Chapter 340: Tenfold Improvement

Cracking sounds continued to emanate from the Heaven's Mystery Pillar. Above the outpost, the dark clouds pressing heavily had grown so thick that the entire area became dim.

Everyone looked up, and although they still felt uneasy, Gu Yang had already reassured his disciples, so there wasn't much panic.

The moment the sounds from the Heaven's Mystery Pillar ceased, the heavy dark clouds suddenly dropped. From a distance, it looked like a colossal wad of cotton falling onto the Blood Sect's outpost.

Strong winds rose from all directions, causing the disciples to squint.

When the dark clouds dispersed and the sun reappeared, the spiritual energy of the entire outpost underwent a dramatic transformation.

Cultivators are extremely sensitive to such changes, and gasps of astonishment echoed throughout the outpost. All the disciples wore expressions of disbelief.

This was because the spiritual energy in the outpost had suddenly become much, much richer.

Previously, the Heaven's Mystery Pillar had only provided nineteen enhancements, but now there were ninety-nine, creating a tenfold difference in spiritual energy concentration compared to the wilderness.

The change was remarkably obvious.

The disciples cheered joyfully. All of them had originated as rogue cultivators, previously unattached and struggling, often relying on the market outside the Blood Sect's outpost. It was only after Lu Ye arrived that he took them in as disciples, allowing them to enjoy the treatment and benefits a regular cultivator should have.

When the outpost's spiritual energy had been boosted previously, the disciples had been overjoyed, as it meant their cultivation efficiency would increase.

This latest boost was even more dramatic, directly increasing the concentration difference from two times to ten times.

Everyone knew that good times were ahead.

Even if their innate talent wasn't exceptional, cultivating in such an environment would ensure their efficiency was no worse than that of cultivators from other sects.

While the disciples at the outpost were celebrating, Lu Ye had already returned to the main sect in Kyushu via the Heaven's Mystery Pillar.

While the outpost was bustling, the main sect remained desolate. This was because the Blood Sect currently had very few official disciples. Besides the few individuals brought by Hua Ci in the beginning, only a handful more, like Gu Yang and He Xiyin, had joined. Most of them cultivated at the outpost and rarely returned to the main sect.

Lu Ye first went to pay his respects to the Sect Master and listened to his teachings.

"The situation in the inner circle caused such a stir this time. The two parties at the Divine Sea realm have already settled on terms. The Myriad Demon Ridge will compensate you with some things as a condition for you to stop. For the time being, don't go out. Lie low for a while."

"Understood," Lu Ye replied, then asked, "Sect Master, can I no longer casually break the outpost formations of others?"

"Who said that?"

"Didn't you say the two Divine Sea realms already settled on terms?"

"Those were the terms for you to stop *this time*. Just because you stopped, does that mean you can't go out again? However, everything must wait until the Myriad Demon Ridge's compensation is in place. Furthermore, if the situation in the inner circle were to truly repeat itself, the Myriad Demon Ridge would certainly not let the Vast Sky Alliance off easily. They've already suffered such a heavy loss; they won't allow similar incidents to happen again. Therefore, when you act in the future, you must maintain a certain degree of restraint. Don't provoke the Myriad Demon Ridge too much. If you truly push the Myriad Demon Ridge to the point of a desperate struggle, the Vast Sky Alliance will also suffer."

Lu Ye pondered for a moment. "This disciple understands."

The Sect Master's meaning was clear: in the future, Lu Ye could still use his own methods to capture Myriad Demon Ridge outposts, but it was best not to involve thousands or even tens of thousands of Vast Sky Alliance allied forces as he did this time, as it could easily provoke a strong backlash from the Myriad Demon Ridge.

"Then this disciple will take his leave."

"Yi Ye."

Lu Ye turned around.

The Sect Master smiled at him. "That day, for Evil Moon Valley to accept you as a disciple was my good fortune, and the good fortune of the Blood Sect."

Lu Ye bowed. "It is also this disciple's good fortune."

"Go now."

Reflecting on it now, his smooth entry into the Blood Sect back then was partly due to luck, and partly because of Pang Dahai. That day, Pang Dahai had carefully explained things and subtly guided him, which led Lu Ye to choose the Blood Sect.

In Evil Moon Valley that day, Lu Ye had felt that Pang Dahai's words were suggestive and deliberately enigmatic, but now it seemed it was all out of goodwill. Furthermore, this person was the nephew of Pang Zhen, the Deputy Alliance Leader of the Vast Sky Alliance, and also a disciple of the Righteous Qi Sect. It now occurred to Lu Ye that Pang Dahai clearly didn't want to see the Blood Sect de-listed, which was why he subtly guided him to join the Blood Sect, to ensure its continued existence.

If he had the chance, he would have to thank him properly.

Every time Lu Ye returned from an expedition, Shui Yuan would prepare a lot of delicious food, and this time was no exception.

At the dinner table, everyone gorged themselves, especially Ju Jia, who had never tasted such delicious medicinal cuisine. He didn't stop eating once he sat down, almost swallowing his own tongue from the sheer delight of it.

He was a taciturn person, and even though he had been following Lu Ye for a while, he maintained a go-with-the-flow attitude, largely indifferent to others. But at this moment, Ju Jia felt profound respect for Shui Yuan.

Lu Ye and Li Baxian clinked their cups. The fourth senior brother nervously glanced at Shui Yuan, but seeing that the second senior sister didn't pay him any mind, he immediately relaxed.

With wine, they drank heartily, becoming slightly tipsy.

After a satisfying meal, everyone dispersed.

On Moon Lake, Lu Ye and Li Baxian rowed a boat to the center of the lake. Each had a fishing rod in front of them, fishing.

Yi Yi brewed tea nearby, its fragrance filling the air.

Lu Ye wasn't skilled at fishing; he usually just went into the lake to catch fish. However, the fourth senior brother was a master of it, and particularly enjoyed the feeling of angling.

Every time he returned, he would come to Moon Lake to fish for Blood-Red Trout.

"Blood-Red Trout can be considered a cultivation resource of our sect. Have I told you before that these spiritual fish are used for body tempering for disciples?"

"You have."

"Every disciple had an allotted share, but as a child, I didn't understand any of that. Whenever I craved them, Senior Brother or Senior Sister would take me here to catch one. Sometimes it went unnoticed, other times the old man would find out, and I'd inevitably get a good beating. That's why I particularly disliked the old man when I was young. Now that I think about it... with the old man's Divine Sea realm cultivation, what in the sect could possibly escape his notice? What I thought I did secretly, he was actually just too lazy to bother with. And every time I got a beating, it was Senior Brother and Senior Sister who protected me."

"Senior Brother... what kind of person was he?"

Li Baxian fell silent for a moment, then said, "He was as exceptionally talented as you are. But Senior Brother was also different from you. He was unknown in the Spirit Stream realm, and only suddenly displayed incredible talent in the late Cloud River realm. Then he rapidly ascended to the True Lake and Divine Sea realms, pushing the Blood Sect to the position of a top-tier sect. However... Senior Brother was both our making and our undoing. Junior Brother, the environment you're growing up in is far harsher than ours was back then. You'll encounter more dangers in the future. So, your senior brother hopes you remember one thing: never follow Senior Brother's old path."

Lu Ye nodded. "I won't."

Yi Yi served two cups of tea, then sat quietly beside them, watching the fishing floats bobbing in the lake.

"Didn't you notice anything different about Second Senior Sister this time?" Li Baxian suddenly asked.

Lu Ye thought for a moment, then said, "She didn't scold you for drinking?"

Li Baxian chuckled. "When she's in a good mood, she naturally scolds less." He glanced around, then whispered, "Second Senior Sister has advanced to the Divine Sea realm."

Lu Ye's spirits were instantly invigorated!

Before he arrived at the Blood Sect, the entire sect only had two members: the Sect Master and the Second Senior Sister, one in the Divine Sea realm and one in the True Lake realm. If the Blood Sect hadn't been a very high-tier sect back then, it would have been removed from the list years ago.

Now that Second Senior Sister had also advanced to the Divine Sea realm, the Blood Sect would have two Grand Cultivators at the Divine Sea realm. Shui Yuan's ability to advance at this time was likely related to the Soul Cleansing Water he had given her earlier.

However, the Blood Sect's personnel structure had a significant gap. Below the two Divine Sea realm cultivators, there was not only no one in the True Lake realm, but not even a single cultivator in the Cloud River realm.

The development of the sect would be a long and arduous journey.

"The news hasn't spread yet, so only a few of us know."

As he spoke, Li Baxian suddenly reeled in his rod, and a vivid red Blood-Red Trout leaped out of the water. Yi Yi clapped her hands with delight, her excited face flushing red, as if she had caught the fish herself.

Lu Ye also reeled in his rod, but caught nothing.

Li Baxian chuckled. "Fishing seems simple, but it truly tests one's patience. It also requires seizing fleeting opportunities. Junior Brother, don't rush some things; let them happen naturally."

He clearly sensed something, and said meaningfully, "The development of a sect isn't reliant on one person. Senior Brother is a prime example of this. That's why I told you not to follow Senior Brother's old path."

"I understand."

"You asked me to stay earlier, and it wasn't just for dinner, was it? Is there something else?"

"I wanted to ask you about the art of artifact manipulation, Senior Brother. Rumor has it that you can control a hundred swords. Is that true?"

"What do you think?" Li Baxian countered, not answering directly.

"It's a bit exaggerated." Lu Ye answered truthfully, because his spiritual power far surpassed that of cultivators at the same level, giving him the right to say so.

In terms of spiritual power, Lu Ye was confident Li Baxian couldn't compare to him. Yet, his current limit probably couldn't even control ten spiritual artifacts. A hundred swords was simply too terrifying.

"I never thought I'd be underestimated by my Junior Brother." Li Baxian chuckled, then suddenly slapped the gourd at his waist.

When the gourd's opening unsealed, clanging sounds erupted, and behind Li Baxian, streaks of light floated in the air. The setting sun's afterglow shone down, causing the streaks of light to shimmer with colorful brilliance, a beautiful sight.

Lu Ye's gaze swept over them, his heart filled with shock.

The rumors... were actually true.

Li Baxian, at the Eighth Heaven cultivation level, controlled a hundred swords!

"How did you do that?" Lu Ye was perplexed.

"I'll teach you."

A moment later, by Moon Lake, Lu Ye and Li Baxian stood forty zhang apart. They attacked each other with their controlled artifacts, the clanging sounds ceaseless. As their exchange continued, Li Baxian's voice occasionally reached Lu Ye's ears.

In the middle of the lake, the small boat remained, with Yi Yi tending to the two fishing rods. She would lift one, then the other, but after half a day of effort, she hadn't caught a single fish. Yi Yi's cheeks puffed out in frustration.

She glanced around, saw no one was paying attention to her, then Yi Yi leaped, silently entering the water.

The clanging sounds on the shore continued. This kind of practical combat training undoubtedly made it easier for one to discover their shortcomings, especially when facing an expert capable of controlling a hundred swords.