Sage of Humanity

Lu Ye discovered that living in the cave was not a member of the Blood Race, but rather a human, a woman of notable appearance.

The woman looked somewhat weak and pale, yet what caught Lu Ye's attention was not her complexion, but her belly.

The woman had a bulging belly, evidently pregnant.

When her gaze met Lu Ye's, the woman appeared frightened and quickly retreated to the side, hiding away.

Lu Ye frowned, not inclined to investigate for the moment, and continued forward.

However, he soon realized something was amiss; there were many pregnant women residing within these caves, at least seven or eight he had seen along the way.

There were also a few women who were not pregnant, but they only hid in their caves, not daring to show themselves.

Without exception, these women had fair appearances.

Lu Ye vaguely speculated, his mood heavy with thoughts.

Bright Moon Cave housed not only these human women but also a few men, albeit not many, who were captured by the Blood Race to serve them, yet these humans were not even considered Blood Slaves. If a Blood Race member were injured or in the mood, they could freely capture and consume their fresh blood.

As they ventured deeper, the passageways became more intricate and interconnected. Zhang Julai seemed to know the paths well, leading Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen in a particular direction, soon arriving at his abode.

This place was undoubtedly much more spacious than where those pregnant women lived outside, and the environment was better; the entrance had a door shielding it, and a restriction enveloped it.

Returning here, Zhang Julai's tense expression finally relaxed. He bowed respectfully to Lu Ye: "Sir, this is where I live and cultivate."

He did not know how to address Lu Ye; he initially called Lu Ye his master, but Lu Ye disliked that title, so he resorted to calling him "Sir."

Lu Ye sat down, his face stern, and asked, "What's going on with those pregnant women outside?"

Zhang Julai replied, "They were brought back from nearby villages for the clan's enjoyment, and also, they serve as mothers to be."

Lu Ye at that moment was probing the memories of the deceased Blood Race member, and indeed found it as Zhang Julai described, similar to what he had thought before.

These women were captured for the Blood Race's pleasure. Although the Blood Race tended to be taller and more robust than humans, their bodies were otherwise similar, and their aesthetic appreciation seemed to lean more towards humans; beauties among humans were likewise regarded as beautiful by them.

Thus, the male Blood Race favored human women, having little interest in their own female kind.

In their indulgence and licentiousness, it was inevitable that some human women ended up pregnant.

Perhaps because of the strong Bloodline of the Blood Race, offspring conceived between the two races were invariably Blood Race, which is why the Blood Race has long viewed humans as vessels for nurturing their kin, the very reason many humans live under the rule of every Blood Race cave residence.

To the Blood Race, humans were not just mere assets but had the role of perpetuating their lineage; it can be said today nine-tenths of the Blood Race in the Blood Refinement World were born of humans.

Once these Blood Race infants are born, they are sent to a special place for collective nurturing.

This is why the Blood Race of the Blood Refinement World does not live as family units; they simply have no families, most Blood Race members do not even know who their parents are, how could they live in family units?

Zhang Julai had been out before delivering a Blood Race infant birthed by one of the women in Bright Moon Cave.

Listening to Zhang Julai's words, while probing the memory of the deceased Blood Race member, Lu Ye's fist clenched and unclenched, repeating the motion.

Perhaps sensing Lu Ye's displeasure, Zhang Julai dared not even breathe loudly.

The room fell into a silent mood, only Dao Thirteen naively glancing around.

The sound of knocking broke the silence abruptly, a jarring intrusion in the quiet atmosphere, giving Zhang Julai a start, prompting him to quickly look to Lu Ye.

Lu Ye tilted his head slightly.

Zhang Julai then opened the door, revealing a young Blood Race member outside, who appeared to have low cultivation, likely one of the several Spirit Stream Realm Blood Race members here. The figure placed a hand on his chest in salute, bending forward, addressing Zhang Julai: "The cave residence master requests your presence."

Zhang Julai nodded: "I will head there shortly."

The Blood Race member looked past Zhang Julai into the room, adding, "The cave residence master heard you acquired two new Blood Slaves, bring them with you."

A shadow of gloom flashed in Zhang Julai's eyes as he replied somberly.

Only then did the Blood Race member leave.

Closing the door, Zhang Julai looked at Lu Ye: "Sir, that woman likely has no goodwill." Speaking so, his gaze wandered to Dao Thirteen, hesitating to say more.

"What do you mean?" Lu Ye asked.

Zhang Julai awkwardly replied: "She seems to have taken a liking to this one."

Concerning aesthetics, the male Blood Race indeed favored human women, yet the female Blood Race differed; most Blood Race women preferred to bond with male kin, though exceptions existed.

The cave residence master of Bright Moon Cave, Sun Miaozhu, was such a Blood Race.

She always had strong human men from various villages around her to keep sorrow at bay, and once they no longer suited her purpose, she transformed those human men into Blood Food to enhance her cultivation.

Anyway, to her, humans are just livestock, to be taken or abandoned at will, and no one dares to oppose her.

Dao Thirteen, being so robust and full of blood Qi, naturally sparked Sun Miaozhu's interest. Who knows which loose-mouthed Blood Race reported Dao Thirteen's presence to her as soon as they returned.

Zhang Julai naturally was not surprised by this, but as he is now Lu Ye's soul slave, he had to consider Lu Ye's feelings in all aspects.

Moreover, he could see that Lu Ye following him to Bright Moon Cave was clearly not for leisure, but for some major matter!

As for what major matter it is, Zhang Julai is no fool and can naturally guess.

Feeling apprehensive and a little nervous.

Lu Ye turned to look at Dao Thirteen, chuckled lightly, "If she's interested, then go meet her."

Zhang Julai immediately turned around to lead the way.

The group headed deep into the cave residence, stopping only at a spacious hall where faint decadent sounds emerged. Lu Ye looked up and saw a Blood Race woman lying crosswise on a massive stone bed, her overly slender figure swaying seductively in the dim light. On the bed were also two robust human youth, one kneeling by her feet, massaging her legs, the other kneeling behind her, striking her shoulders.

Both the Blood Race woman and the human men wore shamefully little, truly an eyesore.

This Blood Race woman was undeniably the cave residence master of Bright Moon Cave, Sun Miaozhu.

Zhang Julai led Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen forward, saluting with Blood Race etiquette, "Cave residence master."

Sun Miaozhu ignored him completely, her gaze fixed only on Dao Thirteen beside him, a smile curling at her lips. She lifted a hand, beckoning Dao Thirteen, "Come over."

Dao Thirteen stood motionless.

Only after Lu Ye kicked him did he reluctantly step forward, standing by the stone bed.

Sun Miaozhu inspected Dao Thirteen from head to toe, her interest clearly growing stronger. She waved her hand, and the two human youths serving her immediately stepped aside.

Gradually rising, Sun Miaozhu stood before Dao Thirteen.

Though Dao Thirteen was a physique cultivator, his figure wasn't tall, only sturdy. Comparing the two, Dao Thirteen's height merely reached Sun Miaozhu's chest.

She extended a hand, gently stroking Dao Thirteen's solid chest, her breathing suddenly quickening a bit. She gripped Dao Thirteen's chin, slightly tilting his head.

After a careful examination, Sun Miaozhu burst into coquettish laughter, "Zhang Julai, you picked this Blood Slave well; he'll be mine from now on."

Zhang Julai replied respectfully, "Since the cave residence master has spoken, there's naturally no problem."

"You all can leave." Sun Miaozhu waved them off, not once looking at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye turned and walked away, Zhang Julai hurriedly following.

Outside, Lu Ye closed the door quietly and stood still.

Moments later, Sun Miaozhu's startled voice echoed from within, "What are you doing? Let go!"

Then came muffled grunts and thuds, as if something heavy had fallen to the floor. Sun Miaozhu's sharp cries rang out, faint spirit force stirring inside, but it quickly subsided.

Lu Ye silently waited until the commotion inside completely died down, before pushing the door open and walking back inside.

Zhang Julai quickly followed, eyes widening in shock.

Beside the stone bed stood Dao Thirteen quietly, on the ground lay a slender figure—none other than Sun Miaozhu herself. Yet the Blood Race woman, once smiling as bright as flowers, was now a heap of mangled flesh.

No one knew what Dao Thirteen had done to her; Sun Miaozhu's body was in several pieces, with clear depressions on her chest and head, likely from fist impacts.

The floor beside the stone bed was awash with blood.

On the stone bed, those two human youths huddled, trembling, having witnessed the most unbelievable scene in just a brief moment.

Zhang Julai couldn't help but swallow hard.

He always knew that Lu Ye and Dao Thirteen's strength couldn't be judged by their spirit force fluctuations, but he had no idea how strong they truly were.

Until now.

The strongest in Bright Moon Cave, Sun Miaozhu, had been killed by Dao Thirteen in such a short time, and judging by Dao Thirteen's demeanor, it seemed he had merely slaughtered a cat or dog, utterly calm and unfazed…

Even someone in the True Lake Realm wouldn't be able to accomplish such a feat here, right?

Seeing Lu Ye reappear, Dao Thirteen's expression showed some resentment, as if blaming him for abandoning him, but he still bent down to extract a Blood Crystal from Sun Miaozhu's chest, casually wiping it on his own clothes, then handing it to Lu Ye.

He knew well this object would be of great use to Lu Ye.

The sound of breaking through the air came from all directions, evidently other Blood Race members of Bright Moon Cave were alarmed by Sun Miaozhu's earlier scream and were coming to investigate the situation.