Sage of Humanity

Full of guilt.

Shouldn't have been careless and not sent Lann Qiyue back in time, but instead brought her along, and especially shouldn't have left her here alone.

The main reason was that Lu Ye really didn't expect that in such a short time, the Blood Race would arrive.

Lann Qiyue deeply suffered from the Blood Race's poison. Under such circumstances, she had nowhere to escape and could only throw herself into the Blood River searching for Lu Ye's trace.

She probably didn't know the dangers of the Blood River, having seen little, so when she saw Lu Ye jump into the Blood River, she followed suit.

If she had known the Blood River's dangers, she would've waited for Lu Ye to come up and save her. In that case, no matter what, her life would have been secured.

Lann Qiyue was gone, and Lu Ye felt guilty, but there was another thing that made him feel even more distressed.

Zhang Julai was also gone...

Because of the Soul Taming Divine Runes left in Zhang Julai's mind, Lu Ye could sense Zhang Julai's existence, but just now, when he was deep in the Blood River searching for Lann Qiyue's trace, the sense between himself and the Soul Taming Divine Runes suddenly vanished without a trace.

This undoubtedly indicated that Zhang Julai couldn't endure the Blood River's baptism and refinement of his bloodline, and had already fallen somewhere in the Blood River.

This was actually within Lu Ye's expectations. For the Blood Race, going deep into the Blood River was a life of nine deaths, and Zhang Julai wasn't particularly special compared to other Blood Race members. The probability of survival was low.

But due to Lann Qiyue's accident, this expected event made Lu Ye inevitably feel a bit stuffy.

Now it's just great, they came in a group of three, and left lonely and solitary.

The corpse of the Blood Race he just killed lay horizontally beside him, separated head from body, and the blood had already dried up.

Lu Ye stepped forward, took out its Blood Crystal, and then wielded the knife to smash the Blood Embryo that had rolled to the side, before soaring into the sky and darting towards a direction.

...

Deep in the Blood River, dark currents surged, and Lann Qiyue drifted with the waves, only feeling her vitality rapidly draining away.

That was the erosion brought by the Blood River's water.

Lu Ye could activate his spirit force to shield against the Blood River's corrosive water, but how could Lann Qiyue do so? Under the erosion of the Blood Water, her entire skin became ulcerated.

She did not manage to find Lu Ye's trace, and with her current mere Spirit Stream Realm cultivation, it was utterly impossible to break out of the Blood River. Tossed by the dark currents, she no longer knew where she was.

As life was nearing its end, she surprisingly didn't feel much fear.

She was originally an ordinary human race girl, considered Blood Food and a plaything by the Blood Race. On the day she gave birth to a Blood Embryo, she thought she would undoubtedly die, but was rescued by Lu Ye, reclaiming a life.

During this period, she also killed several Blood Embryos.

It was already enough, so dying like this didn't seem too regrettable.

Consciousness was continuously sinking.

Suddenly a golden glow burst in her vision. In this deep Blood River, filled with crimson Blood Waters, this golden glow was particularly brilliant and dazzling.

Lann Qiyue didn't know what this golden glow was, at this moment, even her thoughts were on the verge of cessating.

Yet instinctively she reached out, grasping the golden glow in her palm, as if scalded by a branding iron. Lann Qiyue quickly let go, but the golden glow had imprinted into her body, running along her arm upwards, finally landing in her chest.

The next moment, Lann Qiyue opened her mouth, as if in a scream, but her mouth was filled with Blood Water, no sound could come out.

The golden glow from her chest suddenly shone brightly, illuminating Lann Qiyue with a dazzling golden radiance.

...

In the Blood Refinement World, there were countless large and small gathering places of the Blood Race. The smallest in scale was undoubtedly the cave residences, including the Bright Moon Cave Residence and Hundred Leaps Grotto Mansion.

In such gathering places, it was usually the Cloud River Realm Blood Race who ruled, overseeing a surrounding area of about 30 miles.

But above the cave residences, there were even more advanced existences, namely the Blessed Lands. By comparison, the area governed by a Blessed Land was much larger, at least 300 miles, with some larger Blessed Lands governing 300 to 500 miles.

Within their jurisdiction, all humans were considered property of the Blessed Land's Blood Race, at their disposal.

The difference between cave residences and Blessed Lands wasn't just in scale and the number of Blood Race members, but also in the cultivation level of the Blood Race.

The reason why Bright Moon Cave Residence could only be called a cave residence was that the strongest was merely at the Cloud River Realm.

If back then, Sun Miaozhu had the cultivation of the True Lake Realm, it would have been Bright Moon Blessed Land.

Therefore, in every Blessed Land where the Blood Race gathered, there was a True Lake Realm Blood Race seated.

Further up are the Grotto Heaven-level gathering places, with Divine Sea Realm Blood Races in charge, governing at least a territory covering thousands of miles.

In comparison, whether it's cave residences, blessed lands, or grottos, they are equivalent to the sects of the Nine Provinces, except that the Blood Race has no need for imparting knowledge and thus lacks camaraderie.

For the Blood Race, the blood crystals within their kin are the most coveted cultivation resources, which results in the unique chaotic order of the Blood Refinement World.

The Thousand Streams Blessed Land is situated in the Thousand Streams Mountain, a thousand miles from the Bright Moon Cave Residence, and nominally, the Bright Moon Cave Residence is under the jurisdiction of the Thousand Streams Blessed Land.

Many small cave residences conquered by the Bright Moon Cave Residence in the past month are regarded as under the governance of the Thousand Streams Blessed Land.

Throughout the entire Blood Refinement World, the scale governed by the Thousand Streams Blessed Land is not very large, because its master, Yu Lingfeng, does not have very high cultivation, only at the True Lake Level 7, and although there are some True Lake Realms under his command, their cultivation is weaker than his.

In the Thousand Streams Mountain where the blessed land is located, a vast complex of buildings brimming with nature's spiritual energy far superior to the cavernous environment of the Bright Moon Cave Residence.

Such a place can easily accommodate hundreds of people, and with a little expansion, it could house even a thousand.

At this moment, in the conference hall of the Thousand Streams Blessed Land, more than a dozen True Lake Realm Blood Races were seated on both sides, and Yu Lingfeng sat at the head of the hall, discussing matters with the other True Lake Realm Blood Races under his command.

The topic of discussion was related to the recent actions of the Bright Moon Cave Residence.

"Blessed Land Master, Bright Moon Cave Residence has been overreaching recently. Reports say they've conquered all nearby cave residences within a month, most of the kins were killed on the spot, and only a few survived. Now there are about fifty or more clan members gathered at the Bright Moon Cave Residence, all above the Cloud River Level 7."

Although internal conflicts within the Blood Races are frequent, such incidents as the one with the Bright Moon Cave Residence have never occurred, primarily because the strength between cave residences is generally equal, and it's hard to tell who would win if a war breaks out.

Winning one or two battles might be possible, but it's impossible to always win.

However, the received information suggests that the Bright Moon Cave Residence has been sweeping away nearby cave residences like a hot knife through butter, exterminating them while constantly consolidating and expanding its power.

Under normal circumstances, higher-ups among the Blood Race don't interfere in the conflicts of the lower ranks. As long as there's Blood River, the Blood Races are continuous; what's the loss of some lives? Moreover, the blood crystals of the deceased Blood Races provide nutrients for the growth of the surviving ones.

But with the Bright Moon Cave Residence continuously consolidating and expanding its power, the Thousand Streams Blessed Land cannot afford to ignore it.

Currently, the Bright Moon Cave Residence hasn't threatened the strength of the Thousand Streams Blessed Land, but if this continues, who knows if they will attempt usurpation? Such matters have happened in the Blood Refinement World, and they often occur.

Moreover, the destruction of so many cave residences also affects the tributes.

In the Blood Refinement World, every three months, each cave residence must capture some Blood Food within its jurisdiction to offer to the upper blessed lands for the enjoyment of the Blood Races there.

Fewer cave residences mean less tribute in Blood Food, which undoubtedly impinges on the interests of the blessed land.

"A mere Bright Moon Cave Residence, where does it get the audacity? I recall that the cave residence master of the Bright Moon Cave, Sun Miaozhu, is just a Cloud River Realm. Could it be that she advanced to the True Lake Realm?" Yu Lingfeng showed displeasure.

"Blessed Land Master, that Sun Miaozhu is dead. Now, a person named Zhang Julai is in charge of the Bright Moon Cave Residence, and the recent anomalies began after he took over."

"Zhang Julai?" Yu Lingfeng had no impression of this name. He had numerous cave residences under his command but could only remember a few masters, let alone Zhang Julai.

"This person is not a True Lake Realm; it's said that he has acquired two powerful Blood Slaves, which is why he acts so audaciously."

Although information transmission in the Blood Refinement World is not as convenient and fast as in the Nine Provinces, items like audio transmission stones relay information effectively. A month is neither too long nor too short; with the continuous external conquests of the Bright Moon Cave Residence, the movement is significant and could not have gone unnoticed by the Blood Races.

"What kind of Blood Slaves can be so formidable?" Yu Lingfeng was somewhat puzzled.

"Blessed Land Master, now is not the time to be concerned about the Blood Slaves. What should we do about the Bright Moon Cave Residence? Please make a decision."

Yu Lingfeng pondered briefly before saying, "Wan Fang."

A True Lake Realm stood up from below, placing a hand on his chest, "Present."

"Take a trip to the Bright Moon Cave Residence, command Zhang Julai to immediately cease his current actions, and also order him to promptly deliver the latest batch of Blood Food tribute, including the shares of the cave residences he destroyed."

"What if he doesn't comply?" Wan Fang asked.

"Then kill him and replace him with an obedient cave residence master!" A glint of cold flashed in Yu Lingfeng's eyes.

"Understood!" Wan Fang turned and left swiftly, exiting the hall shortly.

After concluding this matter, the group of True Lake Realm Blood Races discussed other affairs for a while before dispersing.

Yu Lingfeng, with his hands behind his back, headed towards his sleeping quarters, pondering that if given the chance, meeting Zhang Julai's two Blood Slaves and recruiting them under his own service would be beneficial.

Though he's the Blessed Land Master of the Thousand Streams Blessed Land, his days haven't been easy lately.

The Blood Race lacks a strong hierarchical loyalty concept, largely operating under might rules. With his True Lake Level 7 cultivation, he barely maintains his position as Blessed Land Master, but one of his subordinate True Lake Realm members is nearing equal strength.

When the time comes, he will either have to expel that True Lake Realm member to let him set up on his own or share power.

Neither option pleases him; as for killing that Blood Race and eradicating the source, it's also inappropriate. Killing him might yield a good blood crystal, but it would also weaken the foundation of the Thousand Streams Blessed Land. If other blessed lands come to attack, it would mean one less capable person under him.