Sage of Humanity

This is not Lu Ye being blindly confident, believing he could defeat enemies several levels higher than himself. From the moment he left Qingyun Mountain, on his journey, Lu Ye had killed many cultivators with higher cultivation than his. Just during the Dragon Spring Meet, there were five or six Level 5 realm cultivators who died at his hand.

The two spirit runes, Defense and Sharpness, could greatly enhance his offensive and defensive capabilities, narrowing the gap between his cultivation and that of his enemies.

So, defeating an enemy one level higher was still no problem for Lu Ye.

Although he didn't know what exactly had happened to Dong Shuye, this confrontation made Lu Ye realize an interesting fact: Dong Shuye only had Level 6 cultivation now!

Compared to two months ago when he pursued him, his strength had clearly declined a bit. If Lu Ye had faced the Dong Shuye of two months prior during the daytime, then he would have thought that even with some growth, he certainly wouldn't be a match.

A cultivator's cultivation cannot drop without a reason. Lu Ye secretly guessed, could it be that this guy had a spiritual orifice shattered?

The classification of a Spirit Stream Realm cultivator's cultivation is simple and clear—the number of Minor Circumambulation systems in the body defines one's level of cultivation. But if a spiritual orifice is shattered, then one of the Minor Circumambulation systems naturally can't form properly.

A broken orifice does not greatly enhance a cultivator; at most, it increases the cultivator's storage of spirit force.

Was it done by the Xuanmen side?

Unable to delve into Dong Shuye's recent experiences, Lu Ye was sure that his damaged spiritual orifice was definitely related to the Xuanmen attacking the Nine Stars Sect base. The root of the issue rested on himself. He finally understood why Dong Shuye was so relentless in his pursuit.

For anyone experiencing such a thing, it would be difficult to let go. It wouldn't be too much to say their relationship was one where neither would stop until the other was dead.

For him, this was a good thing. A Level 7 Dong Shuye was someone Lu Ye didn't even consider facing.

But if the opponent was only in the Level 6 realm... maybe he could afford to battle.

The prerequisite was that he had to advance to the Level 5 realm.

He now had 54 orifices open, just nine shy of the 63 needed for the Level 5 realm. With full focus on cultivation, it would take less than twenty days!

But it was not easy to implement this plan in the wilderness. If Dong Shuye came in pursuit, he would have to run again. Now unencumbered, Dong Shuye could chase quickly, and without the Move-Like-The-Wind Talisman enhancing Amber, Lu Ye might not actually be able to outrun him.

So, he needed a stable place where he could cultivate in peace.

With a plan in mind, Lu Ye took out the ten-part map to seek an appropriate location.

Swallowing an elixir pill, he initiated the breakthrough to the 55th orifice.

By midnight, Dong Shuye came killing his way to him again, and Lu Ye, with no other choice, had to continue fleeing on Amber. Fortunately, Dong Shuye hadn't recovered for long and wasn't very fast, giving Lu Ye space to continue escaping.

In this way, they pursued and fled, occasionally stopping to recuperate. Two days later, Lu Ye dashed into Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union within a marketplace on Amber. He had barely entered when Dong Shuye arrived hot on his heels.

Many cultivators inside the hall turned to look, their hearts secretly alarmed, mainly because Dong Shuye's murderous aura was too intense, his eyes both red.

A manager with only Level 3 cultivation approached, tremblingly saying, "Fighting is forbidden within the mercantile union. If you two have any grievances, please resolve them outside."

"Accommodation!" Lu Ye spoke up.

"Uh…" The manager was momentarily at a loss as to how to proceed.

Dong Shuye glared fiercely at the manager, as if to say if you dare agree, you won't see tomorrow's sun.

The manager was even more terrified.

Just then, a powerful fluctuation of spirit force appeared. An elderly man, supporting himself with a walking stick, slowly descended from the staircase, occasionally coughing softly.

The old man hunched over, looking like he might pass away on the spot, but the spirit light emanating from his body was decisively stronger than Dong Shuye at his peak.

This was at least a cultivator of the Spirit Stream Level 8!

Seeing the elder, Lu Ye felt reassured.

He had conducted many deals with the Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union and was aware of its powerful backing. What caught his attention most was the union's name—able to bear the words "Heaven's Augury," which was thought-provoking.

In the union, maids and managers handling reception and transactions indeed had low cultivation. At least Lu Ye had never seen any highly-cultivated cultivators there, but he always felt that there must be a strong cultivator governing the place; otherwise, how could all those valuable goods be safeguarded? This world was not short of those bold enough to take reckless risks.

Just as every sect's base needed a powerful governor, mercantile unions needed them even more.

This was why he had chosen Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union as his target—it was a place of business where, as long as he could rush in, he would be temporarily safe, for the union would not allow any fighting to occur.

It turned out, he was right. There indeed was a formidable cultivator in place, who normally would not reveal himself easily.

With Dong Shuye pursuing Lu Ye and running inside, the ordinary managers couldn't maintain order; hence, the place's powerful cultivator naturally stepped in.

Looking at the old man who was approaching step by step, Dong Shuye's eyes showed wariness. He knew more than the naïve Lu Ye, aware of what a behemoth Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union was. If he had not held any reservations, he would have acted upon entering instead of just glaring at Lu Ye with his eyes.

"My two friends, it is best to resolve everything in peace," the old man shakily approached, smiling amiably, his face the picture of friendliness.

He stopped not far in front of Lu Ye and Dong Shuye, his walking stick lightly tapping the ground. A point of spirit light centered where the stick touched, booming outward all around.

Lu Ye's eyes twitched; he had underestimated the old man. This person was likely on the same level as Tang Wu.

This demonstration was extraordinarily effective, and Dong Shuye quickly restrained his murderous intent, giving the old man a bow with his fist: "My apologies for the disturbance, I hope for your forgiveness." He backed down quite quickly.

Lu Ye watched from the side with a touch of schadenfreude.

"And this young friend here?" the elder looked at Lu Ye.

"I'm here to lodge!"

"Visitors are always welcome!" The elder smiled, while Dong Shuye wore a displeased expression.

The elder turned to the manager and said, "Arrange accommodation for this young friend. The cost of lodging is ten Spirit Stones per night!"

"Wait a minute!" Lu Ye frowned, "Ten Spirit Stones per night?"

He wasn't sure if he had heard wrong or if the old man had misspoken.

The elder still smiled, "Ten Spirit Stones."

"Other mercantile unions only charge one Spirit Stone per night!" Lu Ye felt like he was being targeted, and now it was Dong Shuye's turn to enjoy the moment in silence.

The elder's smile gradually faded, and his voice grew sharper, "While it's true that all visitors are guests, the mercantile union is merely a place of business, not a refuge. Anyone who dares to take advantage of the union will surely need to pay the price!" He looked coldly at Lu Ye, "Do you understand what I'm saying, young friend?"

The elder was right; he had no familial or friendly ties with Lu Ye, and would not go out of his way to assist him. He intimidated Dong Shuye while also wanting Lu Ye to back off. Had it not been for the union's policy of staying neutral, not engaging in confrontations between the two camps, he would have probably kicked both of them out himself.

"I understand." Lu Ye didn't fuss about it. Having a stable environment for cultivation was the most important thing at the moment. He took out a storage sack and, after some fiddling, tossed it to the manager, "I'll stay for ten days first."

The elder was taken aback, as was Dong Shuye.

Ten days' lodging paid in one go amounted to a hundred Spirit Stones, a sum not befitting a Level 4 cultivator.

The manager held the storage sack and looked to the elder.

The elder's smile returned to his face, "Find our guest the biggest and best room."

"Yes!" The manager replied and gestured with his hand, "Please follow me this way, guest."

Lu Ye followed the manager upstairs with Amber.

The elder then looked at Dong Shuye, "How about you, young friend? Do you also require lodging?"

"Ten Spirit Stones a night?" asked Dong Shuye.

"Of course, the mercantile union treats all guests equally."

"Then I won't stay!" Dong Shuye thought to himself that he wasn't crazy; who would stay in a room that costs ten Spirit Stones a night. Now that he had Lu Ye cornered here, he wasn't worried about him escaping. After a brief contemplation, he simply walked out of the mercantile union, and went to a shop opposite the union, where he stood and watched the union's entrance.

He took out two Spirit Stones and held them in his palm, slowly recovering.

He didn't believe that Lu Ye could keep up with a cost of ten Spirit Stones per night!

The room was very spacious, larger than any other room Lu Ye had stayed in before, and the arrangement gave off a warm and comfortable feeling. To Lu Ye's surprise, the spiritual energy in this room was denser than the outside world.

He guessed that there must be something like a spirit energy gathering array set up here, which certainly facilitated his cultivation.

The room also had a bath, which was delightful.

Weary in both body and mind from the constant travel, Lu Ye first had a full meal with Amber, cleaned up, and then began his cultivation.

He needed to raise his cultivation quickly as the cost of ten Spirit Stones a night was too high. Even with a little wealth in hand, he couldn't afford to splurge.

All his spiritual orifices were fortified with Spirit Energy Gathering Spirit Runes, and immediately Lu Ye felt a difference. The denser spiritual energy in the room meant that with the runes in place, his cultivation was now more efficient.

He cultivated incessantly, opening one orifice after another within him.

56th orifice, 57th orifice, 58th orifice...

Utterly exhausted, he would rest for a while, and when sitting for too long caused a stagnation of his blood Qi, he would stand up, exercise with his sword, and stretch his muscles and bones.

Since entering the Spirit Stream battlefield, Lu Ye had been tirelessly cultivating, but never had he yearned to boost his strength as swiftly as he did now.

It wasn't about Dong Shuye; it was simply that every extra night here cost ten Spirit Stones, a true testament that time was money!

On the fourth night of Lu Ye's stay in the mercantile union, a shapely manager was reporting to the elder about the recent profits of the union, while the elder listened almost dozing off.

The manager, accustomed to such reactions, wrapped up the routine report and then said, "There's another matter I'd like to report, sir."
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"Speak!"

"Recently, the consumption of Spirit Stones in the Spirit Gathering Array has increased significantly. Every day it almost requires three to four more Spirit Stones than before."

The elder finally opened his eyes, "Where's the problem?"

"It's from the 'Sky 3' Room."