A few monts later, a scorpion the size of a pot lid was trapped in a formation, dizzy and unable to escape.
Lu Ye strode toward the bamboo building, climbed the stairs, and reached the second floor. As he pushed open the bamboo door, a foul wind hit his face, accompanied by a hissing sound.
With a casual grab, he caught a green snake in his hand. Upon examining it closely, he found the snake resembled a fresh bamboo shoot. Even with its head caught, it retained its fierce deanor, flicking its tongue.
Lu Ye glared at it, and simply exerted a bit of his own pressure, causing the snake to imdiately wilt, its previously straight body now limp.
He wrapped it around his waist, tying it in a knot. Looking up, he saw Hua Ci erging from the inner room, carrying a bunch of bags, appearing ready for a long journey.
Lu Ye was surprised: "Oh, Madam, where are you heading?"
It was the first ti Hua Ci heard him address her this way, but as they were accustod to playful banter, she wasn't surprised. She spat, "Pah, who's your madam? Don't call that!" She wiped her eyes, her gaze full of sorrow, and her expression seed on the verge of tears: "Where else can I go? I'm making space for your happy family. You three can live here, blissfully as father and daughter."
Lu Ye originally chased after her to explain, but seeing Hua Ci like this, he knew no explanation was needed. He chuckled: "If you're not staying here, where else will you stay?"
Hua Ci replied sadly: "In this vast world, I'll find a place eventually. Worst cos to worst, I'll find a small nook in the starry sky and survive sohow."
"Really leaving?" Lu Ye acted surprised.
Hua Ci said: "The new laughs while the old becos a nuisance, why stay?"
Lu Ye nodded: "Makes sense, be careful on the road. Let know when you find a place, I'll visit you."
"Take care!" Hua Ci gave him a deep look, carrying her bags as she walked out.
As they passed each other, Hua Ci suddenly gasped, her body lifted off the ground, cradled in his arms. Instinctively, she dropped her bags and wrapped her arms around Lu Ye's neck: "What are you doing?"
Lu Ye looked down at her, replying: "Guess!"
Heading straight to the inner room, Hua Ci tried to struggle but was subdued with a playful smack from Lu Ye.
Her hair was disheveled, ornants askew, and her face bore traces of spent passion.
After a while, Hua Ci lay lazily on Lu Ye's chest, her hands folded under her chin, eyes widened in surprise: "You said that little girl is a Sun Blaze?"
Lu Ye held his head with both hands, nodding gravely: "Yaya is indeed a Sun Blaze, but she suffered from the Soul-Devouring Aphid, affecting her psyche, so she now has a childlike nature."
Hua Ci expressed doubt: "Are you lying to ?" This sounded too fantastical.
Lu Ye pinched her nose: "If I were lying, I wouldn't make up sothing so ridiculous."
Hua Ci found reason in this and continued: "So she sees you as her dad and that woman as her mom?"
"That woman is Fellow Daoist Lih Shang, a mber of the Soul Race and sowhat resembles Yiyi. I brought her back to solve the issue in Xianyuan City."
Very few people across the Nine Provinces knew about Xianyuan City's predicant; Lu Ye had ntioned it to Hua Ci before, so she had so understanding.
Hearing this, Hua Ci nodded: "The ancestors of Xianyuan City have suffered for years; resolving it is good."
"So now you understand, don't always trust your eyes; listen to explanations." Lu Ye playfully smacked her, enjoying the feel.
Hua Ci smiled gently, suddenly biting into Lu Ye's shoulder with vigor, making him wince in pain.
"What's the matter?" Lu Ye felt his shoulder being bitten, as Hua Ci applied great force.
"You're getting back at , right?" Her eyes glowed dangerously, glancing sideways at Lu Ye.
"How so?" Lu Ye was puzzled.
"Back on the Unparalleled Continent, I held soone else's child... you suddenly bring a child back now."
"Nothing like that happened!" Lu Ye denied vehently. Even if it did, he couldn't admit it, otherwise Hua Ci would surely retaliate.
"Let's pretend it didn't." Hua Ci pouted, suddenly biting his other shoulder even harder.
"What now?" Lu Ye endured the pain, this ti the bite was more forceful than before, and he was sure his shoulder was bleeding.
Hua Ci lifted her head, her lips stained red, eyes radiating danger, breathed lightly: "Earlier, soone was more enthusiastic than ever before, care to explain?"
Lu Ye internally panicked but maintained a calm deanor: "Innate talent, self-taught!"
Hua Ci gazed at him, her deep eyes seemingly probing into his soul, then lowered her head, letting her untad hair veil her alluring face, making it impossible to discern her expression. Her voice echoed as if from the Deepest Hell Purgatory: "Then I need to properly acquaint myself."
Lu Ye couldn't help but shiver.
Righteous Blood Sect, at the central hub of the big array on Mount Ao, several disciples guarding this place were staring at the sky, seemingly idle.
Suddenly, a stream of light swept in from the outside, flying straight into Mount Ao and heading towards the position of Righteous Peak.
A disciple chewed on a blade of grass, speaking idly, "How many waves have it been today?"
"It's the fourth wave. Altogether, we've had nearly a hundred Constellations co by," another disciple replied.
"What's going on?" soone asked, puzzled.
The cultivation of the disciples guarding here was not high, only at the True Lake level, so they didn't know the specifics. They only knew that since a few days ago, Constellation cultivators had been visiting continuously. Initially, just a few ca, and not frequently, but as ti passed, the number of visitors increased, and the frequency grew too, as if all the Nine Provinces' Constellations were rushing back from the stellar space to gather here.
It was foreseeable that the situation would only beco more frequent as ti went on.
A True Lake who knew a bit of the inside story whispered, "It should be related to that person on Erald Bamboo Peak."
"Erald Bamboo Peak?" Upon hearing this, an image of a gentle woman instantly ford in their minds. Many people had seen this woman and knew she was one of the earliest batches of disciples of Righteous Blood Sect, and among the few Constellations in the sect.
The na of the Poison Doctor was even more widely known.
The speaker quickly clarified their thoughts, "Not Master Uncle Poison Doctor, but the Peak Master of Erald Bamboo Peak!"
Several True Lakes were instantly shocked, "That legend?"
Everyone knew the Peak Master of Erald Bamboo Peak was a legendary figure. He hadn't been a disciple of the Righteous Blood Sect for long, and he didn't seem to be very old, yet his influence was present in all the significant events within the Nine Provinces over the years.
He was also among the first batch of cultivators to ascend to the Constellation stage. He mysteriously disappeared six years ago, without a trace until now.
"Has he returned?" soone asked in astonishnt.
"I've heard from Master Uncle Kong Niu that it seems indeed so, and apparently there's sothing big happening, which is why all these Nine Provinces Constellations are coming to visit."
"What big event?"
"Who knows, but just wait. Anything related to this person isn't an ordinary affair. There's a chance the Nine Provinces could change dramatically again."
On Righteous Peak, Shui Yuan looked worriedly in the direction of Erald Bamboo Peak. Since that day Hua Ci and Lu Ye left one after the other, there has been no trace of them. Shui Yuan could easily imagine what the two were up to using only her intuition.
Long-separated and reunited, sparks flying—what else could they be doing?
But it's been several days—why haven't they co out yet?
The Constellations who ca to visit for news couldn't find Lu Ye, so Shui Yuan had to entertain them herself. Over the past few days, she had hosted over a hundred people, leaving her no ti to study elixir pill formulas.
Though Lu Ye hadn't discussed anything with her since his return, through Lih Shang and the word-of-mouth of the Nine Provinces Constellations, she learned of Lu Ye's intentions this ti.
It was because he planned to take a group to All Phenona Ocean that the Nine Provinces cultivators, who heard the news, rushed back from the stellar space to inquire about Lu Ye's plans.
But everyone knew Lu Ye wouldn't be able to take everyone on this trip, only a select few. Yet, too many Constellations were interested in the All Phenona Ocean, making it challenging to decide who would go and who would stay—a problem needing careful coordination.
The Constellations who ca to visit were all familiar with Lu Ye, hoping to put in a good word and gain an advantage.
Seeing no other option, Shui Yuan inford everyone that in one month, there would be a gathering at the Nine Provinces Governor's Palace, where Lu Ye would appear and explain everything.
Only then did the Righteous Blood Sect regain so peace.
A month was a bit rushed. After all, so Nine Provinces Constellations were deep in stellar space, and even if they got the news, they couldn't return in ti within a month.
The only starboat of the Nine Provinces had set sail, aiming to bring back as many scattered Constellations as possible.
Everything was being carried out intensively, except for the one who started it all, who remained absent.
Three days, five days, ten days, half a month...
Lih Shang stayed at Righteous Peak with Yaya. Yaya, with a child's nature, was hopping and jumping around daily, catching birds and fish. Others might not know her Sun Blaze details, but Lih Shang was well aware, so he stayed by her side daily, fearing soone might provoke her.
With the one-month mark approaching, Lu Ye still hadn't shown his face, so Shui Yuan had to personally go to Erald Bamboo Peak to discuss matters with him.
Just as she arrived at Erald Bamboo Peak, she saw a familiar figure, supporting himself on the bamboo house's stairs, slowly descending one step at a ti.
Shui Yuan took a closer look and was startled, quickly rushing forward, "Little Junior Brother, what happened to you?"
At that mont, Lu Ye had dark circles under his eyes, sunken eyes, and a pale complexion, looking severely depleted of vital energy. Despite his Constellation Late Stage foundation, his legs were wobbling as he walked.
Hearing the voice, Lu Ye looked over, his eyes gradually focusing, and he managed a strained smile, "Second Senior Sister..."
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