Sage of Humanity

The Heaven Reflecting Mirror, an ancient treasure left by powerful cultivators, allows the secret realm's cultivators to observe the outside world.

Typically, before opening the portal, Silver Snake Valley would activate the Heaven Reflecting Mirror to check the outside surroundings and confirm there is no ambush from the Corpse Race.

To avoid any potential exposure this time, they did not activate it in advance.

Lu Ye and Ying Wuji, the two outsiders, were naturally unaware of this.

As Chu Ruoyu finished speaking, the cultivators standing guard joined forces to summon a treasure resembling a bronze mirror, channeling their spirit force into it.

Soon, ripples appeared in the bronze mirror, resembling the rippling effects when stones are thrown into a calm lake.

As the ripples stabilized, a bird's-eye view of the outside world appeared in the mirror.

The group focused their gaze and immediately saw two figures in the scene—Lu Ye and Ying Wuji. Within dozens of miles around them, a massive yellow cloud rolled and surged like a dust storm, forming and sweeping over. Even through the mirror, the cultivators of Silver Snake Valley could feel the overwhelming ferocity within the yellow cloud.

"Lin Xun has indeed been disturbed!" Someone exclaimed with delight, "These two have no chance of survival now!"

"The Valley Master really is clever, solving the matter without shedding blood."

"How dare they venture into our Silver Snake Valley Secret Realm; they truly do not know death!"

"What a pity. These two have decent strength, if only they could be used for our Silver Snake Valley..." the speaker shook his head slowly, considering the unlikely recruits. The strength of the youth with the saber was not merely decent; it was formidable to an inconceivable degree. Even if he were to serve them, they wouldn't dare trust him completely.

On the other side, Lu Ye and Ying Wuji simultaneously turned to look in the direction of the yellow cloud.

Ying Wuji's complexion changed instantly, "That noise... it's the Corpse Horde!"

Having suffered greatly at the hands of the Corpse Horde upon his arrival on the Unparalleled Continent, Ying Wuji harbored a psychological dread, especially given his current weakened state. The scale of this corp cloud appeared grander than his previous encounters, hinting at the formidable nature of this Corpse Horde.

"Run quickly!" He urged Lu Ye, noticing Lu Ye raising his head to gaze at a certain point in the sky, puzzled, "What are you looking at?"

Lu Ye didn't respond. His powerful Mental Consciousness gave him a vague sense of being watched, and while uncertain, he could guess the general situation.

Inside the secret realm, the Silver Snake Valley cultivators were shocked by the profound look in his eyes.

"Has he... noticed it?" Someone was astonished, asking in disbelief. Detecting the Heaven Reflecting Mirror's presence, what sort of enigmatic prowess did this youth possess?

Chu Ruoyu's expression turned serious. He had already tried to overestimate Lu Ye's skill, but now it seemed he had still underestimated it. Sensing the Heaven Reflecting Mirror indicated a level of Mental Consciousness beyond his imagination.

He secretly felt fortunate that the secret realm had not undergone major conflict with him and had mostly accommodated his requests.

More so, he felt proud; regardless of strength, disturbing Lin Xun meant Lu Ye would likely perish without a burial place.

"Can you still run?"

Outside the secret realm, Lu Ye asked calmly in response to Ying Wuji's urging.

"Run or not, I have to try... maybe you could carry me?" Ying Wuji replied helplessly.

Having endured substantial torture in the Five Prime City dungeon, although not severely injured in terms of vital energy, his strength had diminished, making escape uncertain.

Without a word, Lu Ye stepped forward under Ying Wuji's bewildered gaze.

In the next moment, his body surged with spirit force, flowing brilliantly like flaming light and filling the Void, forcing Ying Wuji to squint, unable to look directly.

The surging spirit force seemed alive, forming distinct Yin-Yang Dual Origins that rapidly connected, expanding outward.

Seeing Lu Ye's actions, Ying Wuji's heart jolted with immense dread as he felt a near-death beast breaking free in absolute terror.

The blinding light gradually faded, revealing the scene.

"This is..." Ying Wuji's pupils contracted sharply.

Lu Ye stood surrounded by rapidly flowing spirit force, forming the outline of a divine bird.

The divine bird was not fully formed, only a vague shape, yet the overwhelming pressure made one shudder at the potential once complete.

The bird was huge with a sleek form and long tail feathers.

Countless Yin-Yang Dual Origins rapidly constituted the bird's body, forming flesh to fill the shell.

The spirit force grew more intense and fierce!

"Roar!"

Thirty miles away, the approaching Corpse Horde let out an earth-shaking roar, feeling something. The yellow cloud accelerated, filled with the looming silhouettes of rotting corpses.

"What is this!"

Inside the Silver Snake Valley Secret Realm, the Five Great Families cultivators waiting to watch the show were shocked by the divine bird's appearance, eyes growing wide with disbelief.

Even though separated by space, the divine bird's stature invoked an understanding that it could destroy the heavens and earth.

The youth with the saber possessed such a terrifying technique?

Many were drenched in cold sweat momentarily.

Massive spirit force flowed out, forming Yin-Yang Dual Origins and filling the divine bird's shell, extending realistic feathers on the bird's body.

Standing in the heavens, it radiated endless power, making the divine bird seem alive.

Ying Wuji watched from ten miles back, murmuring in shock, "Fire Phoenix!"

Remembering, as fellow combat cultivators of Bingzhou, he had privately investigated many of Lu Ye's records, including mentions of this technique.

In the hunting grounds, surrounded by countless Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators, Lu Ye was forced to activate a Golden Body Token to protect himself and used this technique to kill numerous enemies, gaining fame in the Cloud River battlefield!

Some believed it was a power from an exotic treasure, doubting such a powerful technique could be activated by Lu Yiye at that cultivation level.

From the hunting grounds to today, no one had seen him use this technique again.

Now, as the Fire Phoenix reappeared clearly in Ying Wuji's sight, he realized it wasn't an exotic treasure power, but Lu Yiye's own ability.

However, the technique, though powerful, seemingly took too long to prepare, unsuitable for deadly battles with formidable foes.

Only now, with the enemy distant, could Lu Yiye fully utilize this technique.

Wasn't he a combat cultivator? How did he master such intricate magic?

The numerous complex patterns forming the technique made Ying Wuji dizzy, unable to fathom touching its essence in his lifetime.

Even orthodox magic cultivators at Cloud River Level 8 couldn't perform such techniques, nor could True Lake Realm cultivators sustain such vast Mental Consciousness and precise spirit force control.

Lu Yiye... a true monster!

In that instant, regardless of opposing factions, Ying Wuji felt exhilarated—this was a Nine Provinces cultivator!

Far superior compared to those Silver Snake Valley scoundrels!

"Roar!" Ten miles away, the Corpse Horde roared again, this time with evident fear and urgency.

Realizing the peril, the controlling rotting corpses knew if they didn't kill Lu Yiye before the technique was complete, doom awaited.

Too late.

The massively surging yellow cloud neared Lu Ye within five miles when the Fire Phoenix suddenly stretched its wings, gently flapping once.

It appeared truly alive.

"Coo!"

A piercing cry echoed through the clouds, and the enormous fiery figure soared, crashing into the yellow cloud.

Scorching waves warped the Void, trailing long tail feathers into fiery streaks, dazzlingly beautiful.

Beneath this stunning visage lay torrential death.

The colossal yellow cloud froze and reversed under Ying Wuji's and countless Silver Snake Valley cultivators' shocked gazes.

"It's fleeing..."

Chu Ruoyu staggered, disbelieving his eyes.

That was Lin Xun, one of the strongest under the Corpse Commander, feared by the three major secret realms of the human race. Such strength couldn't withstand the divine bird's might?

Yet fleeing was futile.

The Fire Phoenix's wings flapped slowly but its speed was incredible. The massive figure became a streak of fiery light, catching up to the escaping Corpse Horde in ten breaths.

The fire-red form collided with the yellow cloud, barely causing a ripple, instantly deciding the outcome.

Large chunks of the yellow cloud burned to ashes, including the rotting corpses within.

The fiery light recoiled, exploding to cover vast Void.

A rain of corpses fell...

As the brilliant red light faded, the scene came into view.

No Fire Phoenix, no engulfing yellow cloud, only two figures remained.

A youth wielding a saber, unsheathed, and a charred corpse, its identity obscured, with the saber across its neck, slicing three inches deep.

The corpse raised a hand to grasp the blade, in its final struggle.

Silence enveloped the world.

Slash...

The saber flashed, severing the head.