Sage of Humanity

"Bring the person over," commanded Chu Ruoyu.

The members of the various families let out a long sigh, and someone immediately volunteered and quickly left.

The small courtyard fell back into silence. Although the numerous strong fighters of the Five Great Families surrounded this place tightly, Wei Wuguang and his four companions were trapped by the big array, their lives under Lu Ye's control, so they dared not act recklessly.

However, from their constantly exchanged glances, it was clear their hearts were far from calm, and they must have some ideas.

The Five Great Family Patriarchs have ruled Silver Snake Valley Secret Realm for nearly a thousand years. Here, they are the sky, the rulers, and no one dares to defy them. They have never been treated with such disrespect.

Not to mention their strong fighters being captured, their lives out of their control.

Even though Lu Ye had been lenient, he had already touched the bottom line of the Five Great Families.

But the ruthless style he displayed earlier undoubtedly made the Five Great Families dread him greatly, so at this moment, no one dared to say anything more to avoid provoking him and causing their family members to suffer.

Within less than the time of one incense stick, no more than a half-tea's time, Ying Wuji, bound by ropes-like spirit artifacts, was brought over.

It was evident that Ying Wuji had suffered quite a bit, not only was he disheveled, but he also had a bruised face…

This is no surprise since Silver Snake Valley had to use some methods to inquire about him and Lu Ye.

Unfortunately, cultivators from the Nine Provinces each had tough bones, especially Ying Wuji, a core disciple from a top big sect. Even though he was opposed to Lu Ye's camp, how could he betray him at this moment?

Thus, despite being humiliated, Silver Snake Valley didn't manage to extract any useful information from Ying Wuji.

Being brought to the small courtyard, seeing Lu Ye sitting there, Ying Wuji's eyes couldn't help but turn wet…

Truly moved!

He had thought he was done for this time and didn't expect Lu Ye to come to rescue him. After all, they were enemies in the Nine Provinces, and Ying Wuji had tried to assassinate Lu Ye before. By reason and sentiment, Lu Ye could completely abandon him.

His capture had nothing to do with Lu Ye; it was entirely his own incompetence and lack of vigilance.

Who would have thought Lu Ye would really come to rescue him, and the grand array in the courtyard indicated that Lu Yiye was confronting the entire Silver Snake Valley Secret Realm alone...

"Are you alright?" Lu Ye glanced at him.

"Not dead yet!" Ying Wuji grinned at him.

Lu Ye nodded, and when he raised his hand, the spirit force of the big array trapping Wei Wuguang and the others surged. Long You, who was severely injured, exclaimed as an invisible force pulled him out and threw him directly.

A quick-witted cultivator from the Long family leaped up, caught Long You, checked him briefly, and found that although Long You's injuries were severe, his life was not in danger, so he nodded slightly to the Long Family Patriarch.

"Release him!" Lu Ye looked at Chu Ruoyu.

Chu Ruoyu frowned, "You mean a one-for-one exchange?"

"Life for life, fair and just!" Lu Ye slowly stood up, resting his hand on his saber.

As he stood, the numerous strong fighters in the courtyard couldn't help but tense up.

When he was seated, they felt nothing, but when he stood, they all felt immense pressure, as if the one standing before them was not a man, but an ancient ferocious beast ready to devour them.

Each one's heart trembled.

"Or, you can choose not to exchange."

As Lu Ye spoke, the supplies box at his waist buzzed, and three weapon control streams of light streaked out, pointing directly at Wei Wuguang and the others' foreheads. His gaze was calm, but anyone could clearly sense his killing intent.

No one doubted that if Chu Ruoyu dared to utter a refusal, someone in the courtyard would die on the spot!

"Young friend, please calm down!"

"Hold your hand!"

A group of people cried out in fear that Lu Ye would really kill Wei Wuguang and the others.

Chu Ruoyu coldly stared at Lu Ye, feeling utterly frustrated. He was an experienced and cunning man, yet since he came to this courtyard and met this young man, he had been led by the nose all along, which was very unsatisfactory.

Even though they surrounded this place tightly, the situation was unfavorable.

The young man's ruthless and decisive style was evident from the three holes he left on Chu Anhe for a minor displeasure earlier. If due to him, the strong fighters of the various families died here, he, the master of the secret realm, might have to step down early...

"Release him!" Chu Ruoyu waved his hand.

With oscillating spirit force, the spirit artifacts binding Ying Wuji were retrieved. Ying Wuji took a quick step beside Lu Ye, spat out blood water, feeling much safer, and confidently said, "Where are my things?"

Though he and Lu Ye had their own storage spaces, and the contents of their storage sacks were not much, he wouldn't let others benefit easily.

"Return them!" Chu Ruoyu commanded again.

Someone immediately took off a storage sack from their waist and threw it to Ying Wuji. After checking briefly, Ying Wuji said, "The audio transmission stone too!"

Chu Ruoyu raised his hand, tossing Ying Wuji's audio transmission stone back.

"Now that's more like it!" Ying Wuji sneered.

"Thunk…" echoed as Lu Ye stuck the Boulder Mountain Saber to the ground before him, resting his hands on its hilt, "Now we can talk about other matters."

Chu Ruoyu guardedly asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

"The method to contact the other two secret realms or the way to find the portals of those secret realms, and we want to leave here!"

Upon hearing this, not only did Chu Ruoyu frown, but other cultivators in the courtyard also looked puzzled.

"Aren't you two from those secret realms?" someone asked.

They had always guessed that Lu Ye and Ying Wuji were from the Mount Sumeru Secret Realm or the Ziwei Dao Palace Secret Realm, but now it seemed otherwise.

If they were from either of those secret realms, why would they want to inquire about those things from Silver Snake Valley?

But such remarkable individuals, if not from those secret realms, where could they be from?

Could outside bases nurture such talents?

This was simply unimaginable.

Chu Ruoyu also found it hard to believe. If they were pretending, there was no need for such pretense.

After pondering, he said solemnly, "Young friend, this is a bit too much. The three human race great secret realms are all extremely hidden, floating in the Void. Even those within the secret realm require specific timing, location, and spiritual objects to open a portal. How could Silver Snake Valley have a way to find the portals of the other two secret realms? If we did, those two couldn't rest easy."

"What about the method to contact them?"

Chu Ruoyu said, "Usually, it's when the guiding envoys from the three great secret realms meet outside that there's some exchange. It's impossible to contact them across secret realms, so your request is beyond our capabilities."

He was not telling the whole truth because the three great secret realms had an agreement to send people annually to a hidden location to exchange information or discuss important matters.

Of course, he didn't need to tell Lu Ye, and even if he did, it was useless because the next meeting of the three secret realms' representatives was more than a year away.

Nonetheless, Silver Snake Valley indeed did not have a way to actively contact the other two secret realms, nor the ability to find their portals.

The other two did not possess such means either.

Lu Ye listened quietly, observing, feeling that the old man was not lying.

Feeling a headache; so many obstacles after just one secret realm. How would he find the other two?

"As for sending you two away, that's not a problem."

Chu Ruoyu paused, "However, I have a request!"

"Speak!"

"Besides releasing those four, I want the method to refine the audio transmission stone!"

Judging from everything before, the young man with the saber could refine audio transmission stones. As for elixir pills, Chu Ruoyu did not mention them. Even if he obtained the method, it depended on the Pill Master's skill and the supply of raw materials, so it might be worthless.

Not to mention, these two might not even know the elixir pill refinement method.

Ying Wuji sneered, "Old man, too much greed is not good."

"Just a small request, hoping young friend will oblige!" Chu Ruoyu ignored him and looked at Lu Ye.

"Sure!"

To the surprise of Chu Ruoyu and the cultivators of the Five Great Families, Lu Ye agreed readily.

After agreeing, he immediately took out a blank jade slip, infused it with spirit force, and inscribed the method to refine the audio transmission stone.

Immediately, he tossed the jade slip to Chu Ruoyu.

So simple?

Chu Ruoyu was momentarily stunned, almost suspecting if Lu Ye was up to something, quickly immersed his spirit to check the jade slip contents. Examining repeatedly, he saw nothing suspicious.

Not well-versed in Artifact Refining, he handed the jade slip to a nearby cultivator for verification.

The cultivator checked for a while and said hesitantly, "It should be fine."

No problem is no problem. Lu Ye didn't withhold anything in the method for refining audio transmission stones. Whether Silver Snake Valley could refine it was not his concern.

Refinement of this was neither entirely difficult nor entirely easy. Lu Ye could refine effortlessly due to his foundation as a spirit runes master.

Besides, it wasn't a precious item, so Lu Ye didn't want to entangle further.

Leaving here to find the other two secret realms was more critical.

"The four of them…" Chu Ruoyu looked at Wei Wuguang and the others trapped in the courtyard.

Lu Ye raised his hand, retrieving the array banners, and the big array in the courtyard was instantly lifted.

Chu Ruoyu's eye twitched slightly, looking significantly at Lu Ye, "Seems like young friend is very confident in his strength!"

Handing over the audio transmission stone's refinement method and releasing the captives so readily, all indicated the youth's fearless attitude.

This left Chu Ruoyu slightly uneasy.

Various dangerous thoughts surged but couldn't decide firmly.

"We just want to leave now. Of course, you can try to stop us," Lu Ye looked calmly at Chu Ruoyu.

Their gazes met, one full of youthful vigor, the other calm and profound.

The courtyard's atmosphere instantly tensed.

After a long moment, Chu Ruoyu sighed deeply, "A young hero indeed!"