In mid-air, Lu Ye hunched down, propelling his spirit force to stabilize his floating body. With almost no pause, he attacked Yu Daiwei again like a scarlet lightning bolt striking from the sky.

The long blade swung around, shattering numerous spells that rushed toward him.

Yu Daiwei quickly retreated!

Having suffered once, she had already assessed Lu Ye's terrifying strength and dared not stand still for another beating. It was a true shock to her that Lu Ye's power was so strong and that he had launched such a sudden attack, catching her completely off guard.

Two figures swiftly glided across the sky, spells and blade light surging amidst the pursuit and escape, making it extremely lively. The Insect Race drawn in by the fluctuations in spirit force often exploded into a mist of blood before they even got close.

However, the distance between them could no longer be closed.

The difference in strength was evident; although Lu Ye had activated his Bloodstain Spirit Runes, there was a limit to the enhancement it could provide to his power. It was impossible for the Bloodstain Spirit Runes to cause his strength to surge infinitely; this was expected.

Yet, he was fighting with great passion. Though he had only struck Yu Daiwei a few times since the battle began, without substantial effect, the goal was achieved—he had a clear understanding of his current strength.

Of course, he still had some tricks he hadn't used yet.

In this situation, the awkward part was that he couldn't close the distance with Yu Daiwei, but if he used the Blood River, there was still a chance.

Especially the Blood River Technique merged with essence blood—it was more powerful than the ordinary Blood River. Once he drew Yu Daiwei into the Blood River, he could take advantage of being on his home ground.

The earlier sudden assault was the best opportunity to cast the Blood River Technique when approaching Yu Daiwei.

He still had the Dragon Throne!

However, Yu Daiwei was not an ordinary Divine Sea Realm opponent. Lu Ye was uncertain if using all his trump cards could kill her!

Moreover, Lu Ye bore no ill will toward her. He waited here merely to use her as a whetstone.

Although Yu Daiwei had captured him before, she did nothing significant to him. Tai Shan had other matters to ask of him, and there was no deep enmity between them.

Zhang Song came merely to capture him, not to kill, and ended up forced to end his own life.

Through this conflict, Lu Ye realized his shortcomings.

He lacked a means to quickly charge to an enemy's side. For a combat cultivator, being unable to get close to an enemy made it challenging to pose a lethal threat.

This is something every combat cultivator needs to consider.

The Blood Escape Technique might be a direction, but when activated without essence blood, it wasn't fast enough to be sudden, lacking effectiveness for a one-hit result. Using essence blood had usage limitations.

As Lu Ye contemplated this, Yu Daiwei suddenly shouted, "Stop, I won't fight anymore!"

Lu Ye immediately halted, his aura simmering and hard to calm.

Yu Daiwei gained some distance before stopping, scrutinizing Lu Ye as if seeing him anew, with a hint of unwillingness on her face.

In a battle against someone at Divine Sea Level 8, fighting to such an extent with Lu Ye, she felt too embarrassed to speak of it.

If the fight continued, her abundant spirit force reserves would certainly grant her a greater advantage, but there was no need; she wasn't there to kill Lu Ye, only to capture him.

Looking at it now, completing this task seemed impossible, and she couldn't understand how this young man trained—they had the ability to defeat enemies beyond their level at every realm, especially upon reaching the Divine Sea Realm.

Given his displayed power, an ordinary Divine Sea Level 4-5 opponent facing him might die.

At the very least, it would take someone at Divine Sea Level 6 to contend with him.

In other words, she couldn't regard Lu Ye merely as Divine Sea Level 1 but rather as a Level 6.

Her strength was insufficient to capture a Level 6. Rather than continuing in this stalemate, attracting the Insect Race or even other Divine Sea Realm members of the Haotian Alliance, making peace was the only choice.

Luckily, this young man was sensible enough; when she said to stop, he immediately did so. Otherwise, under these circumstances, her only option would be to flee.

After all, she was in the shadows, unlike Lu Ye, who could openly walk and battle with enemies.

"You're something, kid!" Yu Daiwei bit her teeth, her expression suggesting she wanted nothing more than to bite Lu Ye.

Lu Ye said nothing, slowly sheathing his blade, though his aura wasn't diminished, and the Bloodstain Spirit Runes continued to function.

"Are you mute? Not a peep!" Yu Daiwei was somewhat furious, mainly because of the big disgrace this time, failing the task.

"Tai Shan is looking for me?" Lu Ye spoke.

Yu Daiwei's pupils shrank, "Where did you hear that name?"

Last time when the Venerable Lord chatted with Lu Ye, she was nearby and was sure the Lord didn't disclose his name. She certainly didn't mention it to Lu Ye either. So how did Lu Ye know the name Tai Shan?

It made no sense.

Without getting an answer, Yu Daiwei frowned and said, "The Venerable Lord wishes for you to come over; there's an important matter to discuss!"

Lu Ye calmly responded, "You have quite a unique way of inviting people." The reference version of this chapter is on M*V*LEMPYR.

If the strength wasn't enough, it wasn't an invitation but a capture, just like last time. Only by displaying enough might could he qualify to be invited.

"Tell Tai Shan that I will come to find him, but not now. Moreover, if you dare entangle with me before I approach you proactively, be careful that I'll expose all his little secrets!"

About Tai Shan, the Senior Brother had given instructions.

As someone who once served Mount Tai, Senior Brother knows what Mount Tai is doing. Lu Ye discussed this matter with Senior Brother on the Sacred Island.

If Senior Brother were still in the Nine Provinces, Mount Tai would naturally look up to him.

But human minds change easily, and given the passage of time, even Senior Brother cannot be certain of Mount Tai's current disposition.

He advised Lu Ye that when the opportunity is right, he should contact Mount Tai and lay everything out for discussion. If planned well, Mount Tai might become an ally.

This requires time, not now.

At the very least, Lu Ye needs to grow to the point where he can escape under Mount Tai's control before he has the qualification to converse with him, or else rushing in foolishly would only place his fate in someone else's hands, which is imprudent.

With these words, Lu Ye turned around and soared into the sky.

Yu Daiwei's expression was uncertain, but suddenly she remembered something and shouted, "Where is Dao Thirteen?"

"Dead!" A distant voice replied.

Yu Daiwei gritted her teeth and stomped her foot.

The Venerable Lord's Dao soldier numbers are not many. These entities can't be refined at will, and Dao Thirteen was a standout among them. Losing him like this is truly regrettable.

But now, unable to trace Dao Thirteen's whereabouts, and with Lu Ye declaring he is dead, it's very likely true.

Without lingering at the site, the recent battle, though brief, was quite a commotion and would have attracted Divine Sea Realm cultivators from nearby.

Flying a distance away, she found a secluded spot and reported the encounter with Lu Ye to the Venerable Lord.

She quickly received a message from the Venerable Lord: "Wait!"

Yu Daiwei naturally followed the command.

Meanwhile, Lu Ye continued forward, confirmed Yu Daiwei was not following, and dispersed the Bloodstain Spirit Runes.

With spirit runes enhancing him, although his strength greatly increased, the self-consumption is substantial, so it's not suitable to maintain for long periods.

In this battle, he lost a drop of Essence Blood, though for ordinary Blood Race, such a thing is extremely precious; for Lu Ye, it's not a big deal. Given time, he can refine another drop to replenish it.

After the better part of a day, a majestic city came into view ahead.

Haotian City arrived!

After more than two years, Lu Ye finally saw this familiar city again and felt a sense of nostalgia.

Without stopping, he rushed headlong into the city.

The number of cultivators within Haotian City has noticeably decreased, and under Lu Ye's Mental Consciousness, he couldn't even perceive many Divine Sea Realm cultivators; this wasn't something that happened before.

Such a situation undoubtedly relates to the current bug disaster.

Many cultivators are scattered throughout Bingzhou, either guarding human race gathering places, ground fissures, or rushing to various aid points, leading to fewer cultivators in Haotian City than before.

Of course, necessary defensive forces must still be stationed here; after all, this is also the Central Hub of the Haotian Alliance in Bingzhou.

Lu Ye first went to the sect master's courtyard; the sect master was not there, and the courtyard was empty.

As expected.

He then went to the Justice Department; there were no cultivators guarding the entrance, so he walked straight in.

He immediately saw a familiar face, worried dryly seated behind the desk, disheveled, and unshaven, looking like he hadn't rested in days, with a pile of jade slips waiting to be processed in front.

"Senior Brother Cheng?" Lu Ye exclaimed in surprise.

Seated behind the desk was Cheng Xiu.

Also one of Qian Wudang's trusted aides, back when Lu Ye was at Cangyan Mountain Pass, it was always Cheng who handled the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones with him.

He used to have a True Lake Level 9 cultivation, and now he's surprisingly in the Divine Sea.

In two years, Lu Ye is not the only one who's grown.

Hearing the voice, Cheng Xiu raised his head in a daze, quickly showing a look of astonishment.

Because Lu Ye had been missing for more than two years. Although it was ascertainable that he was still alive, no one knew exactly where he was. Before the bug disaster erupted, Thang Yifeng, the sect master of the Righteous Blood Sect, used many connections to inquire about Lu Ye's whereabouts, but all results were fruitless; after the disaster broke out, there was no extra energy to pursue Lu Ye's trail.

Therefore, he never expected that such a person who had been missing for over two years suddenly appeared before him.

"Lu Yiye, you're back?" Cheng Xiu said with a smile.

Lu Ye also smiled, "Senior Brother Cheng has ascended to the grand position, changing the heavens and earth? Where's our Chief Qian, down and out?"

Cheng Xiu laughed and cried, "Junior Brother, don't speak nonsense. Lord Department Chief is out on important business and has entrusted me with handling affairs here."

Lu Ye understood.

He also knew that a strong figure like Qian Wudang wouldn't easily encounter any mishaps. He was just curious why Cheng Xiu was here managing affairs. Given the current situation, Bingzhou's situation might be more serious than he had imagined, otherwise, Qian Wudang wouldn't have easily left the Justice Department.