Sage of Humanity-Chapter 762 - 760: Cloud River Hegemony?

Homecoming, reunion, joy.

There was wine, wild drinking, and a light buzz.

Under the moonlight, a few people sat around a wooden table, covered with delicacies carefully cooked by Li Baxian. The group talked and laughed, clinking cups and exchanging drinks.

Lu Ye's heart also settled down with them.

Within the Spirit Stream battlefield, there were sect stations that could make cultivators feel a sense of belonging.

Unlike at the Cloud River battlefield, where nine out of ten Cloud River Realm cultivators had no fixed home, wandering everywhere, seeking fortunes that belonged to themselves.

Though the number of spirit grounds wasn't small, they were not available to everyone.

The Great Reversal Valley Spirit Ground was created by Lu Ye himself, and he had also defended it against the invasions of many Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators. Because of this, he always felt a sense of belonging here, especially with the company of his fourth senior brother, Feng Yuechan, Giant Armor, and others...

The outside world was certainly exciting, but when looking across the entire Cloud River battlefield, this was the place he called home.

As the moon reached its zenith, its pristine light cascaded down, making the entire Great Reversal Valley seem covered with a layer of silver frost.

Giant Armor finished the wine in his jar and stood up, walking to the side. The wolf pack, led by the Wolf King, closely surrounded him. His towering, massive frame was particularly conspicuous even among the wolves, and from afar, it seemed he was the true Wolf King.

Arriving at his usual place of cultivation, he assumed that strange and unique posture. With each breath, visible moonlight spilled from the sky and into his system.

The continuous, resonant howls of the demon wolves began, many of them imitating, each basking in the moon's glow.

As Giant Armor breathed in and out, more and more moonlight gathered in the valley, becoming denser and denser until the whole valley was shrouded in a hazy halo, as if submerged in an ocean of moonlight.

"No matter how many times I see it, I still find it incredible," Li Baxian exclaimed in awe.

Giant Armor's unique method of cultivation was something he had never seen or heard of before; it didn't seem to be any Cultivation Technique, but rather an instinct, a unique talent.

He had tried to understand the mysteries of this method before, but unfortunately, he had made no progress.

Over the days, the wolf pack had significantly improved in overall strength by cultivating alongside Giant Armor.

Turning their attention away from Giant Armor, the two brothers continued to drink and chat until dawn approached, and then they each returned to their rooms to rest.

Uncharacteristically, Lu Ye did not cultivate but simply lay in his bed and had a good sleep.

Since leaving the Great Reversal Valley last time, he'd been rushing about and fighting, and even entered the secret realm of the Soaring Dragon World. Although he occasionally rested, it was only to restore his physical strength and spirit.

Now, lulled by the faint effects of the alcohol, he finally relaxed completely.

This sleep lasted until the evening. If Amber hadn't been licking his face, he might have slept even longer.

As he groggily caught Amber and tossed it aside, he slowly sat up, feeling refreshed and invigorated as the days of fatigue vanished, his mind serene and clear like never before.

The human spirit is like a bowstring; being taut for too long requires proper adjustment and rest, often leading to great satisfaction.

Outside came the light laughter of Yiyi, Hua Ci, and Feng Yuechan. They were chatting about something.

There was still a hint of fragrance in the air, suggesting that his fourth senior brother was cooking again.

Lu Ye got up, pushed open the door, and walked out. As expected, Li Baxian was bustling about the stove with an apron on, and the three women were helping, all in good spirits.

"Morning!" Lu Ye greeted instinctively, prompting a moment of surprise from everyone, followed by a burst of laughter.

Lu Ye looked up at the sky and saw the moon still high up, signaling that night was nearly upon them.

Soon, everyone sat around the table again to enjoy Li Baxian's cooking. This time, however, they did not drink, and the food prepared was lighter and more delicate.

Cultivation was, after all, the foremost task for a cultivator. No one wanted to waste time unnecessarily.

The idleness of the moment could very well be the root of future disadvantages in battles with enemies.

Having already delayed a day, they would each have to enter their cultivation regime after today.

At that moment, Lu Ye remembered something and took out two jade slips from his storage space, handing one to Li Baxian and the other to Feng Yuechan.

"What is this..." Li Baxian looked at Lu Ye, puzzled.

"A Sword technique," Lu Ye explained casually.

In the secret realm of the Soaring Dragon World, what impressed him the most wasn't the Vajra Temple's physically strong and vigorously blood-Qi fueled bald monk, nor the Imperial Heaven Sect's magic cultivators proficient in all sorts of mysterious magic and spells, but the swordsmen of the Haoran Academy.

Especially their Words and Sword Theorem.

While Lu Ye did not understand the way of the sword cultivators, it did not prevent him from seeing that this was a very profound Sword technique.

One day, when discussing it casually in front of Yuen Changcun, the latter quickly sent over an inscription rubbing of the Words and Sword Theorem.

Under normal circumstances, such a supreme secret of a big sect would never be taught to outsiders, let alone handing over an inscription rubbing for anyone to peruse.

But at that time, the collapse of the Soaring Dragon World was imminent, and Lu Ye had been recognized by them as the savior. More than just the Words and Sword Theorem, if Lu Ye wanted to become the Dean of the Haoran Academy, Yuen Changcun would probably have welcomed him with open arms and resigned in his favor.

Compared to the survival of an entire domain, what is one sword technique?

Not only did Yuen Changcun bring the Words and Sword Theorem, but Imperial Heaven Sect also brought many secret techniques, and Vajra Temple provided secret methods for refining the body...

Li Baxian hailed from Righteous Blood Sect and later joined Loyal Heart Sect, but after all, Loyal Heart Sect was not a sword cultivator sect. Although he had cultivated in Beixuan Sword Sect for a while, that was only through normal exchanges between different sects' cultivators. Even if the sword master of Beixuan Sword Sect admired him, he couldn't impart too many core techniques to Li Baxian since he wasn't a disciple of Beixuan Sword Sect.

Li Baxian was a born sword cultivator, famed for his prowess in combat. Had he been in Beixuan Sword Sect, he would have achieved much more than what he has now.

The sword master of Beixuan Sword Sect once personally visited Loyal Heart Sect and expressed his wish to take Li Baxian as his disciple.

Unfortunately, a villain interfered, and that wish never came true.

Afterwards, Li Baxian's spiritual orifice was damaged, and he wasted more than a decade in the Spirit Stream Realm.

Now, despite his rapid cultivation progress from deep accumulation, his journey as a sword cultivator was not much better than Lu Ye's current situation; he was basically groping his way forward on his own.

This Words and Sword Theorem was like sending coal in snowy weather to him at this moment. It played a far bigger role than what Lu Ye could imagine.

Therefore, as soon as Li Baxian picked up the jade slip and immersed his mind to explore it, he became utterly engrossed and couldn't extricate himself.

Feng Yuechan also picked up the jade slip placed before her and discovered that it contained records of many mysterious secret techniques. She, too, was reading it with great interest.

In Loyal Heart Sect, her status was much higher than Li Baxian's; after all, her mother was a Vice Sect Leader of Loyal Heart Sect.

But the rise of Loyal Heart Sect has been in the last few decades, and its foundation is not considered strong compared to those established big sects. The inheritance passed down from generation to generation in Imperial Heaven Sect is naturally stronger than Loyal Heart Sect's.

The contents of this jade slip undoubtedly held a great attraction for her as well.

Both Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan were immersed in exploring the jade slip, unable to extricate themselves, and Lu Ye did not disturb them, simply minding his own meal.

After quite a while, Li Baxian finally took a deep breath and regained his senses, looking at Lu Ye: "Junior Brother, between brothers, I won't say thank you. This sword technique has greatly helped your Senior Brother."

Although he didn't know where Lu Ye had obtained this sword technique, there was no doubt it was extremely precious, and Lu Ye must have gone through no small effort to obtain it.

"If it's useful to Senior Brother, that's good," Lu Ye said with a smile.

After a while, Feng Yuechan also came back to her senses and thanked Lu Ye with a smile.

"Senior Sister Feng is being too courteous. We're family; there's no need for such formalities," Lu Ye casually remarked.

Feng Yuechan seemed to reflect for a moment, her eyes curving into a more joyful smile, and she nodded repeatedly, "Junior Brother is right."

With such gains, both Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan were eager to comprehend the mysteries within the jade slip, for although these things couldn't help them increase their cultivation, they could enhance their strength.

Seeing this, Lu Ye spoke up, "Fourth Senior Brother and Senior Sister Feng, please go ahead. I'll take care of things here later."

Li Baxian nodded, "Then I'll leave it to you."

He stood up and headed for his own house. After a couple of steps, he turned back: "By the way, remember to sign up for the Cloud River competition; there's not much time left."

It was only after Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan had left that Lu Ye looked confused, "What Cloud River competition?"

And what's this about signing up?

He had never even heard of it.

Hua Ci explained from the side, "It's a grand event under the operation of Heaven's Augury." She slowly explained to Lu Ye.

Only then did Lu Ye understand what the Cloud River competition was all about.

On the Spirit Stream battlefield, there is the Spirit Stream Ranking, where countless Spirit Stream Realm cultivators vie for a spot on the list to gain rewards bestowed by Heaven's Augury and solidify their own foundation.

But on the Cloud River battlefield, there isn't anything like the Cloud River Ranking. There is only the Cloud River competition, which happens once every five years.

All Cloud River Realm cultivators who are interested in this event can sign up through the Heaven's Augury Pillar.

When the time limit is up, they fight and kill under Heaven's Augury's arrangement against different opponents.

After a series of battles, the strongest hundred are determined, similar to the Spirit Stream Ranking. These are known as the Cloud River's top hundred.

And these hundred individuals are all eligible for rewards given by Heaven's Augury.

"And the reward for the first place is 20 gold-hued spirit fortune sticks!"

"So generous?"

Lu Ye startled.

He had worked hard in the Soaring Dragon World secret realm, nearly losing his life; only after mobilizing the entire domain's powers and setting up the Great Sky-mending Array did he manage to collect nearly 20 gold-hued spirit fortune sticks. Moreover, this was after getting a 10% discount at the Hall of Battle Merits.

The reward for first place in this Cloud River competition was even more than what he gained in the Soaring Dragon World?

But on second thought, it wasn't so strange.

This was, after all, a grand event that only happened once every five years and all Cloud River Realm cultivators could participate. With talents emerging in droves and the gathering of the powerful, to emerge as the champion in such an event was bound to risk life and limb.