Chapter 2510: Blood Curse

Lu Ye said, "It can only escape if we agree. I negotiated a few conditions with it, then allowed it to leave. Haven't you noticed any difference in our city now compared to before, my lord?"

Yuan Fen briefly sensed it, her delicate brows rising. "It's reached the Desolate level?"

It was no wonder her perception was dulled; she had just been entirely focused on contending with Wu and hadn't paid any attention to the changes in Hedao City.

Wu had operated here for many years, seizing numerous Hedao Orb fragments, which it has now given entirely to us. I estimate we're not far from the Hong level.

Yuan Fen carefully observed the Hedao Orb's condition, nodding slightly. "Indeed, not far. This is a tremendous windfall."

Upgrading Hedao City's rank is not particularly difficult below the Desolate level. However, the Heavenly and Desolate levels represent a significant turning point. Advancing from Heavenly to Desolate requires an enormous number of Hedao Orb fragments, and for most Hedao cities to cross this threshold, it requires a long period of accumulation and repeated sieges and conquests. Yuan Fen City, on the other hand, has achieved such rapid quality improvement due to Lu Ye's unique ability to make substantial gains in a single stroke each time.

"Hmm, what's this inside the Hedao Orb?" Yuan Fen suddenly noticed something unusual.

"This is the second price Wu paid. It imbued our Hedao Orb with a foundational secret art…" Lu Ye explained.

Yuan Fen's eyes sparkled as she listened. She continually examined the Hedao Orb, even personally touching it to sense its properties. Finally, she broke into a smile. "Excellent, excellent. We've gained immensely this time."

Trapped here by Wu and unable to escape, she had thought she would miss a grand event. But with the current situation, Yuan Fen City could absolutely participate. The foundational secret art left by Wu, in particular, would certainly give Yuan Fen City a strong foothold in that grand event.

"Great Commander, you... all did very well. I'm honored to have subordinates like you!" Yuan Fen's face showed a hint of shame. This was arguably the most significant event their city had faced to date, yet she, the City Lord, had contributed very little power; instead, it was the cultivators within the city who resolved a major crisis.

"You flatter us, my lord," Lu Ye replied humbly. "Yuan Fen City isn't solely yours; it's also our fundamental base in the inner realm. Naturally, we'll give our utmost effort."

"It's good to hear you think that way," Yuan Fen said, patting Lu Ye's shoulder. "Cultivate diligently, Great Commander. I have a dream: I only hope that one day I can remain here in the city while you all go out conquering territories, always victorious. Then I would be truly content."

Lu Ye thought to himself, *'Didn't your dream used to be for Yuan Fen City to stand at the pinnacle of the inner realm, trampling all ten Great Commanders underfoot? How could it have changed so much in just a few years?'*

Moreover, Yuan Fen's current dream... isn't that just to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor? It's completely lacking in ambition and bears no resemblance to her previous aspirations.

"I'll study this secret art!" Yuan Fen exclaimed enthusiastically, calling out, "You Die, come join me. This area will still be entrusted to you later."

You Die nodded. "Understood!"

Having Yuan Fen study alongside her was naturally better than exploring alone. In terms of strength and insight, You Die was no match for Yuan Fen.

As they busied themselves, Lu Ye, disinclined to get involved, simply returned to his Great Commander's manor. The crisis had passed, and he was unsure of Yuan Fen's subsequent plans, so he decided to inquire later when time allowed.

However, after only a few steps, Lu Ye suddenly turned his head towards a certain direction, then his figure darted swiftly, rushing towards it.

A short while later, he stopped, surveyed his surroundings, then suddenly raised a hand towards a particular direction and clenched it fiercely! Ripples spread across the void as a Hedao Orb fragment materialized out of thin air, drawn into Lu Ye's hand.

This was his first time acquiring a Hedao Orb fragment in such a manner. In truth, he had always been curious: after a Hedao City was breached and its Hedao Orb shattered, where did most of the fragments go? While these fragments would ultimately scatter across various parts of the inner realm and be sought out and obtained by others, there had to be an intermediate process. The Hedao Orb fragment in his hand must have been in this very process. Thanks to his special ability, Lu Ye could vaguely sense the fragment's presence, allowing him to extract it. Inferring from this, it seemed that a Hedao City had been breached not long ago, and one of its Hedao Orb fragments had drifted into the vicinity.

The breaching of Hedao Cities was commonplace in the inner realm; such events occurred almost daily. Yet, new Hedao Cities would also emerge, springing up like bamboo shoots after rain, replacing those that had fallen.

"Come out!" Lu Ye muttered, tucking the fragment into his pocket. *'Every little bit helps,'* he thought. *'Our city's Hedao Orb can absorb this later.'*

As he finished speaking, a figure slowly emerged from behind a nearby rock.

Lu Ye squinted slightly, his left thumb idly stroking the hilt of his Panshan Blade. "Why are you following me?"

The figure was graceful, with a face of exceptional beauty marred by an indelible deadness. Who else could it be but Huan Qing?

Earlier, after Lu Ye had given her the jade pendant that controlled her life and death, he had assumed she would depart swiftly. However, Lu Ye realized he was mistaken. Huan Qing had no intention of leaving; after receiving the jade pendant, she had returned to Yuan Fen City.

Lu Ye wasn't sure what she was thinking. He had intended to find an opportunity for Yuan Fen to speak with her, to determine if she wished to stay or leave, as a clear decision was needed. If she chose to leave, no one in Yuan Fen City would object, especially since her assistance had been crucial in resolving the recent crisis with Wu, during which Huan Qing had even activated the Brahma Eye, a power usable only once in a lifetime. If she wished to stay, Yuan Fen City would naturally welcome her, as she was, after all, a Hedao with considerable strength. However, it wasn't appropriate for him to handle this; only Yuan Fen, as the City Lord, should address it.

Therefore, Lu Ye couldn't understand why she had followed him out. She didn't seem to bear any ill will, as Huan Qing hadn't significantly concealed her aura. Still, caution was necessary. In this environment, Lu Ye wouldn't place his complete trust in her.

The mark of the Brahma Eye remained on Huan Qing's brow, appearing as a conspicuous bloodstain. It surprisingly dispelled some of the deadness in her demeanor. Furthermore, activating the Brahma Eye must have greatly drained her, as her current complexion was abnormally pale.

In response to Lu Ye's question, Huan Qing remained silent. She simply raised a hand and made a subtle movement. Her outer garments loosened, revealing her close-fitting undergarment and her discernible, sculpted figure.

"What are you doing?" Lu Ye squinted even more intently. This scene was truly peculiar, especially since he had had very little interaction with Huan Qing, and she didn't seem like the type of woman to behave this way. Lu Ye genuinely couldn't understand her intent.

Huan Qing looked directly into Lu Ye's eyes, saying nothing, but her hands continued their work. This time, even her upper undergarment came undone. Her snow-white skin was dazzling, but Lu Ye had no intention of appreciating it. His gaze was fixed solely on Huan Qing's flat abdomen, where a blood-red tattoo was visible. It resembled a flower bud, appearing and fading with the flow of Huan Qing's aura.

"Hmm?" Lu Ye suddenly sensed something amiss. He darted forward, appearing before Huan Qing, then raised a hand to touch the flower bud. After carefully sensing it, he looked up and asked, "What is this?"

It wasn't a mere tattoo or a simple marking. It felt peculiar, like something inanimate yet also alive.

Even as Lu Ye, a man she wasn't intimately familiar with, touched her body, Huan Qing remained completely unperturbed. Her gaze was calm as she looked at the nearby Lu Ye. "Due to the unique nature of our Brahma Tribe's Brahma Eye, we were once targeted by a powerful figure. He unleashed his might and annihilated our tribe. I am one of the few remaining Brahma Tribe members. We've been able to remain hidden until now because the Brahma Tribe is indistinguishable from humans."

"And then?"

"The prerequisite for hiding is to never use the Brahma Eye!" Huan Qing continued. "I activated the Brahma Eye, which means I'll be exposed within a few years. This is a blood curse, placed by that powerful figure through the very source of our Brahma Tribe's bloodline—a curse poison."

"A curse poison!" Lu Ye instantly recalled the Mermaid Tribe from the Myriad Forms Sea! The Mermaid Tribe had also been afflicted with a curse poison at the root of their bloodline by a powerful individual, forcing them to reside perpetually within the Myriad Forms Sea until Lu Ye's arrival presented them with an opportunity for freedom.

"When this flower fully blooms, that powerful figure will be able to sense my existence, and then many strong individuals will certainly come to kill me."

Lu Ye frowned. "That powerful figure targeted your tribe because of the unique nature of your Brahma Eye. But if you've already activated it, you pose no further threat to him. Why wouldn't he let you go?"

"He wants to eradicate us completely. As long as I'm alive, the Brahma Tribe could potentially continue its lineage. He won't allow that to happen."

Lu Ye understood. "That makes sense. So why are you telling me all this? And going to the trouble of chasing me all the way here to say it, as if it were some secret you couldn't reveal in public."

"When I activated the Brahma Eye, I perceived a possibility within you," Huan Qing replied.

"What kind of possibility?"

Huan Qing hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know how to explain it, nor do I know what kind of possibility it is. That's why I wanted to show you this blood curse."

Lu Ye fell silent in thought. As for the blood curse, he believed he could resolve it, just as he had helped the Mermaid Tribe years ago. However... his help for the Mermaid Tribe stemmed from a deep bond, a level of relationship he clearly didn't share with Huan Qing. He was also reluctant to expose a secret of his Talent Tree to a stranger.

"That powerful figure is from the Blood Tribe, isn't he?" Lu Ye asked.

Huan Qing's lifeless eyes visibly brightened. "You do know something, after all."

"I've encountered this type of blood curse before," Lu Ye explained casually.

"Then..."

"I'm sorry," Lu Ye said, shaking his head and taking a few steps back. "His methods are too profound; with my current abilities, I'm afraid I'm powerless."

Huan Qing nodded, not doubting him. Given the disparity in strength, that powerful figure was immeasurably superior to Lu Ye, so it was only natural that Lu Ye couldn't resolve it at present.

"This flower will likely take several more years to fully bloom. Until then, I will remain and serve in Yuan Fen City. If it can't be resolved, I will leave before this flower fully blooms."