Though he did not understand, Lu Ye still couldn't forget his manners. He immediately straightened his expression, cupped his hands, and bowed slightly: "Lu Ye from Three Worlds Island, greets Senior Jiu Yan!"

The hall was silent, Chu Shen stopped speaking, Aunt Yue stood quietly nearby, and Jiu Yan did not respond.

However, Lu Ye could sense a gaze locked on him. Strangely, it made him feel slightly uncomfortable, as if someone hostile toward him was staring coldly.

This made him frown slightly.

Jiu Yan's hostility towards him? That seemed unlikely. Until recently, he had only met Jiu Yan once outside All Phenomena Island. Where could this hostility come from? It couldn't be because of Chu Shen, yet it didn't seem like an illusion either.

While he was mulling over this, Jiu Yan's voice came from ahead: "No need for formalities."

The unsettling feeling suddenly vanished without a trace.

"Sit." Jiu Yan continued.

Lu Ye quietly took a seat to the side. A female cultivator entered from outside and served tea. Lu Ye took a sip, set down the cup, and then turned to Jiu Yan, speaking, "Senior, I came here unexpectedly, mainly to express my gratitude to you. A few days ago, outside All Phenomena Island..."

Before Lu Ye could finish, Jiu Yan interrupted him: "The incident outside All Phenomena Island was just a coincidence. I was visiting an old friend at the time and happened to pass by when I was about to leave."

The "old friend" she referred to was undoubtedly Muh Qing. However, on that day, Lu Ye observed no deep friendship between Jiu Yan and Muh Qing.

But since she said so, Lu Ye couldn't bring it up further.

Jiu Yan is a Sun Blaze from the All Phenomena Galaxy, as is Yuan Du. In the end, Lu Ye is just an outsider. Jiu Yan helping Lu Ye against Yuan Du means a local Sun Blaze is opposing one of their own for an outsider. Some things can be better unspoken.

Lu Ye, of course, understood this reasoning.

Jiu Yan shifted the topic: "Since Shen'er calls you brother, I won't treat you as an outsider. Both you and Shen'er are young and fiery, and your way of handling things can be reckless. Although it's late to say now, you honestly shouldn't have killed Hu Xue that day. You should have been aware of Hu Xue's relationship with Yuan Du. With your strength, even if Hu Xue could dominate the combat arena, you should have been able to keep yourself unscathed. You could have forced her to recognize the difference in power and made her willingly release the constraints of the combat arena."

"You are right, Senior." Lu Ye nodded. "Truthfully, when trapped in the combat arena that day, I had no intention of killing her. However, her actions forced me to strike."

"What did she do?" Aunt Yue curiously asked from the side.

Lu Ye thought for a moment, believing there was no harm in saying it, and explained: "In the combat arena, Hu Xue was no match for me. I compelled her to release it. In the end, she tore off all her clothing. In such a situation, if she suddenly lifted the arena's restrictions, with Yuan Du at the side, I wouldn't have been able to clear my name no matter what. Hence, I had to kill her and destroy the evidence."

"That dramatic?" Chu Shen listened with widened eyes, imagining that in a moment of life-and-death struggle, the other party suddenly bares herself completely — it was indeed a bizarre scenario.

Aunt Yue frowned, unable to help but scold: "Shameless!"

Jiu Yan, though silent, clearly shared this sentiment, nodding: "If that's the case, then killing her was indeed the best course of action." Switching gears, "But I heard Hu Xue was extraordinarily beautiful, and even Yuan Du favored her greatly. When her life was at your mercy, she surely pleaded in all manners; didn't your heart waver even a little?"

Lu Ye lowered his eyes: "In combat, with blades drawn, it's either the enemy dies or I perish. Whether in beauty or in ugliness, to me, there is no difference."

Jiu Yan nodded slightly, turning to Chu Shen: "Learn from your brother. You have a long path ahead, and you will eventually encounter enticements of beauty. Never ruin yourself due to pity or compassion."

"Yes." Chu Shen immediately replied, turning to Lu Ye with an expression full of admiration and respect.

Jiu Yan continued to ask: "How do you plan to deal with Zixuan?"

Lu Ye answered honestly: "While several factions have contacted us, seeking to occupy Zixuan, our island has no intention of agreeing as yet. Zixuan remains unattended, and nobody dares to take it lightly."

"Just wait; it won't be long before someone approaches you," Jiu Yan said.

Lu Ye raised his eyebrows: "Senior, are you referring to Zixuan Demon Planet?"

Jiu Yan nodded: "And very likely, a Sun Blaze will come to handle this matter personally."

Though Lu Ye anticipated this, hearing Jiu Yan also affirm it made him slightly uneasy: "If a Sun Blaze arrives, our Three Worlds Island doesn't qualify to converse equally. If they attempt force..."

Aunt Yue snorted from the side: "In this vast All Phenomena Ocean, even a dragon must coil for us. If a Sun Blaze arrives, engage in a proper discussion. Unless they dare to break the rules, they must act within them. There's nothing to fear."

Lu Ye understood.

This trip to Cheling World was to express thanks and discuss this matter. According to his prediction, Zixuan Demon Planet would undoubtedly send a formidable strongman to handle affairs on Zixuan Island.

Since Lion Heart can no longer be relied upon, the entire Moon Jade echelon cannot either, suggesting Zixuan Demon Planet will very likely dispatch a Sun Blaze!

How to secure the greatest benefits in front of a Sun Blaze is what Lu Ye needs to deliberate on.

The attitude of Cheling World undoubtedly reassured him. Aunt Yue's words clearly told him that regardless of whether the person arriving is a Sun Blaze, the Three Worlds Island will handle things as they intend.

Although Zixuan holds a deep grudge against Three Worlds Island, if they want to reclaim Zixuan Island, they must adhere to the rules of the All Phenomena Ocean. If any outside Sun Blaze dares to act recklessly in the All Phenomena Ocean, then this All Phenomena Ocean will certainly not tolerate it.

"I know what to do now." Lu Ye nodded.

"That's best." Senior Jiu Yan was clearly very pleased with his performance. There are many smart people in this world, but being both smart and cautious is undoubtedly a very good quality, and people like this generally don't meet untimely ends. "Cheling World isn't large, but its scenery isn't bad. If you're not in a hurry to leave, you can linger here a bit, and Shen'er can host you."

As Jiu Yan was about to leave, Lu Ye quickly said, "Senior, I have another matter to seek your advice on."

"What is it?"

"Is there a female cultivator named Ban Ci in this world?" Lu Ye asked.

"There has never been." Jiu Yan shook his head, then asked, "Why are you looking for her?"

Lu Ye also didn't know why he wanted to find her. Speaking of it, his interaction with Ban Ci wasn't much, they just teamed up to visit a certain secret location, but something happened there, and since then Ban Ci had vanished without a trace.

It would be nothing if it were just that. If a woman left after such an incident, Lu Ye didn't want any unclear entanglement with her. The key point was that the last time he came to Cheling World, he saw a little girl called Ban Xia, whose eyebrows and eyes very much resembled those of the little girl he saved in a ruined domain years ago.

Afterward, he learned from Chu Shen that Ban Xia was the child of the domain, carrying the fortune of the world, so if there was no mistake, Ban Xia should be the little girl he saved back then.

Moreover, Ban Xia and Ban Ci... it's really suggestive. In fact, when Ban Xia was rescued back then, it was Ban Ci who took her into a miniature world.

Now Ban Xia is in Cheling World, which makes Lu Ye feel very puzzled.

"It's nothing." Lu Ye replied sullenly.

Jiu Yan seemed to be intrigued and asked, "Could it be you did something that wronged the person, or betrayed her?"

"No, no." Lu Ye quickly denied.

Under the misty halo, Jiu Yan looked deeply at Lu Ye: "As a man, you must have responsibility. Being heartless and indifferent is most despised. Take care of yourself."

With these words, she rose and left.

Lu Ye followed suit, standing up to bow farewell, feeling speechless. To be honest, there was nothing about responsibility or lack of emotion between him and Ban Ci, mainly because he hadn't seen Ban Ci since that day.

If he had the chance to see her, Lu Ye actually wanted to ask her what she meant.

The purpose of this visit had been achieved, so Lu Ye naturally wouldn't stay long in Cheling World.

Chu Shen planned to stay here for a few more days before returning to Three Worlds Island. The brothers parted ways for now, and Lu Ye didn't let him see him off, leaving on his own.

Returning from Cheling World to Three Worlds Island, entering the All Phenomena Ocean, he happened to pass by Zixuan.

Lu Ye, having nothing else to do, took some time to look around Zixuan and found that the vast Zixuan was now overcrowded. Countless homeless cultivators had gathered here, forming groups of three or five.

For most cultivators, aside from All Phenomena Island, they're unlikely to ever enter the other top-class Spirit Islands in their lifetime. Now, with Zixuan in a lordless state, they are naturally happy to come and watch the spectacle.

Especially the Spirit Jade vein, which is the biggest attraction. This is an invaluable opportunity to broaden one's horizons.

As for cultivating here... that's absolutely impossible. Not to mention that the number of cultivators gathered here is too large, without a protective array to gather energy, the energy escaped from the All Phenomena Ocean cannot linger on Zixuan Island, so even cultivating here has no effect.

Everyone came mainly to see the spectacle.

As for setting up a big array... this vast Zixuan is a spoil of war from Three Worlds Island. If anyone dares do that, it's a provocation to Three Worlds Island.

It's likely that once the array is set up, the next moment Three Worlds Island will launch a strong attack.

So this creates the bizarre situation of a vast top-class Spirit Island being overcrowded but in a lordless state. Such a thing has never happened in the All Phenomena Ocean, from ancient to present times.

Lu Ye did not stay long, just took a brief look and left directly.

Returning to Three Worlds Island, barely seated, Luan Xiao'e came looking for him, accompanied by Yann Miao.

"Both of you senior sisters' cheeks are flushed, is there joyful news?" Lu Ye teased.

Luan Xiao'e glared at him: "Stop speaking nonsense." Then she turned to say: "I'm going to resign as the First Island Master!"

Yann Miao beside her said: "I am too!"