Sage of Humanity-Chapter 1579 - 1577: Where Did You Go

The Xianyuan Guards of Xianyuan City have persisted for many years, rooted in the soul pool, which contains Soul Cleansing Water from all over the Nine Provinces. This is the foundation of their immortality and existence, yet it now becomes a constraint.

Once their Soul Seal stored in the soul pool is stripped away, without the pool as support, it will simply not last long.

Lu Ye listened with some difficulty, unsure of how to resolve the current situation. As he pondered, he noticed Lih Shang showing a thoughtful, hesitant expression and quickly asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you have any solution?"

Lih Shang paused and then said, "Actually, it's not difficult to solve this matter. Your Soul Seal is anchored in the soul pool, and since the pool can't come along, you just need to find a suitable object for support as a carrier."

"Please guide us, Fellow Daoist!" Zhang Zishan said solemnly.

Lih Shang said, "The simplest solution is to let the soul bodies of this city hide in the Divine Sea of others; thus, they should be unscathed for a short period."

Lu Ye's eyes lit up upon hearing this; suddenly recalling how Lih Shang would sometimes hide in his own Divine Sea without showing face, he realized that if Lih Shang could do this, the Xianyuan Guards should be able to as well.

Lih Shang shifted the conversation, "But doing so places a burden on the carrier, as they differ from true Soul Race members, requiring them to draw some Divine Soul Power from the carrier to sustain themselves."

Lu Ye responded, "That's fine; there are many Constellations in this domain. Although Xianyuan Guards are numerous, dispersedly, each person's pressure should be minimal. Plus, I have psyche refinement herbs; distributing some can replenish their Divine Soul Power anytime."

Lih Shang smiled bitterly, "If it were only that, there would be no issue. Yet outsiders are forbidden from entering the Soul Race ancestral land, even if this method is employed; you can't take them to the ancestral land."

Lu Ye was taken aback, having forgotten this matter.

If truly following the recent suggestion, it would surely require considerable effort from Constellations followed by Lih Shang leading them to the Soul Race ancestral land to settle the Xianyuan Guards. But without access to the ancestral land, how could they be settled?

"No possibility for compromise?" Lu Ye asked, "I can assure you that Constellations from this domain, even if entering your ancestral land, will hold their tongues, not revealing a word."

Lih Shang shook his head, "Those are the rules of the Soul Race; I'm merely a Constellation, not capable of making such decisions. If I rashly bring outsiders to my race, the best outcome is a lifetime of imprisonment for you, and possibly even execution by our powerful members!"

Lu Ye frowned deeply, facing a difficult situation.

Zhang Zishan suddenly spoke, "As for the carrier… Fellow Daoist, could this item be useful?"

Saying so, he abruptly reached into the soul pool, causing mists to billow within, and extracted an item, clutching it.

Lu Ye stared intensely, recognizing it as something familiar, as if seen before; upon closer inspection, he suddenly realized, "Isn't that the one…"

"It's the Million Souls Banner!" Lih Shang also recognized the item, immediately showing expressions of hatred and disgust, questioning, "How did you come by such a vile thing?"

Sensing her emotions, Lu Ye hurriedly explained, "Fellow Daoist, don't misunderstand; this was not crafted by cultivators of our domain but seized from others."

The origin of this item was that Sun Ying from Qingli Dao World.

Back then, several individuals from Qingli Dao World discovered the Unparalleled Continent, intruding and committing massacres. Many Nine Provinces cultivators refining themselves there suffered misfortune, killed by Sun Ying and others, their psyches extracted and refined into the banner.

Later, Lu Ye led a swift rescue from the Nine Provinces, slaying Sun Ying and seizing the Million Souls Banner, which precipitated two Moon Jade from Qingli Dao World seeking vengeance, resulting in Lu Ye using a red talisman to kill Qin Yuandai and being pursued by Tang Jun.

At that moment, after slaying Sun Ying and confiscating the Million Souls Banner, Lu Ye didn't know how to handle it; destroying it would vanquish the psyches of Nine Provinces cultivators, yet keeping it seemed improper. Just as Nian Yuexian needed to return to the Nine Provinces for reinforcements, Lu Ye had her bring the Million Souls Banner back.

Now it seems Nian Yuexian must have followed his instructions, leaving it in the Nine Provinces, then Number Nine transported it to Xianyuan City, placing it in the soul pool.

If Zhang Zishan hadn't brought this item forth, Lu Ye would almost have forgotten about it.

Seeing the Million Souls Banner, Lu Ye's eyes lit up unexpectedly; the Soul Seal of the Xianyuan Guards needing a carrier, making Nine Provinces cultivators as carriers was unsuitable, yet the Million Souls Banner seems a great option.

If so, then what was once unintended can now be a lifeline.

After Lu Ye's explanation, Lih Shang's expression finally relaxed.

The Million Souls Banner is notorious in stellar space like the Insect Race and Blood Race; any cultivator wishing to maintain reputation wouldn't casually refine such a thing, as its growth requires excessive slaughters, often demanding blood sacrifice of a domain's lives for the Million Souls Banner to achieve Final Achievement.

Lih Shang, as a member of the Soul Race, is particularly repulsed by this item because historically, many cultivators refining the Million Souls Banner favored capturing Soul Race members to use as Primary Souls, thus adding twofold power to the Million Souls Banner.

"If it's this object, then it's worth a try." Lih Shang took the Million Souls Banner in her hand, examining it carefully before looking at Zhang Zishan. "May I ask, City Lord, how many soul bodies are there in this city?"

Zhang Zishan immediately provided a number: "Thirteen thousand two hundred and twenty-nine."

Lu Ye was taken aback. Although he knew the number of Xianyuan Guards in Xianyuan City was large, he hadn't expected there to be so many! Regardless of their cultivation level, these ancestors willingly sacrificed themselves out of righteousness. It's hard to imagine what kind of environment it must have been, that made the entire city so united in purpose.

Lih Shang said: "The number is quite large. This Million Souls Banner isn't of great quality; the refiner's technique is flawed, probably unable to contain so many soul bodies. I'll keep this banner first, and after re-refining, it might be usable!"

Lu Ye was surprised: "You can refine the Million Souls Banner?"

Lih Shang said: "There are some records within my tribe. Our Soul Race had conflicts with many refiners of the Million Souls Banner in the past, which even led to a great war. In that battle, our tribe suffered substantial losses but also seized many Million Souls Banners. So re-refining them shouldn't be a problem, though I need assistance from cultivators of your domain."

After all, she isn't a genuine Artifact Refiner. Even if the technique for refining the Million Souls Banner is unique, she still needs someone to assist her.

"No problem, tell me what kind of people you need, and I'll have them cooperate with you." Lu Ye promptly agreed. The Nine Provinces Constellation now consisted of fifteen hundred people, with talents from all fields. They might not be main forces, but they can certainly lend a hand.

Zhang Zishan bowed deeply to Lih Shang: "If the issue with the Xianyuan Guards can be resolved, then Fellow Daoist will be the benefactor of all Xianyuan Guards. In the future, should you have any requests, Xianyuan Guards will not dare to refuse."

Lih Shang smiled and shook her head: "Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such courtesy. As I've said, strictly speaking, you could be considered my tribe's kin. The Soul Race is not numerous to begin with, so bringing you to the ancestral land would be a boon for my Soul Race."

The issues in Xianyuan City seemed to be resolved, Lu Ye was in a great mood. It wasn't in vain that he spent so much to bid for Lih Shang. Now there's finally a good outcome for Xianyuan City and Xianyuan Guard, an explanation at last.

As for the secret realm's disappearance once the Xianyuan Guards depart, it's a minor issue. This was originally a secret realm meant for Spirit Stream Realm cultivators' training, losing one isn't much of a hindrance.

After leaving Xianyuan City with Lih Shang and Yaya, Lu Ye discussed in detail with Lih Shang for a while, then began sending messages far and wide, gathering suitable personnel to assist Lih Shang in re-refining the Million Souls Banner.

According to Lih Shang's estimation, this would take about a month.

After sending Lih Shang to the most renowned sect in the Nine Provinces for Artifact Refining, ensuring her proper placement, Lu Ye returned to the Righteous Blood Sect with Yaya. As soon as he entered Mount Ao, he felt a thrill in his heart, and with a joyful expression, gazed forward.

Feeling a sensation, Yaya, perched on Lu Ye's neck, shielded her eyes with her hand and gazed forward.

In front, a white light flashed rapidly from Righteous Peak, swift and fierce, pouncing near in a flash, revealing its form.

It was a massive, snow-white tiger, as lustrous as jade, with a clear "King" symbol on its forehead, exuding fierce majesty, its two tiger eyes appearing orange-yellow, deep like ancient pools.

Amber!

After years apart, Amber had become visibly larger and sturdier, its body brimming with blood Qi like a tide, flowing with demonic power, and the aura emanating from it had evidently reached the level of Constellation!

A small figure rode on Amber's back, leaping into the air almost instantly when Amber stopped, diving towards Lu Ye.

Lu Ye laughed heartily, opening his arms wide and catching the figure in his embrace, spinning several circles on the spot, nearly tossing Yaya off, prompting her to hurriedly grab Lu Ye's hair tightly.

The small figure hugged Lu Ye tightly, as if trying to merge into his body.

Suddenly, the little figure began to cry loudly, heartbroken.

Lu Ye felt distressed, soothing her quickly: "Don't cry, don't cry, such a pretty little girl doesn't look good when she cries."

Yiyi ignored him, continuing to cry her heart out for quite some time before chokingly asking: "Lu... Lu Ye, where... where did you go?"

Although since Lu Ye's ascension to Constellation, they met rarely, even when apart, Yiyi could at least know about Lu Ye's whereabouts. But ever since six years ago, there had been no news of Lu Ye, leaving her feeling anxious and uneasy, even though through Amber's life and death she could confirm Lu Ye was alive, but without seeing Lu Ye, her heart felt empty.

The only thing she could do was cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate again, hoping that one day she'd become strong enough to personally enter the stellar space to seek Lu Ye's traces.

So from the moment she ascended to Constellation, she hadn't returned to Nine Provinces, always roving the stellar space with Amber and a few other companions, scouring for spirit jades to cultivate.

Until recently, news suddenly came that Lu Ye had returned to Nine Provinces, prompting them to rush back without stopping.