Chapter 239: Two Sets of Siblings

Sitting on a rock, Lu Ye examined the contents of his storage bag. While not a huge amount, it wasn't insignificant, roughly equivalent to thirty or forty spirit stones.

Not every cultivator was as affluent as he was. When he left the stronghold this time, Lu Ye’s storage bag contained hundreds of spirit pills and hundreds of spirit stones. He had only a few spirit talismans, as his increasing cultivation meant the low-level ones were no longer very useful. Both he and Amber relied on spirit pills to advance their cultivation. At their current stage, the daily consumption for the two of them amounted to about thirty to forty pills. Lu Ye was practically sick of eating them, having wished more than once that the spirit pills came in different flavors. Thus, even though Lu Ye carried a substantial quantity of spirit pills, they wouldn't last for long. This was one reason he had entered the inner circle before reaching the eighth level of cultivation. His practice consumed resources too quickly, and continuing at that rate would inevitably deplete his supply. While Hua Ci had plenty of spirit pills, he couldn't constantly rely on her.

Compared to Lu Ye, most cultivators were quite poor. Aside from their monthly allowances from their sects, they had few channels to acquire cultivation materials. Any spirit pills and stones they obtained were almost entirely consumed in their practice, leaving little surplus. The current gains were undoubtedly much better than what Lu Ye had acquired previously by fighting enemies in the outer circle, as inner circle cultivators generally had higher cultivation levels and more substantial resources.

"Lu Ye!" Yi Yi called softly.

Lu Ye looked up and saw a man and a woman approaching. Their spiritual luminescence clearly indicated they were both at the eighth level of cultivation.

"Greetings, fellow cultivator!" the man called out from dozens of feet away, revealing the glow of his battlefield mark. "Hao Ren of Silverlight Island greets you."

*Good person?* Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

Hao Ren stopped a few feet away and gestured to the woman beside him. "This is my younger sister, Hao Qing."

Lu Ye nodded slightly.

Silverlight Island was a Vast Heaven Alliance power bordering the Qingtian Sect stronghold. Both were sixth-rank organizations, and Silverlight Island was also the closest inner circle sect to the Blood Sect. Lu Ye had chosen Qingtian Sect as his first destination upon entering the inner circle for two reasons: firstly, cultivators from Qingtian Sect had previously caused him trouble at Golden Light Peak; and secondly, he wanted to seize an opportunity to establish a connection with Silverlight Island, hoping to forge an strategic alliance with their guardian. If successful, Blood Sect cultivators entering the inner circle in the future could align with Silverlight Island, saving them considerable effort and trouble. However, he had no prior interactions with cultivators from Silverlight Island, nor had he encountered their guardian or deputy in the Chess Sea, leading him to presume they were no longer alive. He hadn't expected to encounter two Silverlight Island cultivators here.

Although both Hao Ren and Hao Qing were at the eighth level, their words and demeanor were remarkably courteous. They had just witnessed firsthand how Lu Ye had effortlessly cut down his opponents. Even though their cultivation was a level higher than his, they dared not act presumptuously. Ultimately, interactions between cultivators were always based on strength.

"Lu Ye!"

The Hao siblings paused, a flicker of recognition in their eyes. *This name... it sounds very familiar.* They couldn't help but scrutinize Lu Ye from head to toe. They had heard that Lu Yiye was accompanied by a large snow-white tiger. While they saw no such tiger, they did spot a white cat about a foot long. *No, that's not a cat.* But his cultivation level... At Golden Light Peak, Lu Yiye was only at the fifth level. It seemed illogical for him to have advanced to the seventh level in just a few short months.

"Are you from the Blood Sect, fellow cultivator?" Hao Ren asked, though he found it highly improbable.

"Indeed."

Hao Ren's pupils contracted. "Could it be that you are the legendary Lu Yiye?"

Lu Ye felt a familiar pang of weariness, while Yi Yi, standing behind him, stifled a giggle with her hand.

"Yes, I am that Lu Yiye!"

"Ah!" Hao Ren slapped his thigh, his expression suddenly enthusiastic. "So it truly is Fellow Cultivator Yiye! I have long heard of your esteemed name! In the Battle of Golden Light Peak, you brought immense glory to the Vast Heaven Alliance, inspiring us all and making us feel humble in comparison."

Hao Qing's eyes, too, shimmered with admiration.

Hao Ren continued his effusive praise, clearly holding Lu Ye in high esteem. This was indeed true; after the Battle of Golden Light Peak, major Vast Heaven Alliance sects had widely publicized the event to motivate their junior disciples. They highlighted that if a fifth-level cultivator could achieve such a monumental feat, then even if others couldn't replicate it, they should at least strive towards similar aspirations. Even the Myriad Demon Ridge forces, who had suffered humiliation, largely publicized the battle as well. Their intention was simply to spur their disciples to greater efforts, emphasizing that failure itself wasn't frightening; it was the breaking of one's spirit after a single defeat that truly was. It could be said that across the cultivation world of Kyushu, among cultivators of lower ranks, Lu Yiye of the Blood Sect was truly a name that resonated far and wide.

This left Lu Ye feeling a bit helpless, musing that he might need to adopt an alias when traversing the battlefield in the future. Otherwise, his true identity would be immediately known upon introduction, making it inconvenient for him to operate.

"I got carried away talking," Hao Ren said, patting his head. "I truly didn't expect to encounter Fellow Cultivator Yiye here. Please excuse my oversight."

"It's fine."

"And this is..." Hao Ren glanced at Yi Yi, who stood behind Lu Ye. He had witnessed Yi Yi's performance in the recent battle; her ethereal, elusive movements — appearing and disappearing at will — bore some resemblance to a ghost cultivator's techniques. However, there were significant differences; at the very least, ghost cultivators could not so effortlessly vanish into the ground.

"This is my younger sister, Lu Yi Yi!"

"What a remarkable coincidence!" Hao Ren burst out laughing.

He was accompanied by his sister, and Lu Ye also had a sister with him. In a sense, this was a twist of fate. Combined with their shared allegiance to the Vast Heaven Alliance, they instantly felt a much stronger sense of camaraderie. Hearing Lu Ye introduce her in such a manner, Yi Yi's eyes curved into crescent moons. She then gracefully offered a profound bow. "Greetings, Senior Brother Hao, Senior Sister Hao." Her sweet words were charming, and Hao Qing responded with a warm smile.

"Have you two traveled so far with a mission in mind?" Hao Ren suddenly asked, his expression turning solemn.

"Just exploring. What about you two?"

Hao Ren naturally didn't believe Lu Ye's casual remark about "just exploring." Blood Sect members wandering into Myriad Demon Ridge territory clearly signaled an intent to cause trouble. He had heard that someone from Qingtian Sect had engaged Lu Yiye in battle at Golden Light Peak, and rumors suggested that Lu Yiye held grudges.

"My sister and I are here for this Purple Cloud Flower," Hao Ren said, gesturing to the nearby purple flower bud. He then provided an explanation. This was a mission the siblings had received from their sect. Silverlight Island was isolated in the outer sea, possessing many rare flowers and herbs not found on the mainland. However, acquiring plants native to the mainland was not easy. An elder within their sect required a Purple Cloud Flower to formulate a specific medicinal liquid. Since Silverlight Island did not produce it, their disciples were instructed to search for it within the Spirit Stream Battlefield. The Hao siblings had then located this spot. They had originally intended to wait for the Purple Cloud Flower to fully mature before making their move to claim it, but Lu Ye had suddenly emerged and snatched it.

At this point, Hao Ren said somewhat awkwardly, "I wonder if Fellow Cultivator Yiye would be willing to part with it? We can offer one hundred... twenty spirit stones to purchase this flower!"

"Our meeting is fate. Since it's Fellow Cultivator Hao's mission, please take it."

Lu Ye was still keen on establishing a connection with Silverlight Island. He had previously lacked a means to contact their people and found it awkward to pay an unannounced visit. Encountering the Hao siblings here presented a perfect opportunity.

"That won't do," Hao Ren quickly refused. "You did the fighting; it wouldn't be proper for me to simply take the item."

Seeing his firm stance, Lu Ye understood that as mere acquaintances, a direct gift might not be appropriate. He knew that if he were in Hao Ren's shoes, he wouldn't feel comfortable accepting something for free.

"Then let's make it a round sum: one hundred spirit stones."

"That's excellent," Hao Ren readily agreed. The one hundred and twenty spirit stones were the reward given by the elder for the mission. However, if they successfully completed the task, they would also earn sect contribution points, which could be exchanged for cultivation resources. Therefore, even if they gave all one hundred and twenty spirit stones to Lu Ye, they would not be at a loss.

After consulting Hao Ren, Lu Ye learned that the Purple Cloud Flower would require approximately another day to reach full maturity. He had killed four Qingtian Sect cultivators in this area and wasn't sure if it would attract more attention. Furthermore, as the Purple Cloud Flower bloomed, its fragrance would extend further, and anyone passing nearby would undoubtedly notice something amiss. To be safe, Hao Ren led Hao Qing to ambush from the shadows, and Yi Yi also concealed herself. Only Lu Ye remained, sitting conspicuously beside the Purple Cloud Flower.

From their previous hiding spot behind the large rock, the Hao siblings suppressed their aura and remained hidden. Hao Qing suddenly spoke. "Brother, he just asked about the location of Qingtian Sect's mine. What does he intend to do?" Moments earlier, Lu Ye had inquired about the coordinates of Qingtian Sect's mine. As a native of Silverlight Island and a neighbor to Qingtian Sect, Hao Ren naturally knew its location and had marked it on Lu Ye's map.

"What else could he do? He's certainly going to cause trouble!"

"Just the two of them?" Hao Qing exclaimed, surprised. That mine was permanently staffed by at least several dozen Qingtian Sect cultivators, and it was certainly guarded by ninth-level cultivators. For merely two individuals to attempt to stir up trouble there wasn't boldness born of skill; it was more likely sheer foolishness.

"We should try to persuade him later," Hao Ren sighed. Although Lu Ye had easily dispatched an eighth-level ghost cultivator as if slaughtering a chicken, if he were truly besieged by a large number of people, he would inevitably face a grim outcome. It would be a great pity for the Blood Sect to lose such a rare talent.

"Someone's coming!" Hao Qing suddenly exclaimed, her gaze fixed on a particular direction, her heart racing. A streak of light rapidly darted from that direction, though it appeared to be merely passing through the area. The conditions in the inner circle were distinctly different from the outer. In the outer circle, cultivators rarely flew through the air, but the inner circle was different. After reaching the eighth or ninth level of cultivation, cultivators gained the ability to fly using artifacts. Consequently, it was common to see streaks of light in the inner circle, indicating cultivators traveling by artifact. However, they generally dared not fly too low, as doing so made them vulnerable to sneak attacks from enemies on the ground. This particular streak of light was approximately sixty to seventy feet above the ground, a distance considered quite safe. Even if attacked, the cultivator could quickly descend to engage.