Chapter 2738: Xuanhuai (Happy New Year Everyone)

Three months later, Lu Ye stared intently at a Star Abyss Gate not far away.

It was a Star Abyss Gate that had not yet fully formed and was in the process of opening. However, its clear summon had already drawn many Star Abyss creatures from all directions towards it.

This was not the first Star Abyss Gate Lu Ye had encountered on his journey. It was already the third!

Such phenomena were unheard of in the Outer Realm before. When he was active there previously, although he had seen Star Abyss Gates, they were never this frequent.

In addition to this, while traveling recently, Lu Ye had also encountered some Harmony Path cultivators! Previously, it was impossible for so many Harmony Path cultivators to be active in the Outer Realm. For them, the thin Star Abyss aura there made it an unsuitable place to stay, much like saltwater fish entering fresh water—they would experience a strong sense of discomfort.

There was also the blurring of the boundary between the Outer and Inner Realms.

All these abnormal signs indicated that the entire Star Abyss was undergoing some unknown changes. Lu Ye vaguely felt an impending storm.

Another month later, he looked at a peculiar starry phenomenon ahead, his eyes flickering slightly.

At first glance, the starry phenomenon looked like a colossal burial mound, towering in the void and giving off an extremely eerie and sinister impression. He wondered what mysteries lay within.

The destination of his perception was here. In other words, this was where he was to carry out his mission. As for the exact nature of the mission, he did not know, but judging by the circumstances, it should be different from the last one. After all, there were no Star Abyss Blood Mosquitoes or starry barriers here.

Just as he was about to investigate inside, Lu Ye tilted his head slightly and looked to the side. In that direction, three figures arrived together.

He raised an eyebrow slightly.

Although these three newcomers were of different races, they were all Harmony Path cultivators. Moreover, their direction of travel was clearly the same as his own: they were all heading into the phenomenon ahead.

Currently, many Harmony Path cultivators were appearing in the Outer Realm, so encountering them was not strange. Thus, Lu Ye did not intend to cause any trouble. He stood still, planning to wait until they left.

However, the three stood not far in front of him. The dwarf leader scrutinized him from head to toe: "Human?"

Lu Ye gazed at him expressionlessly, remaining silent.

The dwarf said in surprise, "You were also summoned here?"

Lu Ye blinked, and as his mind raced, he asked, "Are you all as well?"

He was, of course, summoned here, because he was a Son of the Star Abyss and was carrying out the mission bestowed upon him by the Star Abyss Will. But what was the situation with these three in front of him? Judging by the dwarf Harmony Path cultivator's words, it seemed they were too.

Yet, Lu Ye did not detect any aura of a Son of the Star Abyss from them. He was certain of this. Back when he met Pelin from Hundred Battles City and Jiao from Black Blood City, they had both clearly identified each other as Sons of the Star Abyss.

"Exactly!" The dwarf Harmony Path cultivator nodded, "Since that's the case, let's go together."

Saying this, he beckoned to Lu Ye and led the way forward. His two companions followed closely. Lu Ye pondered for a moment, then followed behind them.

The situation was becoming somewhat strange. Lu Ye couldn't quite grasp what the Star Abyss Will intended. It was normal for him, a Son of the Star Abyss, to be summoned, but why were three Harmony Path cultivators who were not Sons of the Star Abyss also summoned?

"I am Mi Ye of the Three-Eyed Race. How should I address you, fellow Daoist?"

While Lu Ye was pondering, one of the younger-looking Harmony Path cultivators among the three greeted him.

Lu Ye glanced at him, noticing a hint of excitement in his expression, clearly indicating great anticipation for this journey.

"Lu Ye of the Human Race," Lu Ye replied, vaguely realizing, "Are the three of you not together?"

The reason he asked this was primarily because he had only just realized that while the three had arrived together, they did not seem to be particularly close.

Mi Ye smiled, "We met on the way here and decided to travel together." Before Lu Ye could ask again, he asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you know what we are supposed to do this time?"

Lu Ye looked at him, "I was about to ask!" From this fellow's words, it seemed he knew something?

Mi Ye immediately looked embarrassed. "I only asked because I didn't know myself, fellow Daoist."

Lu Ye was speechless.

Mi Ye scratched his face and said, "I was in cultivation and received some vague sense, so I came from the Inner Realm to investigate."

"And those two fellow Daoists don't know either?"

Mi Ye shook his head: "None of us know. But it doesn't matter. Since you've come here, you must understand what that sensation is all about. This trip, having been favored and summoned by it, we are sure to gain something."

As he spoke, he looked greatly honored, which made Lu Ye secretly shake his head, feeling that this Three-Eyed Race cultivator was still too naive.

However, he could sense the malice of that will because he possessed the Talent Tree and had always been aware of it. For an ordinary cultivator, receiving the favor of that will was an extremely difficult feat, and also the direction many cultivators strived for.

"This is..." The leading dwarf Harmony Path cultivator suddenly looked startled.

Not only him, but Lu Ye and the others were also affected.

As they stepped into the burial mound-like starry phenomenon, the peculiar sensation of sinking suddenly vanished without a trace. All Harmony Path cultivators felt this way when moving through the Outer Realm, as if they were floating on water, and a slight exertion of force would cause them to sink. However, this feeling used to be very strong. Now that the boundary between the Outer and Inner Realms had blurred, the feeling had become lighter. But here, the feeling completely disappeared.

The few of them exchanged glances. The dwarf Harmony Path cultivator pondered briefly, his Dao power suddenly surged. After quietly sensing for a moment, he nodded and said, "Indeed!"

Lu Ye and the others also showed surprise in their eyes.

Although the dwarf Harmony Path cultivator did not explicitly state anything, they all understood clearly that within this phenomenon, Harmony Path cultivators seemed able to freely use their power without worrying about sinking into the Inner Realm.

Lu Ye carefully investigated, unsure for a moment whether this was due to the phenomenon itself or recent changes in the Star Abyss. It was highly likely the former. This phenomenon seemed to hold some secrets within.

"Who's there!" The leading dwarf suddenly turned his head and looked in one direction.

Lu Ye had already noticed, but pretended not to. Only when the dwarf Harmony Path cultivator spoke, did he react simultaneously with Mi Ye and the others, looking cautiously in that direction.

"A few more have arrived, and Harmony Path cultivators too, not bad, not bad," a slightly aged voice came from that direction. As the voice sounded, the space subtly warped, and a figure appeared in everyone's sight.

It was an old man in his eighties, with sparse, unkempt hair and a face full of wrinkles. Crucially, half of his face was devoid of flesh, revealing gleaming golden Dao bones, making him appear extremely terrifying.

However, his aura was extremely profound. Lu Ye secretly frowned, because he could vaguely sense that this old man's strength was immense, and he was definitely not an unknown figure! Moreover, he bore a very obvious aura of favor, though not to the extent of a Son of the Star Abyss, it was much more pronounced than that of an average Harmony Path cultivator.

The next moment, Lu Ye shifted his gaze, because the old man suddenly looked at him, a faint trace of doubt flashing in his eyes. He felt that among these four Harmony Path cultivators who had arrived, Lu Ye was somewhat different. But where exactly, he couldn't quite pinpoint. After all, he did not possess the true identity of a Son of the Star Abyss, and thus could not sense the triple Star Abyss blessings on Lu Ye.

"You are..." The dwarf Harmony Path cultivator, startled, carefully scrutinized the old man, then exclaimed, "City Lord Xuan Huai?"

The old man raised an eyebrow: "So many years have passed, and someone still remembers this old man?"

The dwarf Harmony Path cultivator's expression became solemn, and he clasped his fists, saying, "City Lord's renown echoes throughout the Inner Realm. Your name precedes me, and I never imagined I would be fortunate enough to behold your esteemed presence today. It is truly a great honor."

Behind the dwarf, another Harmony Path cultivator also looked surprised, clearly recalling the name Xuan Huai. Only Lu Ye and Mi Ye of the Three-Eyed Race were bewildered. Lu Ye had spent too little time in the Inner Realm. Mi Ye's situation was not much better; even if he had stayed in the Inner Realm longer, it wouldn't have been for many years. How could they know about ancient matters?

"The years are like a dream, and the past like smoke. Let's not speak of it. Now, this old man is merely surviving here," Xuan Huai said indifferently, showing no intention of continuing. "Since you could come here, you were summoned. Take your positions, all of you!"

As he spoke, Xuan Huai raised a hand, and four streaks of light flew towards the four individuals.

Lu Ye raised his hand to catch it, discovering it was an extremely intricate and profound formation diagram. Given his mastery of formations, he was momentarily unable to fully comprehend it. The key was that this formation diagram was incomplete. There was also a special mark on the diagram, which was undoubtedly the position Lu Ye needed to take.

What was this for? Judging only by the information he had now, he was supposed to, under Xuan Huai's guidance, take a position within a large formation here. But what this large formation was for, Lu Ye had no idea.

Fortunately, he wasn't the only one curious; the dwarf Harmony Path cultivator was equally curious: "City Lord, what are we meant to do?"

Xuan Huai lightly snorted, "Since I am here, naturally I am setting up a formation. But you don't need to concern yourselves too much. I have been planning this for ten thousand years, and the formation has already been laid out. You only need to enter the formation at the appropriate positions and activate your power to maintain its operation."

Ten thousand years...

Lu Ye's heart skipped a beat. What was here that someone would scheme for ten thousand years? Perhaps only an ultimate treasure could possess such immense allure. Yet, he didn't detect any aura of an ultimate treasure here.

Xuan Huai clearly did not want to explain too much to them. After speaking, he waved his hand, clearly urging them.

The dwarf, thick-skinned, asked again, "City Lord, how long will this matter take?" He was clearly startled by Xuan Huai mentioning "ten thousand years." If they were to be trapped here for ten thousand years, it would be a joke.

Xuan Huai glanced at him indifferently: "Don't worry, it won't take much longer. This grand formation has been set up for ten thousand years, and many things within it have withered away. Before, only Outer Realm cultivators were led here, so progress was slow. Now that you Harmony Path cultivators from the Inner Realm are here to contribute, there will be results quickly."