Chapter 2848: The Shattered Starry Sky

Winds Rise Across the Nine Provinces

When Lu Ye left the Myriad Manifestation Sea previously, Ni Chiluan had already gone to the Tiangang Star System under Jiu Yan's guidance, preparing to refine the Qiankun Cauldron.

Yuan Xi did not follow; instead, she left the starry sky through a Star Abyss Gate.

Chiluan City needed to dispatch personnel to guard the various Star Abyss Gates throughout the starry sky, and Yuan Xi's trip was to handle this matter.

What made Lu Ye curious, however, was how Yuan Xi managed to contact Fu Wei.

The distance between them was too vast for ordinary communication methods.

Lu Ye could maintain constant contact with the Dragon Venerable thanks to the power of the Dragon Scroll, but Yuan Xi possessed no similar ability.

As if sensing his confusion, Fu Wei scratched his head and said, "Senior Brother, recently I've been entering the Hehe Realm every few days. Everyone is quite concerned about the situation here."

Lu Ye immediately understood.

His hasty departure from Yuan Xi City with Fu Wei had clearly worried You Die and the others, which was why they were meeting regularly in the Hehe Realm.

Once Yuan Xi contacted Yuan Xi City, she would naturally be able to find Fu Wei.

Although she had stepped down as City Lord years ago, she had left her imprint within the Harmonization Pearl, allowing her to enter and exit Yuan Xi City at will.

Knowing the current state of the starry sky, Yuan Xi was naturally concerned.

"What did she say?" Lu Ye asked.

Fu Wei shook his head. "She didn't say much; she just asked about things."

Lu Ye nodded. "Tell everyone not to worry. The situation here isn't that serious." Dragon City and Phoenix Nest were about to attack Senluo City, so Senluo City would have no spare resources to worry about the Star Abyss Gate then.

However, this meant he needed to accelerate his own actions.

"Clan Leader, attach yourself to me and come with me!" Lu Ye turned to Soul Rift.

Soul Rift nodded and lunged towards Lu Ye, vanishing instantly.

Immediately afterward, Lu Ye put Manyu's corpse into his small world.

"Fu Wei, I'm counting on you here. If you truly can't hold out, lead them to retreat into the starry sky. Don't be reckless," Lu Ye instructed again. Although given the current situation, this was highly unlikely to happen, it was always wise to be prepared.

"Also..." Lu Ye thought for a moment before continuing, "Ni Chiluan is in the starry sky. You might be able to seek her help then."

Fu Wei was startled. "The City Lord of Chiluan City?" He was utterly puzzled. How could she be in Lu Ye's starry sky? Could it be that there was more than one Star Abyss Gate behind them?

"That's right," Lu Ye nodded. "I'll be back as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother, I'll take good care of things here," Fu Wei replied, nodding seriously.

Lu Ye said no more, flashed away in one direction, and sped along.

The merging of the Inner and Outer Realms was a grand celebration for the powerful cultivators of the entire Star Abyss. Not only did the influx of a large number of Enlightened Realm cultivators provide more targets for Path-Melding cultivators to hunt, making their cultivation easier, but the continuous emergence of Star Abyss Gates also piqued the interest of Path-Harmonizing cultivators.

While most of them might not qualify to claim supreme treasures, they knew that contributing to the process of shattering a starry sky could earn them favor and rewards from the Star Abyss's will.

Previously, such opportunities only occurred in the Outer Realm, and only Path-Melding cultivators were eligible to participate. Now, things were different; Path-Harmonizing cultivators also had a share.

Thus, the most common sight across the Star Abyss now was Path-Harmonizing cities searching everywhere for traces of Star Abyss Gates, seizing and firmly holding onto any they found.

However, for Cosmic-Tier City Lords and even higher-ranked cultivators, entering the starry sky beyond a Star Abyss Gate to acquire supreme treasures was their greatest pursuit.

But not all Star Abyss Gates allowed Path-Harmonizing cultivators to pass through.

For instance, in Sacred Dragon City's territory, five Star Abyss Gates had been discovered, connecting to five different starry skies. However, only the largest one allowed Path-Melding cultivators to pass, while the other four were accessible only to Enlightened Realm cultivators, not even Path-Melding ones.

In contrast, Senluo City's luck was simply off the charts.

In its domain, there were as many as eight Star Abyss Gates. Besides the one connecting to Lu Ye's starry sky, which Path-Harmonizing cultivators could use, there was another one also accessible to Path-Harmonizing cultivators.

Zong Shenliang had already led people into that starry sky two months prior.

This was also why only his clone had entered Bailan previously—because his main body was not in the Star Abyss.

Lu Ye had always worried that Zong Shenliang would arrive in person after realizing the changes at Zhehuang City. Only after he gleaned this intelligence from Manyu's memories did he finally feel relieved.

For a powerful cultivator like Zong Shenliang, the sole purpose of entering a starry sky was to acquire a supreme treasure. He would not leave the starry sky before achieving that goal.

This provided Lu Ye with much convenience and room to maneuver for his subsequent plans.

With the intelligence gleaned from Manyu's memories, the journey was smooth. After traversing numerous wormholes, Lu Ye spotted a Star Abyss Gate looming in the void from afar in less than ten days.

Outside that Star Abyss Gate, several Path-Harmonizing cities were gathered, clearly stationed there.

"Clan Leader," Lu Ye called softly, simultaneously releasing Manyu's corpse from his small world.

Soul Rift understood, ended its soul attachment, and instantly plunged into Manyu's corpse.

A few breaths later, Manyu, who should have been dead, slowly stood up and stretched his stiff body. Moments later, a powerful surge of energy emanated from within him.

"I can't last long!" Soul Rift, possessing Manyu's corpse, spoke.

Manyu was the Seventh Deputy City Lord of Senluo City, a Cosmic-Tier City Lord level expert. Soul Rift's power was too far inferior to his, so he couldn't remain in Manyu's corpse for long.

Especially now, to conceal certain abnormalities on Manyu's body, Soul Rift had to exert power, further shortening the time he could sustain it.

Manyu was, after all, dead, with no trace of life in his body. Such an anomaly would be easily discovered, so some concealment was necessary.

"That's enough," Lu Ye softly replied. With the Thousand-Face Dao Pattern activated, his appearance began to shift. In just one breath, he transformed from a human form into a Blood Clan member with crimson skin and pointed ears.

"Let's go!" he called out.

Soul Rift immediately piloted Manyu's corpse forward, with Lu Ye following closely behind.

As the distance rapidly closed, several divine senses spread out from the Path-Harmonizing cities but quickly retracted, clearly having identified Manyu.

When Lu Ye and Soul Rift flew to the Star Abyss Gate, several figures emerged from the Path-Harmonizing cities, stopping before them and bowing in unison: "Greetings, Deputy City Lord Manyu!"

These Path-Harmonizing cultivators were undoubtedly the City Lords of the Path-Harmonizing cities stationed there. However, the highest-ranked Path-Harmonizing city here was only of Flood-Tier, and though they were subordinate to Senluo City, they ordinarily had no opportunity to meet the exalted Deputy City Lords.

Thus, their demeanor was exceptionally respectful at this moment.

However, each of them harbored a slight doubt, wondering what Manyu had encountered and why he arrived with such an aggressive aura and surging Dao power.

"I wish to enter the Star Abyss Gate." Soul Rift, wasting no words on the City Lords, simply relayed what Lu Ye had instructed him on the way.

The leading Flood-Tier City Lord immediately said, "Please, honored sir!"

They were stationed here primarily to guard the Star Abyss Gate, and this area was Senluo City's domain. So, while they were nominally guards, in reality, they had little to do on a daily basis.

Now that Manyu wished to enter the Star Abyss Gate, they naturally could not refuse or offer any objections.

Even Lu Ye, who followed Manyu, received only a cursory glance before they dismissed him from their attention.

Since the fall of Blood-Drinking City, many powerful cultivators from the Insect and Blood Clans had come to pledge allegiance to Senluo City, so they were no longer surprised by such sights.

Soul Rift said nothing, piloting Manyu's corpse towards the Star Abyss Gate. Lu Ye followed closely, like a loyal attendant.

As they reached the Star Abyss Gate, just as Soul Rift was about to enter, the Flood-Tier City Lord suddenly spoke, "Sir, please be careful when you enter, and it's best not to exert your power."

Soul Rift turned, his expression cold. "Why is that?"

The Flood-Tier City Lord explained, "According to previous intelligence, the starry sky behind this Star Abyss Gate is on the verge of shattering. Consequently, the Star Abyss Gate itself is somewhat unstable. If you exert your power, it might interfere with the gate."

Soul Rift nodded faintly. "I see."

He stepped forward, plunging into the Star Abyss Gate, with Lu Ye right behind him.

Almost the instant they plunged into the Star Abyss Gate, Soul Rift withdrew the Dao power shrouding Manyu. Lu Ye focused his perception on their surroundings, his brow furrowing.

He found that the Star Abyss Gate was indeed unstable, as the Flood-Tier City Lord had stated, though not yet to the point of collapse. Combined with Soul Rift's timely withdrawal of power, no significant impact was caused.

After a moment of disorientation and shifting vision, the two appeared in the starry sky.

"Who's there!" a sharp shout immediately rang out.

Lu Ye immediately looked up, seeing several figures standing separately, glaring at him and Manyu, their Dao power surging.

These were clearly cultivators from Senluo City, responsible for guarding this area.

"It's Deputy City Lord Manyu." The cultivator who had just spoken quickly recognized Manyu and immediately bowed, "Greetings, Deputy City Lord."

Soul Rift, as before, activated Dao power to envelop himself. He turned to glance at the Path-Harmonizing cultivators and asked indifferently, "Where is the City Lord?"

The Path-Harmonizing cultivators exchanged glances. One of them said, "Deputy City Lord, please forgive us, but we do not know where the City Lord is currently. We were ordered to remain here and have not left for a moment."

Another asked, "Do you need us to find a way to contact the City Lord?"

They had no direct means of contacting Zong Shenliang, but many cultivators had followed Zong Shenliang into this starry sky. By asking around, they would surely find someone.

"No need," Soul Rift replied indifferently. "I will find him myself. You all continue to guard this place."

With that, he immediately sped forward.

"Yes!" came the replies from the cultivators behind them. "Farewell, Deputy City Lord."

Only after flying a considerable distance did Lu Ye speak, "Clan Leader, that's enough!"

Soul Rift immediately flew out of Manyu's corpse, and Lu Ye raised his hand to retrieve the corpse back into his small world.