Chapter 2490: Unnamed Guest Must Die!

Qin Feng harbored no doubts about Lu Ye's ability to win. Furthermore, he had also received some news about the Divination Tribe from Kun Li during this time. Honestly, he hadn't expected Lu Ye to gain the allegiance of the Divination Tribe. It now seemed Lu Ye's future might be even more expansive than he had anticipated. He suddenly felt a surge of anticipation, wondering if a mature Lu Ye could become another formidable figure, perhaps even comparable to the old monster.

The Battle Arena had scheduled a death match three days later. After staying for a day, Lu Ye returned to the immense hall. He needed to make a trip to Yi Fu City. Although he could suppress his own strength during the death match, it wasn't entirely reliable. Therefore, it was best to seek out Ba Qiu's Dao Soldier to seal his power. Lu Ye couldn't travel to Yi Fu City by himself. However, Liao had previously received a mark from Ba Qiu's Dao Soldier, which allowed him free passage and could take Lu Ye with him. A moment later, Lu Ye's figure vanished.

When he next regained his senses, he found himself in the familiar small city. He looked up to see Ba Qiu's imposing figure. Compared to just a few days prior, he appeared unchanged, still riddled with wounds, his entire body impaled like a hedgehog by numerous crimson lights. Lu Ye's sudden arrival didn't startle him much; he simply lifted his eyelids slightly for a brief look.

"Greetings, Senior!" Lu Ye said, cupping his hands in a respectful salute.

Ba Qiu offered no response, acting as though Lu Ye were beneath his notice. Lu Ye paid no mind and instead turned to the Dao Soldier beside Ba Qiu. "Greetings, Senior Shang," he said. He had previously learned from Liao that Ba Qiu's Dao Soldier was named Shang.

The next moment, an incredibly gentle voice echoed in Lu Ye's ear: "Little one, what brings you here this time?" As the voice spoke, Lu Ye felt his myriad thoughts quiet, and his entire being settled into a strange tranquility. No wonder Liao was so utterly captivated; just hearing that voice, Lu Ye could conjure an image of immense gentleness and kindness.

"I'm participating in a death match, and my opponent possesses an associated treasure. I've come specifically to ask Senior to help seal my strength," Lu Ye explained. There was no need for much elaboration; as a member of the Weapon Tribe herself, Shang naturally understood his intentions.

"What is your opponent's strength?" Shang inquired.

"They possess peak Integration Path cultivation, and their associated treasure has been nurtured to roughly sixty threads. Its name is the Primal Chaos Spear!"

No sooner had Lu Ye finished speaking than Shang subtly quivered, and a sword light abruptly shot forth, incredibly swift, striking him directly. Such an attack was impossible to defend against, even if Lu Ye had been prepared, let alone being caught completely off guard. He grunted in pain as his body reeled backward uncontrollably, stopping only after staggering back several dozen feet. Looking down, he saw a gaping wound across his chest, blood gushing forth. The familiar sealing power lingered around the wound. He attempted to activate his Dao power, only to find that, just like before, the amount of power he could command had drastically diminished.

"Thank you, Senior," Lu Ye said, bowing with cupped fists.

"Lu Ye, don't be in such a hurry to leave," Liao suddenly blurted out. "Let me have a few words with her."

Lu Ye knew exactly what Liao was thinking, but while Liao might have its desires, Shang might not be so inclined. To Shang, Liao was, after all, a junior. However, since Liao rarely made requests, Lu Ye naturally had to indulge it. He quietly stood his ground and waited. After waiting for a full hour, Liao finally spoke: "Let's go." Lu Ye had no idea what it had discussed with Shang, but from the sound of its voice, it seemed to be in excellent spirits.

Only then did Lu Ye turn to face Ba Qiu, who had remained seated. "Senior, I apologize for the disturbance!" he said. He walked forward, step by step, until he reached Ba Qiu's side, then raised a hand to touch the resplendent Integration Orb. A peculiar feeling suddenly arose within him. It was likely that few, if any, could ever stand so close to Ba Qiu. Yet, the crucial Integration Orb of Yi Fu City was located directly on the armrest of Ba Qiu's chair, meaning Lu Ye had to stand exactly there to use it to return to the Integration World.

He had only intended to bid farewell, not expecting any response. To his surprise, Ba Qiu slowly opened his eyes, gazed at him, and spoke in a low, rumbling voice: "Lad, do not overly rely on your Dao Soldier. Your own foundation is what truly matters."

Lu Ye was startled, taking a moment to respond. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. This junior will engrave it upon his heart!" His figure gradually faded from view.

Back in the immense hall of the Integration World, Lu Ye stood in contemplation. What did Ba Qiu mean by those sudden parting words? What did 'do not overly rely on your Dao Soldier' signify? At first glance, it sounded as if Ba Qiu had suffered some setback related to this. However, Shang had followed him for many years, growing alongside him to their current state, and as Ba Qiu's Dao Soldier, she couldn't possibly do anything detrimental to him. Considering this, the emphasis of Ba Qiu's statement must have been on the latter part. Yet, such a warning was rather moot for Lu Ye, as he had always been dedicated to enhancing his own foundation since he first embarked on the Dao. What cultivator, upon entering the Dao, could command over two hundred threads of power? And which Integration Path cultivator, at the seventh realm, possessed over seven hundred threads of power?

Returning to the Battle Arena, he went to his private chamber to rest and recuperate.

A day later, Gong Mao arrived. "Fellow Daoist Lu," he said, "everything is prepared. You may enter the arena now!" When they first met, Gong Mao had indeed addressed him in this manner. As their relationship grew closer, he switched to 'Brother Lu', but now he had reverted to the original form of address. This was primarily because he had personally overheard Qin Feng affectionately address Lu Ye as 'Little Ye'. As Qin Feng's subordinate, Gong Mao no longer dared to claim brotherhood with Lu Ye.

"Much obliged," Lu Ye nodded.

"This way, please!" Gong Mao gestured, then led the way. Soon, they reached the entrance to the Battle Arena. Gong Mao suddenly frowned, sniffed lightly, and looked up at Lu Ye. "Fellow Daoist, are you injured?" he asked. He distinctly detected the scent of blood on Lu Ye, and Lu Ye's complexion also appeared somewhat unusual. He immediately felt a pang of worry. "Should I report this to the Arena Master and request a postponement of the death match?" No one else would ever receive such preferential treatment. Even if they were missing a limb, let alone merely injured, once the Battle Arena scheduled an event, no one could refuse or delay it. But Lu Ye was, after all, an exception.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury," Lu Ye said, shaking his head. He scoffed internally. He had specifically traveled to Yi Fu City to be struck by Shang's sword precisely for this death match. If he delayed, waiting for the Talent Tree to dissolve Shang's power, his strength would surely return to its original level. With his words, he stepped forward.

The Imperial Battle Arena was once again overflowing with people. If most of those who attended Lu Ye's previous clash with Que Yue were merely Integration Path cultivators, then this time, the majority were Harmony Path cultivators. The 'Nameless Wanderer' had already made a name for himself. His previous arduous battle, a sixth-level Integration Path cultivator against a ninth-level one, saw only the Nameless Wanderer emerge alive. A clash spanning three minor realms was a rare sight anywhere. And this time, the Nameless Wanderer was once again pitting weakness against strength, which naturally piqued the interest of even more Harmony Path cultivators. Especially with recent rumors spreading like wildfire, knowledgeable Harmony Path cultivators realized that the Inner Realm was on the verge of great chaos. At such a precarious moment, having enough 'Dao Fish' on hand might just help them weather the impending crisis. However, acquiring 'Dao Fish' was no simple feat, and the Battle Arena served as one of the few avenues. This was also a significant reason why this particular death match attracted so many Harmony Path cultivators to witness it.

The grand battle had not yet begun, and the combatants for the death match hadn't even entered the arena, yet many cultivators were already eagerly placing their wagers. Betting at this stage, if successful, often yielded the highest returns, and the avid gamblers naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity. The Battle Arena had even provided all attendees with complete footage of the Nameless Wanderer's previous death match against Que Yue, allowing everyone to clearly witness the entire conflict from start to finish.

As Lu Ye made his initial entrance, all cultivators' Battle Tokens within the arena simultaneously received information regarding both combatants in the upcoming clash.

"Oh, has this Nameless Wanderer actually reached the seventh level of the Integration Path?" someone quickly exclaimed, noticing Lu Ye's cultivation advancement.

"He was only at the sixth level of the Integration Path last time. That life-or-death battle must have brought him significant gains, and coupled with the Battle Arena's reward for his victory, it's not surprising he advanced a realm."

"However, his opponent this time is considerably stronger than last. Que Yue was merely an ordinary ninth-level Integration Path cultivator, but Yun Qianliu has been at peak Integration Path for many years."

"Last time, the Nameless Wanderer only won because Que Yue's Dao Soldier was destroyed. He might not be so fortunate this time."

"Are you favoring Yun Qianliu, fellow Daoist?"

"Of course! Last time, the Nameless Wanderer's victory was a struggle, and his survival was pure luck. Good fortune won't always smile upon him. Yun Qianliu is different; he has been active in the Battle Arena for years and is still alive, which speaks volumes about his exceptional abilities."

"That's a very valid point."

The battle had yet to begin, but undercurrents were already swirling among the spectators in the Battle Arena. Everyone was eager to seize this opportunity to make a hefty sum, but where to place one's wager was a true test of insight and decisive judgment. With equally likely chances of victory or defeat, it was truly a step to heaven or a step to hell.

Within the cosmic fragment, Lu Ye immediately noticed upon entering that the battle arena this time seemed relatively small, just barely large enough for two Integration Path cultivators to maneuver and engage. He immediately understood this was Qin Feng's specific arrangement, designed to help him dispatch his opponent more quickly. No sooner had he found his footing than another figure appeared in the distance. Lu Ye looked up, immediately recognizing the person he had seen in the projection — his opponent for this match.

It was Yun Qianliu!

Compared to the previous Que Yue, Yun Qianliu's demeanor was undoubtedly far more impressive. The way he held his associated treasure, the Primal Chaos Spear, inverted, exuded a powerful aura of confidence. He, too, had watched the footage of Lu Ye's battle with Que Yue, and like everyone else, he was convinced that Lu Ye's ultimate victory had solely hinged on the destruction of Que Yue's Dao Soldier. Had Que Yue's Dao Soldier remained intact, the Nameless Wanderer would undoubtedly have been the one to perish! Thus, even though he knew the Nameless Wanderer's cultivation had advanced by one level, he harbored not a single worry. He was well aware that the Battle Arena had specifically provided him with an associated treasure this time, all to ensure his victory. In this world, who could possibly destroy an associated treasure? The Nameless Wanderer was destined to die!