Sage of Humanity
Chapter 916 - 914 Nian Yuexian's Request

Nian Yuexian's actions directly made Cheng Xiu feel like a fully drawn bow with a taut string, but the arrow on the string couldn't be released, leaving him extremely uncomfortable.

Seeing Lu Ye return, Cheng Xiu felt as if he had been granted amnesty and quickly signaled to Lu Ye with pleading eyes.

Lu Ye observed the situation with a mix of amusement and helplessness, unsure how Cheng Xiu had offended Nian Yuexian to be tormented like this.

He stepped forward a few paces, cupped his fists, and said, "My Lord, I have returned from my patrol. There is nothing unusual within a thirty-mile radius. Please give further instructions!"

Nian Yuexian softly acknowledged him and then said, "Come find me later; I have something to discuss with you."

"Yes!" Lu Ye responded, and when he looked up again, Nian Yuexian had already disappeared.

Beside him, Cheng Xiu was nearly faint from exhaustion, his legs trembling, "Brother Lu... please, help me up!"

A moment later, inside the bamboo building, some color had finally returned to Cheng Xiu's pale face, and he looked at Lu Ye with a face full of emotion.

To be able to serve under such a person and remain unharmed was a skill in itself.

Although he had grievances in his heart, he dared not voice any complaints. The Mental Consciousness perception of a Divine Sea Realm strong cultivator was not something to be trifled with; he would not dare utter a word of disrespect.

He spoke only of important matters, dealing with Lu Ye regarding the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones.

After counting the items, Lu Ye said, "Brother Cheng, please relay to your lord that the delivery schedule should be changed to once a month. Once every seven days is too frequent. Not only does it tire you with constant travel, but I also need time to go into seclusion for cultivation."

This suggestion was reasonable, and Cheng Xiu immediately agreed, "I will report to my lord once I return, but how to decide is not up to me."

"Just convey my message, that's all."

Cheng Xiu did not linger long and left shortly.

After he left, Lu Ye went to the bamboo building where Nian Yuexian resided. Before he could speak, Nian Yuexian's voice came from inside, "Come in."

Lu Ye walked straight in.

Nian Yuexian was waiting.

"What instructions do you have, my Lord?" Lu Ye asked.

Since arriving at this Cangyan Mountain Pass, aside from giving him a few tasks in the initial days, Nian Yuexian had not interfered with him, so Lu Ye was unsure what she wanted him for.

"I want to know, the last time you saved me, what was that spirit rune called?"

This matter had been lingering in Nian Yuexian's mind for a long time. Although, as someone who experienced its effects firsthand, she understood the power of that spirit rune, she needed to comprehend its nature before taking action. After all, while this journey was not supposed to be too dangerous, she still needed a way to respond in case of any unforeseen threats.

This wasn't something Lu Ye couldn't speak of; he might conceal it from others, but when Nian Yuexian asked, he had to answer truthfully.

After all, he had previously used this spirit rune on both of them.

Immediately, Lu Ye explained the intricacies of the Twin Flying Phoenixes.

Upon hearing the name of the spirit rune, Nian Yuexian was momentarily taken aback, not expecting such an evocative name for the spirit rune.

Lu Ye explained in detail, and Nian Yuexian listened quietly.

A moment later, Lu Ye asked, "What does my Lord need me to assist with?"

Nian Yuexian asking specifically about the Twin Flying Phoenixes clearly indicated she needed his assistance, but Lu Ye couldn't figure out what kind of task would require Nian Yuexian to rely on the Twin Flying Phoenixes.

The only thing he could lend to Nian Yuexian was the immense vitality within him...

His own strength was negligible in the presence of Nian Yuexian.

"Let's not discuss the matter for now. I need you to use that spirit rune once more."

The last time, the situation was urgent, and Nian Yuexian hadn't had the chance to fully experience it. To truly understand the Twin Flying Phoenixes, she needed to feel it firsthand once more, so she could decide whether to take Lu Ye along.

"Of course." As Lu Ye nodded, he unsheathed his long knife, drew it across his palm, letting blood flow, and then extended his hand toward Nian Yuexian.

Nian Yuexian understood instantly, using her fingernail to cut her palm, from which blood also flowed.

She then gently placed her hand onto Lu Ye's palm.

In the brief moment of their hands clasping, Lu Ye slightly raised an eyebrow.

He couldn't deny that this hand was very soft, almost boneless.

In the life-and-death scenario previously, he had acted without thinking, without realizing how holding such a hand resembled gripping a smooth, warm jade.

With a subtly significant gaze directed at him, Lu Ye hastily focused his mind, channeling his spirit force. In the next moment, the blood at the center of their palms shifted and formed into two beams of blood light, descending onto the backs of their hands, taking the shape of a single wing, blood-red and lifelike.

When the Twin Flying Phoenixes spirit rune was successfully formed, Lu Ye distinctly felt the massive and deep reserves within Nian Yuexian, and similarly, Nian Yuexian sensed the astounding vitality within Lu Ye.

"Can't let go of our hands?" Nian Yuexian asked.

Lu Ye shook his head, "Only through this intimate physical contact can we share the underlying strength of our bodies."

This explanation was quite reasonable.

Nian Yuexian then asked, "What about the vitality within you?"

Such immense vitality wasn't something a mere True Lake Realm cultivator could possess. Even those physique cultivators in the Divine Sea Realm might not have a foundation like Lu Ye's.

"Just some fortuitous encounters," Lu Ye replied offhandedly, not going into details.

Nian Yuexian did not press further, instead asking, "Are there any other methods by which I can borrow your strength?"

Lu Ye thought for a moment and said, "A touch of telepathy! If the Twin Flying Phoenixes targets the physical body, then a touch of telepathy targets the psyche. However, if truly utilized, there would be no secrets between us. Compared to the Lord's psyche, my psyche strength is negligible, so there's no need to borrow it."

Nian Yuexian nodded and withdrew her jade-like hand from Lu Ye's palm, calmly saying, "I'll give you a mission."

"Please tell me, my lord!"

Nian Yuexian took out her guard token and performed some gestures.

Lu Ye's expression turned serious; tasks issued through the guard token are extremely formal and recognized by Heaven's Augury, meaning they can earn battle merits.

He immediately checked the guard token with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

When he saw the content of the mission, he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

The task was very simple: offer three drops of Soul Cleansing Water to his own Mountain Pass Chief!

What kind of task is this...

If you wanted it, you could have simply asked, and I would naturally give it to you. There was no need to make it so complicated.

Lu Ye then took out a bottle from his storage sack and handed it to Nian Yuexian. The bottle clearly contained more than three drops of Soul Cleansing Water, possibly as many as ten.

"This is too much, beyond my authority," Nian Yuexian frowned.

"Three drops are for the task, the rest are my humble offering to you, my lord."

Nian Yuexian's expression turned somewhat peculiar, the word 'offering' made her feel as if she were very old.

But this was, after all, Lu Ye's sentiment, so she accepted it readily.

The next moment, Lu Ye noticed some activity in his battlefield marking, looked down and found many more battle merits had been added.

Counting the rewards from previously crafting the Explosive Fire Spirit Stone, his current battle merits had reached almost 230,000.

In a few days, his bi-monthly salary would be issued again, adding another 60,000 battle merits.

Lu Ye didn't know how other True Lake Realm cultivators acquired battle merits, but ever since he arrived at Cangyan Mountain Pass, acquiring battle merits had always been an easy task, with large amounts of merits being credited at a time.

"You are granted a three-day break; in three days, come with me to a place."

"Where to?"

Lu Ye asked casually, not expecting Nian Yuexian to withhold any information, "Liyuan."

Lu Ye hadn't heard of Liyuan, so he quickly took out his ten-part map to check. After confirming Liyuan's location, he couldn't help but look up at Nian Yuexian, "Liyuan at the border of Bingzhou and Wuzhou?"

"Yes!" Nian Yuexian nodded.

Lu Ye was taken aback, "What are we going there for?"

To get there entails crossing through Ten Thousand Demons Ridge into Bingzhou territory, deep into the heartland of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge.

What a perilous place!

Of course, a detour could be taken, but it would undoubtedly consume a lot of time. With Nian Yuexian's temperament and personality, it was unlikely she would take a detour.

Chances were she would cross through Bingzhou directly!

"If I must go, then there must be a reason. This is not a task; consider it a... request, so you do not have to go. The three days are both a break and time for you to think about it. Go, just give me your answer in three days."

"I take my leave!" Lu Ye cupped his hands and withdrew.

It finally dawned on him that Nian Yuexian was investigating the details of the Twin Flying Phoenixes and asking for Soul Cleansing Water as preparations for the trip in three days.

He didn't know what secret Liyuan held, but it was clearly of great benefit if it attracted a strong cultivator like Nian Yuexian.

Nian Yuexian gave him three days to consider, but for Lu Ye, there was nothing to consider at all.

His own Mountain Pass Chief needed his assistance, and he certainly would not refuse. He hadn't forgotten, back in Gushan City, when he was in crisis, Nian Yuexian had risked exposure to rescue him.

While he had later saved Nian Yuexian's life as well, making it even between them, personal bonds are not transactions or bargaining chips.

His own Mountain Pass Chief was going, so he must accompany her.

However, before that, he needed to prepare a bit more.

At the very least, he needed to augment his life-saving capital.

It seemed like some of the battle merits he just received would be spent very soon!

Upon leaving Nian Yuexian's bamboo tower, Lu Ye headed straight to Heaven's Augury Hall.

He quickly connected with Heaven's Augury, entered the Hall of Battle Merits, and followed his memory to a stone platform.

Displayed on the stone platform was a treasure garment, and it was a top-grade magic-artifact class treasure garment!

Protection-type treasures like treasure garments and treasure armor were more sought after by the magic cultivator faction. Since their physical bodies were not as strong as those of other factions' cultivators, having a treasure garment or treasure armor increased their life-saving measures.

Combat cultivators typically didn't use such items, especially ones like Lu Ye who pursued personal combat skills. For them, treasure garments and treasure armor were burdens.

Because, for combat cultivators, excessive protection could dull their drive and prove to be an obstacle to advancement. Wearing them over long periods could lead to a miscalculation of their abilities, and it would decrease their vigilance and grasp of combat opportunities.

Hence, from the start of his cultivation, Lu Ye had never purchased any treasure garments or treasure armor.

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