Sage of Humanity-Chapter 1582 - 1580: Lih Shang’s Request
"Actually, there were no Soul Race in this world initially, because pure soul bodies find it hard to survive here for long. The earliest Soul Race were like Yiyi, transformed from exotic beasts like Amber." Lih Shang spoke.
"So all of you in the Soul Race were born this way?" Lu Ye was surprised, if so, doesn't that mean the Soul Race also have a White Tiger?
Lih Shang shook her head, "Not so, the birth of the Soul Race relied on a divine object, which is also the Soul Race's treasured artifact. Our birth is different from Yiyi's, I was merely saying the earliest Soul Race were entities similar to Yiyi."
Lu Ye understood and realized he had misunderstood.
Lih Shang continued, "For Yiyi, Amber is her support, much like how the Xianyuan Guards now rely on the Million Souls Banner. If Amber dies, Yiyi can't survive, but the reverse isn't the true; Amber wouldn't be affected. It's a unique form of symbiosis."
Lu Ye nodded, he knew these things well, just like the Life Origin Method he once shared with Amber, he wanted to break it fearing that if he were to meet some unfortunate end, it would drag Amber and Yiyi down with him.
Fortunately, he had already unraveled the Life Origin Method after returning this time.
Without the Life Origin Method, Lu Ye could no longer draw power from Amber nor perform the Beast Transformation Secret Technique. Even if Lu Ye encountered misfortune, it wouldn't implicate Amber anymore.
"This peculiar symbiosis is of great benefit to both Amber and Yiyi, as their cultivation allows each other to benefit simultaneously. In other words, while others cultivate for themselves, their cultivation can provide mutual assistance."
Lu Ye had long noticed this, and it was the main reason Amber and Yiyi could grow so rapidly; having ample resources was secondary. The double joy of cultivation was the key.
Though Amber and Yiyi's cultivation levels currently match many Constellations in the Nine Provinces, over time their cultivation levels would gradually diverge.
Lu Ye didn't expect that Lih Shang knew this secret, which showed she truly understood the Four Auspicious Sacred Beasts, the White Tiger.
This wasn't a conclusion Lih Shang arrived at from a few days of observation, it was something she had known long before.
"Aren't you curious as to how I know all this?" Lih Shang smiled slightly, noticing the change in Lu Ye's expression.
Before Lu Ye could ask, she explained, "For if there's a race that knows the White Tiger best, it's none other than us, the Soul Race! From ancient times, we've always been the White Tiger's most natural ally. To us, the White Tiger is akin to a Sacred Beast. In our recorded history, there have been six Sacred Beasts like Amber, and each left an indelible mark on our history."
Such a title as Sacred Beast is not conferred lightly, it requires veneration and heartfelt reverence.
Lu Ye remembered that, even when Amber was weak, his tiger's roar could awe the psyche, once captivating an enemy with a roar, allowing Lu Ye to finish them with one strike.
Evidently, Amber's abilities relate to the psyche, and since the Soul Race is fundamentally soul-based, they are experts in matters of the psyche.
"Fellow Daoist, I have a favor to ask of you!" Lih Shang suddenly became serious.
Lu Ye asked, "What is it?"
"I wish to take Amber back to the ancestral land!" Lih Shang stated, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, a Sacred Beast like Amber will only be venerated in our ancestral land, and will not suffer even a single hardship."
Lu Ye jested, "Isn't it true that outsiders aren't allowed into the ancestral land of the Soul Race?"
As for the Xianyuan Guard, they are souls and can roughly be considered tribesmen of Lih Shang, so taking them back is fine. But Amber is ultimately not a soul.
"It's different. Ever since the last Sacred Beast passed away, the ancestral land has been without one for millennia. If I bring Amber back, my tribesmen will line the way in welcome."
Lu Ye finally understood why Lih Shang has been so interested in Amber recently. If things are as she said, then letting her take Amber might not be a bad idea, especially considering the great favor she did for him this time. Additionally, the Xianyuan Guards would be properly settled, and he should reciprocate her kindness.
However, Amber was never his bonded beast; they had shared many hardships and joys since their weak days together. Lu Ye considered Amber and Yiyi as his family.
Some decisions are not his to casually make. Moreover, if Amber were taken away, Yiyi would inevitably have to follow, and they couldn't be separated. Lu Ye himself was reluctant to part with them.
Seeing Lu Ye hesitate, Lih Shang quickly said, "Fellow Daoist, not to mention the benefits Amber would receive in the ancestral land, take Yiyi for instance... in these recent days, I noticed that Yiyi follows the traditional path of a magic cultivator, but this isn't the true cultivation technique of my Soul Race. She has had no guidance in the past, but if she came back to the ancestral land with me, she could learn the various secret techniques of my Soul Race. She's walking down the wrong path. Even if she achieves a high cultivation level in the future, she won't be able to reach her full potential. Don't you wish to rectify this?"
Lu Ye was stunned, Yiyi had already become a Constellation, and now someone was telling him she had taken the wrong path...
But on reflection, Lih Shang probably wasn't exaggerating, since the Nine Provinces had never seen an existence like Yiyi before, no one knew how she should rightfully cultivate.
Looking at it now, soul body cultivation should naturally focus on the psyche. Following the orthodox path of magic cultivators is indeed not quite right. If Yiyi could go to the Soul Race ancestral land with Lih Shang, she would definitely benefit greatly.
"What benefits would Amber have?" Lu Ye asked.
Lih Shang replied, "I can guarantee that our tribe would select the most highly gifted tribe member to coexist with it. Thus, its growth rate will be enhanced, and correspondingly, Yiyi's growth rate can also increase!"
Lu Ye pondered, "So your Soul Race's Sacred Beasts in the past, all formed a symbiotic relationship with highly gifted tribe members, benefiting both parties?"
Lih Shang nodded, "Yes, the more tribe members a Sacred Beast coexists with, the faster its growth and theirs, and the higher the potential!"
"How many tribe members can your documented Sacred Beasts form a symbiotic relationship with?"
"Nine tribe members!" Lih Shang responded solemnly, "Of that generation, though four out of the nine tribe members fell along the way, the remaining five all advanced to Sun Blaze! However, the number of tribe members a Sacred Beast can coexist with varies; some have more, some less, likely related to the mood of the Sacred Beast. Forming a symbiotic relationship requires obtaining the trust of the Sacred Beast; it must take the initiative. Our Soul Race cannot force it." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
That's indeed good, with the initiative completely in Amber's hands, it avoids certain dark and nasty dealings.
"Fellow Daoist, let me take Amber and Yiyi back to the ancestral land. It would truly be beneficial to them with no downside," Lih Shang pleaded, looking at Lu Ye.
"I trust you," Lu Ye nodded, "However, I cannot make this decision. If you truly wish to take them back, you must ask for their opinion. If they wish to go with you, I won't stop them, but if they don't want to, then there's no need to force it."
Upon hearing this, Lih Shang was overjoyed, "As long as Fellow Daoist has no objections, then it's all good."
Seeing Lih Shang happy, Lu Ye only felt she was a bit naive.
Amber will definitely prioritize Yiyi, and Yiyi certainly wouldn't want to part with him again, so Lu Ye felt that persuading Yiyi to go to the Soul Race ancestral land might be difficult, possibly even fruitless.
Lih Shang left briskly, clearly intending to persuade Yiyi, though Yiyi's cultivation has just begun, so she might have to wait for a while.
Yaya was still asleep in his arms; Lu Ye took a look and, despite not knowing why Yaya was so attached to Amber, perhaps Amber indeed had the means to help her recover.
Ahead, three escorting Tiger Shark battleships were still pursuing and fleeing, playing to their heart's content.
Lu Ye turned and entered his cabin, placed Yaya on the bed, sat down beside her, rested the Boulder Mountain Saber on his knees, focused his mind, and entered the cyan hall.
In the next moment, a series of continuous saber lights came slashing forth.
It was only half a month's journey from the Nine Provinces to Unparalleled; when the fleet arrived near the Unparalleled Continent's celestial space, three starboats and two Tiger Shark battleships were already waiting here.
There were fewer constellations on Unparalleled compared to the Nine Provinces' mainland, so the allocated slots were considerably fewer.
Lu Ye finally met the sect master and his senior disciples. The last time he passed by here, they were still exploring in stellar space, and there was no opportunity to meet.
After the news spread, the sect master hurried back to Unparalleled to discuss sharing the slots with Lu Ye heading to All Phenomena Ocean.
Lu Ye led several people from the Righteous Blood Sect and respectfully went forward to pay homage.
The sect master has an obligation of recognition to him; if the sect master hadn't accepted him into the Righteous Blood Sect back then, his cultivation journey wouldn't have been so smooth. Master Yun Xuechu provided him with further guidance; his understanding of the Path of Spirit Runes was mostly taught by the master. Although he has since surpassed his master, it is largely due to the power of the Talent Tree.
In terms of innate talent in the Path of Spirit Runes alone, Lu Ye considers himself inferior to his master.
Between the sect master and the master, there's been love and rivalry for years; Lu Ye has never quite understood the reason, but likely it concerns experiences from their youth. Now, having advanced to Constellation, their relationship has significantly improved.
Moreover, the sect master now appears younger; although the previous sect master wasn't elderly, he gave a slightly aged impression, whereas now he looks like a middle-aged man in his forties.
Reuniting after a long absence, there were naturally many things to discuss. Onboard the starboat, Lu Ye hosted a banquet to entertain the sect master and others. The spirit fish from All Phenomena Ocean received high praise from everyone.
The fleet did not linger on the Unparalleled Continent; after meeting up, they continued their voyage. With ten starboats and five Tiger Shark battleships, the scale was not grand, but also not shabby.
