missed it.

"It seems Senior Brother Yan left you a message."

Knowing he could not hide it, Yan Yao nodded.

"That makes things easier," Chen Gushan said, looking at him. "We never intended to hide this matter from you, but you should know the consequences if this information were to spread."

Yan Yao considered for a moment. "People's hearts would become restless. Not to mention those at the peak of Dao Fusion who haven't advanced their cultivation for years, even those at the eighth or ninth level of Dao Fusion would likely start planning for their own futures. This would destabilize the foundation of the front-line battlefield, and the consequences would be unpredictable."

"Indeed," Chen Gushan affirmed. "At that point, Lu Ye would undoubtedly become the focus of all human Dao Fusion cultivators. Having managed a family for so many years, you must know that human hearts are unpredictable. Let's not even talk about others; just consider the aristocratic families on our home star – who among them doesn't harbor their own ulterior motives?"

Yan Yao nodded. "I understand. What do you wish to do, Elder Chen? I will cooperate fully."

"Boundless City was not actually discovered deep within the ruins; it was brought in from outside Banyan..."

Despite already knowing that Lu Ye had the ability to bring people in and out of Banyan, Yan Yao was still visibly shocked upon hearing Chen Gushan's words. He then understood. "So that's why Elder Chen and Elder He need to personally oversee Boundless City!"

Chen Gushan smiled. "I wish the prestige of us two old men was great enough to deter others from trying to investigate Boundless City, but that's unrealistic. Therefore, I need your four top aristocratic families to take the lead in providing some protection and privileges for Boundless City. No one, without my and Junior Sister He's permission, shall be allowed to enter Boundless City!"

Yan Yao frowned. "If that's the case, then some matters cannot be kept from Huang Chen and the others."

"How to tell them, and how much to tell them, is for you to consider. As long as it doesn't affect the overall situation, it will be fine."

Yan Yao pondered for a moment, then cupped his fists and said, "This junior knows what to do."

Having served as a patriarch for so many years, his mind was exceptionally clear. In the current circumstances, he naturally knew which choice was best.

"Then go ahead and do it. We two old fellows will remain here from now on."

To ultimately dedicate their lives to the human bloodline was a worthy way to have lived.

Yan Yao took a step, but after a few paces, he stopped and looked at Lu Ye. "Young friend, if you had invited more external help when facing Boundless City that day, could our ancestor have survived?"

He was clearly deeply saddened by the death of his ancestor.

Lu Ye did not reply, but Chen Gushan spoke up. "If there had truly been more external help, more would have died, because we were facing a Dao Integration cultivator at that time!"

Their survival depended on Lu Ye's formation. In that situation, numbers were meaningless; even with seven or eight more people, without the formation, Xiao Yue could have easily killed them on the spot.

"Dao Integration!" Yan Yao's pupils contracted.

From his ancestor's death, he knew that battle must have been extremely difficult and perilous, but he never imagined the enemy would be a Dao Integration cultivator.

He finally understood why his ancestor had died and why Elders Chen and He had become so aged.

Dao Integration—that was an unattainable goal for cultivators in Banyan. Achieving such a result against such a powerful individual was already extremely fortunate.

But from now on, there was hope.

"My apologies!" Yan Yao nodded to Lu Ye, understanding that he could not blame his ancestor's death on him.

Yan Yao departed.

With him taking the lead, and the four top aristocratic families uniting to protect Boundless City, there would be no more worries regarding this matter. Once the news spread on a small scale, Lu Ye would undoubtedly become an honored guest of these great families.

Chen Gushan and He Linglong began to busy themselves immediately.

The humans in Boundless City needed to be settled, but how to do so was the question. These humans were completely different from those within Banyan; they had been enslaved and subjugated for too long. For them to truly stand up again, it would require the efforts of several generations, slowly changing their perceptions and beliefs.

Once they truly stood up, they could fully integrate into Banyan.

Although Chen Gushan and He Linglong had little lifespan left, they could almost certainly achieve this goal as long as they avoided further combat.

The two elders were also willing to dedicate the remaining time of their lives to Boundless City. For them, if they truly accomplished this, would it not be a unique form of rebirth?

The light of their lives would then continue through generations of humans thereafter.

Lu Ye then left Banyan again. According to his plan, after Boundless City was settled, he intended to let Banyan continue drifting.

Remaining in place felt too insecure. No one could say whether Xiao Yue might suddenly return from the inner realm to attack.