Sage of Humanity
Chapter 903 - 901: You Probably Can't Command Me

"Junior Brother Lu, what do you think?" Shangguan Qiu, who had been silently observing, suddenly turned to look at Lu Ye, who was adjusting his chaotic spirit force.

Each member of Warlord Geng's A-3 squad has their strengths, and Shangguan Qiu's forte is observation.

Having just experienced a tremendous change and been impacted by the Divine Sea Realm's mental consciousness, the others might not have paid much attention, but Shangguan Qiu did not forget.

Before Ning Hu revealed his true cultivation, this temporarily recruited junior brother had already struck with a blade.

This clearly meant that he had a very keen intuition towards the impending crisis, allowing him to act before Ning Hu.

It must be known that Ning Hu was secretly a Divine Sea Realm!

Such keen intuition is indeed terrifying.

In this situation, asking Lu Ye for his thoughts is naturally appropriate.

One shouldn't be judged by appearances, just as the ocean cannot be measured with a ladle. Shangguan Qiu never underestimated others due to lower cultivation. As Warlord Geng had previously said, who didn't start from True Lake Level 1?

"What's the point of asking him?" Xiao Ruyun replied impatiently, "He's just a True Lake Level 1, might not have ever seen a real battlefield. In this situation, swiftly retreating is the wise strategy."

Shangguan Qiu glanced at him, "If the captain were awake, he probably wouldn't make that choice."

"But the captain is unconscious now, and he would never gamble our lives!"

Amid the clamor, Lu Ye suddenly stood up with his long blade, took a deep breath, feeling some faint pain in his chest and abdomen, but apart from that, there were no major worries; his capability wasn't hindered.

He reached out a hand, and Amber instantly transformed into the size of a cat, leaping onto his shoulder.

"Junior Brother Lu?" Kang Yuanqiao gazed at him in astonishment, and the rest focused their attention on him.

Lu Ye looked in the direction of the screams and fighting sounds, with his blade at the waist and hand on the hilt, he slowly said, "I don't know how you handle situations like this, but personally, if wronged, naturally I'll repay it. If the opportunity is right, then it's now—right away!"

Everyone was astonished, recognizing Lu Ye's intent to get involved in the Xianxia Mountain affair. Even Kang Yuanqiao, who supported joining forces with Xianxia Mountain's True Lake Realm, was stunned, unsure where Lu Ye got such courage.

Charging forth meant facing a Divine Sea Realm!

True Lake versus Divine Sea, certainly a losing battle; the sole mental consciousness crushing alone would render True Lake utterly doomed.

Yet, coincidentally, Lu Ye had an exotic treasure to counter the Divine Sea Realm in his possession, thanks to his Mountain Pass Chief. After the siege defense at Gushan City, he reported to Heaven's Augury and received such a massive battle merit reward, giving him enough resources to acquire that exotic treasure at the Hall of Battle Merits.

Originally, he intended to use it just in case, not expecting to deploy it so soon.

Furthermore, on his journey, Lu Ye received much assistance from unknown Haotian Alliance cultivators. Especially when his identity as a Righteous Blood Sect disciple was exposed in the Spirit Stream battlefield, numerous unfamiliar Haotian Alliance cultivators supported him all the way, bringing him to Golden Light Peak, hanging on until his senior apprentice sister and fourth senior brother arrived.

Later, in the Spirit Stream battlefield, Cloud River battlefield, he repeatedly received help from unfamiliar Haotian Alliance cultivators, perhaps including people from Xianxia Mountain.

Now, Xianxia Mountain faced potential annihilation; if Lu Ye had no means to intervene, so be it, but with even a sliver of chance, he had to attempt something.

"Kid, don't act recklessly, with your insignificant cultivation, are you going to throw your life away?" Xiao Ruyun shouted sternly.

Lu Ye ignored him, already moving forward.

A silhouette flashed before him, with Xiao Ruyun blocking his way, looking at him decisively, "We brought you along, so we're responsible for taking you back. Don't go any further."

Seeing Lu Ye persist, Xiao Ruyun clenched his teeth and raised his guard token, yelling, "In my capacity as Bingzhou guard lieutenant colonel, I order you to return immediately!"

Upon saying this, he channeled his force into the guard token, which emanated a rich yellow light.

Lu Ye looked at the guard token in his hand, not speaking.

Xiao Ruyun said, "I don't care which mountain pass you're from, but according to Bingzhou guard discipline, in emergencies, those with higher ranks have command priority. Although you just joined the provincial guard, you should've heard of this rule."

Indeed, the guard discipline includes such a rule: ordinarily, rank only determines the amount of monthly stipend and applies within the same mountain pass.

For instance, Lu Ye within Cangyan Mountain Pass could command all provincial guards of lower rank, regardless of their cultivation level, although currently, only Nian Yuexian is there with him, hence he couldn't command anyone else.

Beyond the mountain pass, his rank may not necessarily hold sway.

This rule was established to prevent rank misuse by high-ranking cultivators.

But in urgent scenarios like the present, rank determines the weight of one's words.

Lu Ye hadn't planned to use his rank to pressure anyone; his cultivation was visible. What good is rank if it doesn't earn respect? Avoiding decisions that might demand subsequent justification seemed wise. Moreover, he and the A-3 squad were mere chance acquaintances, recruited together for tasks without deep familiarity, thus he hadn't intended to seek help from others, prepared to venture alone.

Because he himself didn't know how effective the exotic treasure would be; if useful, it could resolve Xianxia Mountain's crisis—if not, he'd have to retreat.

But when someone blocks his way with a lieutenant colonel's guard token, Lu Ye has to respond.

He undoes the guard token at his waist and waves it at Xiao Ruyun: "I fear you can't command me."

The suddenly blooming purple light nearly blinds Xiao Ruyun.

Kang Yuanqiao and the others look at Lu Ye's back with bewilderment, their hearts a storm of emotions.

Only when Lu Ye shoots skyward and dashes into the depths of Xianxia Mountain does Muk Zheng exclaim: "Capital Commandant?"

All of them hold lieutenant colonel ranks; not due to insufficient cultivation, but rather lack of battle merit. Apart from their captain, who has accumulated nearly enough merit due to his longer stay at True Lake Realm.

Yet their Captain, Warlord Geng, is True Lake Level 9, while Lu Ye is only Level 1!

Xiao Ruyun initially thought of using his rank authority to order Lu Ye back, not expecting that Lu Ye's rank is higher. He couldn't command him at all; the fact that Lu Ye didn't order him to follow was already courteous.

"The captain has awakened." A low call rings out, and everyone forgets their shock over how Lu Ye became a Capital Commandant, gathering around Warlord Geng.

At this time, the main summit plaza of Xianxia Mountain is awash in blood, bodies strewn everywhere.

It is clear that Ning Hu has already begun a massacre.

Xianxia Mountain has more than twenty True Lake cultivators, with considerable strength, but most are not present in the sect; some serve in the provincial guard, others wander for various reasons. Counting Ahn Mofeng and Ning Hu, only seven remain in the sect.

Three have already fallen, lying in pools of blood, their fate unknown.

The rest, including Ahn Mofeng, bear injuries, evidently having fought Ning Hu.

When Lu Ye arrives, he sees many Xianxia Mountain cultivators glaring angrily and shocked at Ning Hu, while Ning Hu holds a young man with Cloud River Level 3 cultivation.

The young man, about the same age as Lu Ye, shows exceptional talent given his cultivation, destined to be a pillar of Xianxia Mountain in the future.

Ning Hu appeared kind and gentle to all in Xianxia Mountain. The lake he meditated by was open to anyone, with many disciples seeking his guidance in difficult cultivation matters. Thus, when he suddenly reveals an unrecognizable side today, the ordinary disciples of Xianxia Mountain can't accept it, nor can the True Lake Realm elders.

The contrast is too stark.

Yet the dozens of corpses strewn about the plaza confirm Ning Hu as a mole for Ten Thousand Demons Ridge.

Lu Ye hastily arrives here, and Ning Hu turns to look at him, a flicker of envy in his eyes.

Everything can be feared when compared. The young fellow in his hand and the boy from the Justice Department are similar in age, but entirely divergent in cultivation and disposition.

Why does such an outstanding disciple belong to others, and not grown by Xianxia Mountain?

However, Ning Hu's goal isn't Lu Ye, so he merely glances before paying no further attention; a True Lake Level 1 cannot change the current situation.

Meanwhile, suspicion rises in Lu Ye's heart.

Why doesn't Ning Hu flee?

His identity is exposed and he has acknowledged it. Logically, he should escape quickly, otherwise, if the Justice Department calls nearby Divine Sea realms, he'd be trapped.

Instead of fleeing, he commits a massacre here?

What is his intent?

If his claim to destroy Xianxia Mountain is true, it would require much time even if possible with his sole strength.

An acute turn of thoughts, Lu Ye gains insight.

Ning Hu doesn't intend to leave alive! Because even if he escapes here, he can't outrun Haotian Alliance's influence in Bingzhou.

As for Ning Hu's true purpose, Lu Ye is unaware. A mole sent by Ten Thousand Demons Ridge in his youth, hidden for nearly a century, originates from the Ridge but trained at Xianxia Mountain.

Is he now Ten Thousand Demons or Haotian Alliance? Who can say?

At this moment, the sound of air being split comes from behind. Lu Ye turns to see A-3 squad, led by Warlord Geng, rushing over.

Seeing Lu Ye unharmed, Warlord Geng breathes a sigh of relief.

The other team members, unaware of Lu Ye's background, assume he's just a strong recruit Warlord Geng found on the street.

Though Warlord Geng isn't entirely aware, this is a person handpicked by the Department Chief; if an accident occurs, he'd struggle to answer to the chief.