Sage of Humanity
Chapter 845 - 843: Stars Surrounding the Moon

The two were conversing when suddenly the door beside them was pushed open, and Lu Ye stepped out from within.

The cultivator was overjoyed and hurriedly went to greet him.

"I understand. I'll go have a look."

As he spoke, Lu Ye soared into the sky and headed towards the portal of the Dao Palace.

Outside the portal, a large number of cultivators had gathered. The two camps were at daggers drawn, clearly divided, and the atmosphere was chilling. The number of cultivators gathered here was already considerable, and more kept arriving from elsewhere to join the standoff.

A group of Ziwei Dao Palace cultivators, led by Pang Huanyin, stood to one side, earnestly trying to persuade the crowd, but to no avail.

Faced with the Corpse Race, these people could remain composed and fearless, but against these cultivators who had just saved the Unparalleled Continent, the Ziwei Dao Palace was at a loss.

Once a confrontation of such scale breaks out, it would be more than just a few casualties; even the entire Ziwei Dao Palace might get involved.

Fortunately, though the guests from the Nine Provinces were arguing fiercely, they still retained basic sanity and had not truly started fighting.

But if not resolved in time, the situation would inevitably escalate into a full-blown fight.

Pang Huanyin kept looking towards the portal, and only when a familiar fiery figure burst out did she breathe a long sigh of relief.

The moment the fiery figure appeared, it swiftly cut through the air and landed right between the two camps of cultivators, revealing itself.

This grand entrance naturally attracted the attention of numerous cultivators. As many looked up and recognized Lu Ye, they fell silent.

The Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators, in particular, had serious expressions, some even eager to try their luck.

Compared to the Haotian Alliance, Lu Ye was much more renowned among the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge. Among Cloud River Realm cultivators, at least five out of ten had seen his image, and even those who hadn't had heard of his name.

In the past year, the most renowned name on the Cloud River battlefield had been Lu Yiye from the Righteous Blood Sect.

He had single-handedly slain two thousand enemies, an unprecedented feat in the history of the Cloud River Realm.

Moreover, he had claimed the top spot in the Cloud River Tournament with just Level 8 cultivation.

The chaotic scene gradually calmed as if an invisible hand had swept away the noise.

All eyes focused on the young man standing in the void, resting his hand on his sword. Though he did not exude any aura, he instantly became the center of attention.

Pang Huanyin's eyes gleamed with admiration.

In the midst of the silence, Lu Ye slowly spoke, "You all must have gained plenty of benefits here. Surely, no one wants to die meaninglessly, right? If you really want to fight, do it back in the Nine Provinces. At least there, you won't end up dying in a foreign land!"

He shifted his gaze towards a spot within the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge camp, "Ying Wuji, what do you say?"

Hidden within the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge camp, Ying Wuji felt as bitter as if he'd swallowed gall.

Since arriving on this Unparalleled Continent, he hadn't been able to escape Lu Yiye. Despite hiding well, he was still spotted. Was Lu Yiye just out to get him?

Though he silently complained, he couldn't show any emotion on the surface. He knew Lu Ye's strength better than anyone. If a battle broke out, he wasn't sure about other Haotian Alliance cultivators, but Lu Yiye would definitely survive, and the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge side would suffer heavy casualties—including himself.

The fact that Lu Ye called him out first was a clear indication that he wanted him to step forward and help mediate. Having worked with Lu Ye for so long, Ying Wuji understood his intentions.

So he immediately stepped forward, joining Lu Ye's side, and addressed the massive crowd, "Fellow Daoist Lu is right. The grievances between the two camps in the Nine Provinces have built up over a long time. If you need to vent, there's no rush. Please calm your anger and wait until we return to the Nine Provinces. Since we've reaped benefits, we should convert them to our strength! If anyone insists on fighting, whether you're from the Haotian Alliance or the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge, I, Ying Wuji, will be the first to oppose it!"

Being the Sixteenth in Cloud River had its weight, especially considering Ying Wuji was a Ghost Cultivator. Being targeted by someone like him was a nightmare.

"Beixuan Sword Sect, Muk Qingyun won't agree either!"

The sound of swords resonated as a flying sword arrived, revealing Muk Qingyun's slender figure. Sharp Sword Intent filled the air, slicing through the void, accompanied by flying swords ready to strike at any moment.

Another tall figure silently joined Lu Ye's side. Her face was stunning, and she wore a fitted purple dress. She said nothing, but the faint smile on her lips made many people's hearts race.

"Cloud River's second rank, Lan Ziyi!" someone exclaimed.

As one of the few female cultivators in the top ten of the Cloud River Tournament, and ranked second, Lan Ziyi's name was well-known. Even if she was previously unknown, the tournament had made her famous throughout the Cloud River battlefield.

"I, Lui Qing, won't agree either." Lui Qing said with a smile, joining Lu Ye's right side.

"And here comes Fong Rulie!" Fong Rulie appeared with a spear over his shoulder, looking down at the crowd with a playful gaze.

Another robust cultivator silently stepped forward, standing next to Fong Rulie. His rough attire couldn't conceal his burly frame, and through the openings in his clothing, one could see the numerous, yet-to-heal wounds on his body.

"Cloud River's first, Lu Yiye of the Righteous Blood Sect."

"Cloud River's second, Lan Ziyi of the Endless Island."

"Muk Qingyun of the Beixuan Sword Sect."

"Lui Qing of the Myriad Magic Pavilion."

"Yang Yuan of the Jingkong Mountain."

"Fong Rulie of the Soaring Cloud Sect."

"Ying Wuji of the Senluo Hall."

Low murmurs spread through the crowd as they realized that six out of the top ten from the Cloud River Tournament were present!

Even though Ying Wuji was not in the top ten, as a Ghost Cultivator, his threat in life-and-death combat could surpass those ranked higher.

So, despite there being only seven figures, their presence brought an unimaginable deterrent and oppression to the Nine Provinces cultivators.

Some keen observers noticed a startling detail: the seven stood in the air, Lu Ye in the center, three on each side.

Neither Muk Qingyun from the Haotian Alliance nor the others from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge stood beside Lu Ye but slightly behind him.

It was clearly a scene where stars revolved around the moon.

Muk Qingyun was from the Haotian Alliance and Bingzhou, so it made sense. But the others were all from the Ten Thousand Demons Ridge. Why give Lu Ye this face?

These people were unparalleled prodigies, representing the pinnacle of this generation's Cloud River Realm. They shouldn't be overshadowed by anyone of their era.

Yet, the scene was precisely this.

Terrifying to think about!

As the seven gathered, the once tense atmosphere vanished completely.

Suddenly, an intense surge of Heaven and Earth spirit force erupted from an unknown source, startling everyone momentarily. But upon identifying the origin, the Nine Provinces cultivators relaxed.

A massive portal was forming gradually as Spiritual Energy gathered around.

This was clearly the Nine Provinces opening the return passage.

The timing seemed a bit ahead of schedule, but it was a welcome relief for the Nine Provinces cultivators.

With the present circumstances, a fight was unlikely. Both sides understood that such a massive standoff would result in significant casualties, so many had been restraining themselves.

Now, with Lu Ye and the others stepping forward and the Nine Provinces opening the portal, they could graciously disengage.

"We're going home!" someone in the crowd shouted and dashed towards the portal, disappearing instantly.

Many others followed, and the large portal consumed them, sending them back to the Nine Provinces.

"I'll go ahead. If fate allows... never mind, better that we don't meet again!" Lui Qing shook his head with a smile, heading towards the portal, intending to leave a polite remark but reconsidered, realizing it might be best never to see Lu Yiye again.

"Wait for me!" Fong Rulie shouted, following closely behind Lui Qing.

Yang Yuan nodded slightly and left third.

"Running away so fast," Ying Wuji muttered while observing cautiously. Seeing Lu Ye had no intention of stopping him, he quickly rushed into the portal.

Finally...

Escaping Lu Yiye felt liberating.

Ying Wuji couldn't help but feel a joyous sense of freedom, reminiscent of his first venture out of his sect years ago.

Lan Ziyi nudged Lu Ye, gesturing towards a direction with her lips, "Someone over there seems to want to talk to you."

She then slipped away, wearing a sly grin.

"Junior Brother Lu, I'm leaving too. Let's meet again if fate wills it," Muk Qingyun said.

"Take care, Senior Brother!"

Left alone in midair, Lu Ye looked around and saw Pang Huanyin gazing at him.

At that moment, the expression of the Dao Palace's master was evidently complex. She knew as a guest from the Nine Provinces, Lu Ye couldn't stay forever and that the Nine Provinces would soon open the portal to take all the cultivators back. Yet, she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

Their eyes met, and Pang Huanyin sighed inwardly, but she maintained her composure. She floated over to Lu Ye's side, "Senior Brother, would you walk with me?"

Lu Ye hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Thank you." Pang Huanyin smiled.