Chapter 433: The Road Traveled

The next day, in the outer ring of the Spirit Stream Battlefield, at the Blood Sect's encampment.

In the council hall, Lu Ye sat waiting. A short while later, two figures stepped in and bowed together before him, greeting, "Fifth Senior Brother."

Lu Ye put down his teacup and looked at them. Both were familiar faces, among the first batch of disciples to join the Blood Sect.

However, because they were rogue cultivators with modest aptitudes, their cultivation hadn't advanced significantly even after all this time. One was now at the seventh level, and the other at the sixth.

Even so, this was far better than their aspirations as rogue cultivators. When they first joined the Blood Sect, they were only at the third or fourth level of cultivation. They had believed their lifelong cultivation would peak at the seventh or eighth level, but now, they could look forward to more.

The Blood Sect's encampment offered an excellent cultivation environment and abundant cultivation resources, allowing even former rogue cultivators to grow beyond their innate potential.

Lu Ye looked at the seventh-level cultivator. "Duan Yi!"

"Present!"

"Transfer your authority as Deputy Enforcer to Cheng Mu."

Cheng Mu was the sixth-level cultivator.

"Understood."

Duan Yi acknowledged, respectfully invoked the Heavenly Mystery, and transferred his authority as Deputy Enforcer, along with the Deputy Enforcer's Seal, to Cheng Mu.

Only after he finished did Lu Ye hand over the authority of the Enforcer and the grand seal to Duan Yi.

Thus, the seventh-level Duan Yi became the Enforcer, and the sixth-level Cheng Mu became the Deputy Enforcer.

The choice of Cheng Mu as Deputy Enforcer was not solely Lu Ye's decision but a comprehensive consideration after consulting his second senior sister last night.

Currently, the Blood Sect's new generation of disciples was still maturing and couldn't yet shoulder heavy responsibilities. Therefore, the Enforcer and Deputy Enforcer had to be chosen from the earliest batch of disciples who joined.

Duan Yi and Cheng Mu's aptitudes weren't outstanding, but they were steady and handled matters appropriately. Their strength was also acceptable within the Blood Sect's encampment.

The reason for not choosing other seventh-level cultivators as Deputy Enforcers was primarily that the seventh level was not far from the eighth. Once they advanced to the eighth level, they would have to leave the encampment.

Choosing a sixth-level cultivator meant they could stay in the encampment longer. By the time Cheng Mu advanced to the seventh level, Duan Yi would likely be leaving, allowing Cheng Mu to seamlessly take over.

"When Gu Yang took over as Deputy Enforcer, I told him that while managing the encampment, he also needed to look for candidates for the next Enforcer and Deputy Enforcer. My words to you two are the same: from now on, you both will need to diligently manage this encampment."

"We will certainly not disappoint the sect or Fifth Senior Brother," they both declared.

Lu Ye nodded slightly. "Go, cultivate well. Don't worry about aptitude or talent. Your future isn't limited to the outer ring of the battlefield."

After the two left, Lu Ye exited the council hall, flew up on his artifact, and landed on a nearby spiritual peak. Little Gray, flapping its wings, walked over. Lu Ye took out blood-red trout from his storage bag and fed it. Little Gray ate them one after another, seemingly enjoying them as much as it would insects.

Lu Ye stroked its feathers and said, "When Senior Brother left the Spirit Stream Battlefield, he asked you to guard the sect's encampment. Now, our sect has passed its most difficult period, and things will only get better. If you wish to leave, you may do so at any time. You don't need to guard this place anymore. Of course, you can always come back whenever you want. And if you're willing to stay, that would be even better."

Little Gray was a Hegemon-level beast, undoubtedly intelligent, so Lu Ye knew it could understand his words.

The Blood Sect had been in decline for thirty years, and Little Gray had guarded the encampment for those thirty years. Even when there were no disciples there, it had adhered to Senior Brother's instructions and never left. The young eagle had gradually grown into a Hegemon-level existence.

But it was, after all, a flying hawk; it yearned for freedom and the sky. So, Lu Ye felt it was time to give it more freedom and choice.

As for what Little Gray would choose, that was its own business.

A moment later, Lu Ye ascended on his artifact, quickly disappearing from sight.

A few moments later, a clear eagle cry echoed. In the encampment, numerous Blood Sect disciples looked up, watching Little Gray's soaring figure, which gradually faded into the distance.

He flew eastward, moving at an extremely fast pace.

Five days later, Lu Ye descended onto a flat mountaintop.

This mountaintop was exceptionally peculiar; it looked as if some unparalleled expert had sliced off the top of the spiritual peak with a single blade, leaving it flat and smooth as a mirror.

Dark bloodstains still lingered on the peak, indicating a major battle had once erupted there.

Golden Light Peak!

He recalled how, back then, as a fifth-level Spirit Stream Realm cultivator, he had fought forty-three consecutive battles here, slaying numerous sixth-level cultivators from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, ultimately securing a glimmer of hope for himself.

This was where Lu Ye made his name.

And where his legend began.

Almost two years had passed in a flash!

How fast time flew!

In two years, from the fifth level of the Spirit Stream Realm to the ninth level of the Sky Realm, his cultivation speed was remarkably fast. Only cultivators from top sects with exceptional talent and aptitude could hope to compare with Lu Ye.

Rumor had it that Golden Light Peak held a fortuitous encounter because its unique terrain was carved out by a master blade-wielder's single strike, leaving behind the profound essence of their blade techniques.

Yet, Lu Ye didn't sense anything extraordinary here.

He continued his journey, pressing forward.

A day later, he passed a spiritual peak with a valley below.

It was here, back then, that he had ridden Amber and shouted, "Lu Ye is here!"

In that valley, Lan Yu Die and the cultivators of the Big Dipper Sect had fought a bloody battle, intercepting the pursuers from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge for him...

He pressed on, following the same path he had taken two years ago.

Two years ago, he was so weak, riding Amber, leaving Azure Cloud Mountain with Yi Yi, holding a detailed map, and heading towards the Blood Sect's encampment, enduring countless hardships along the way.

But two years later, he could traverse in a single day a distance that would have taken him one or two months back then.

Now, he too had grown into a Hegemon-level existence.

His emotions surged.

The skies of the outer ring were calm, unlike the inner circle where cultivators often encountered others flying on artifacts.

Outer ring cultivators had lower cultivation levels and lacked the means to fly on artifacts, so encounters were rare.

Ten days after departing from the Blood Sect's encampment, Lu Ye arrived at the encampment of a Vast Sky Alliance sect.

The detailed map showed this to be Azure Feather Mountain.

Nearby were two Ten Thousand Demons Ridge factions: the Tai Luo Sect and the Qin Clan.

At the intersection of the three forces was a place called Hundred Peaks Mountain, with precisely a hundred peaks. Lu Ye had killed many from the Tai Luo Sect and Qin Clan there more than two years ago.

Landing outside the Azure Feather Mountain encampment, Lu Ye surveyed the protective grand formation before him.

The outer ring sects reacted much slower than those in the inner circle. When Lu Ye attacked inner circle sects, his presence was always noticed immediately, causing chaos.

However, upon arriving at the Azure Feather Mountain encampment, none of the cultivators here detected him.

It wasn't until much later that a passing cultivator noticed Lu Ye standing outside the grand formation and immediately became alert.

Just as Lu Ye was about to announce himself, he suddenly frowned. The Heavenly Mystery descended from the ethereal realm.

The Heavenly Mystery's baptism of reward had arrived!

This was his fourth baptism since becoming the top of the Spirit Stream Ranking. Based on his previous experience and estimates, this would likely be the last time the Heavenly Mystery's baptism would be of much benefit to him.

Without resisting, he allowed the Heavenly Mystery to guide him. His vision blurred, and he soon found himself in the Heavenly Mystery Pond.

Just as Lu Ye had anticipated, although the spiritual mist in the Heavenly Mystery Pond was still dense, its effect on Lu Ye's improvement was minimal. This applied not only to him but also to Yi Yi and Amber.

It had reached its limit!

In other words, even if Lu Ye continued to stay in the Spirit Stream Realm, he wouldn't gain any further benefits. All that needed to be accumulated had been accumulated; it was time to advance to the Cloud River Realm.

Meanwhile, inside the Azure Feather Mountain encampment, the cultivator who had seen Lu Ye earlier called for a group of people, among whom was Su Zining, the Enforcer of Azure Feather Mountain.

"Where is the person?" Su Zining's gaze swept around, but he saw no one.

"He was just here, but he suddenly disappeared for some reason," the cultivator who had seen Lu Ye explained, pointing to a spot.

"Suddenly disappeared?" Su Zining frowned. "Could it be a ghost cultivator?"

Only ghost cultivators possessed the ability to vanish abruptly.

"Did you get a clear look at his cultivation level?" Su Zining asked again.

"No, I didn't. He disappeared too quickly."

Su Zining's expression grew solemn. "Issue an order for all sect disciples to remain vigilant. Any suspicious individuals or incidents must be reported immediately."

Unsure of the person's identity or intentions, Su Zining naturally prepared for the worst.

Everyone acknowledged, and the several hundred cultivators of Azure Feather Mountain immediately entered a state of combat readiness.

Lu Ye hadn't expected his appearance to make Azure Feather Mountain so vigilant. The timing was simply too coincidental; he had only just arrived at the Azure Feather Mountain encampment when the Heavenly Mystery's reward descended.

It wasn't until half an hour later that Lu Ye reappeared outside the Azure Feather Mountain encampment, in the exact spot where he had vanished.

He immediately felt eyes on him. Looking up, he saw several cultivators warily observing him. One of them called out, "Who goes there?"

Lu Ye looked at them. "Lu Ye of the Blood Sect, here to visit!"

Azure Feather Mountain was a Vast Sky Alliance sect, so he naturally wouldn't trespass casually. Moreover, to be precise, Azure Feather Mountain owed him some favor.

"Lu Ye of the Blood Sect?" A cultivator frowned, finding the name strangely familiar but unable to recall where he had heard it.

Lu Ye had recently been active in the inner circle, and before that, in the middle circle. Consequently, there hadn't been many rumors about him in the outer ring lately, which made it hard for outer ring cultivators to immediately recognize his name.

However, the person quickly remembered, pointing a trembling finger at Lu Ye. "You're that... you're that Lu Yiye, the top of the Spirit Stream Ranking!"

Everyone knew of Lu Yiye, but not simply Lu Ye.

"That's right!"

The cultivators immediately grew excited. Some quickly ran inside, preparing to spread the word.

A living Spirit Stream Ranking top cultivator! How often did outer ring cultivators get a chance to see one? Moreover, for many cultivators of the Vast Sky Alliance sects, Lu Yiye of the Blood Sect was already a symbol of invincibility.

Furthermore, titles like 'Sect Exterminator Lu' and 'Spirit Stream's Three Calamities' were not something ordinary people could earn.