Sage of Humanity

Jiang Liuzi, holding a compass, stopped about 30 yards from Lu Ye. The light from the compass had turned blood-red, and the needle was fixed. Jiang Liuzi suddenly looked up, "He's right ahead!"

As his words fell, Lu Ye's figure appeared. Enhanced by Move-Like-The-Wind, he dashed out like lightning. Unsheatheing his Boulder Mountain Saber, he violently slashed toward Jiang Liuzi.

He didn't know exactly what the compass was, but he could be sure that he had indeed been exposed and it had something to do with this compass.

The other must have used that compass to pinpoint his location accurately.

In that case, he would seize the compass!

The flash of the saber startled Jiang Liuzi since he had suffered at the hands of Lu Ye before and knew well of Lu Ye's strength. Thus, he instinctively stepped back several paces when faced with the slash.

Tan Sheng, who stood by his side, made his move, sending a violent wave of spirit force. A magic and spell crashed toward Lu Ye.

The strike from a Level 9 cultivator was terrifying. Lu Ye, who was rushing forward, was directly blown away. His blood Qi churned within his chest and abdomen. While in mid-air, he reached out into the Void, grabbed an array banner, and fiercely shook it.

Eight pillars of light surged into the sky, interconnected and linking up with each other. In an instant, a hemispherical light screen enveloped the area within dozens of yards like an inverted bowl.

Lu Ye fell out of the light screen without hindrance, but Tan Sheng, who pursued opportunistically, was blocked by the light screen.

"A trap array!" Tan Sheng exclaimed in surprise, not expecting that someone had pre-arranged a trap array here which caught him off guard and trapped him inside.

Swoosh, swoosh..., the sound of tearing air arose, it was Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan who had been hiding nearby and now soared into the sky.

Since Lu Ye had even deployed a trap array, the two of them did not hesitate, knowing it was time to make a strategic retreat and hurriedly followed Lu Ye's lead.

Watching the three form three streaks of light fleeing into the distance, a trace of regret flashed through Tan Sheng's eyes. He was so close to killing that Lu Yiye, but the trap array had bound him, leaving him no choice.

The sounds of magic and spells began to boom, striking against the light screen, causing it to ripple in waves and rapidly dim.

Jiang Liuzi also made his move. Although the presence of the compass meant that Lu Ye couldn't escape, such things were risky with potential changes, and it was naturally better to resolve it sooner. Lu Yiye only had Level 3 cultivation, and if by some misfortune he encountered other powerful figures from Ten Thousand Demons Ridge during his flight, there was a chance others might profit from his plight.

Such a trap array couldn't hold Wei Que for too long, let alone Tan Sheng.

In less than twenty breaths' time, the light screen of the trap array had completely dimmed. Tan Sheng and Jiang Liuzi soared into the sky, heading in the direction where Lu Ye and the others were fleeing, and before long, they encountered a person approaching. It was Jiang Chengzi, who had previously concealed his presence.

He was luckier since the trap array had not bound him, so he followed behind Lu Ye and the others after their escape, although he didn't dare get too close. Alone against three, he couldn't afford to have his presence discovered.

"Over there! I saw them head in that direction," pointed Jiang Chengzi.

As his words fell, a sudden explosive buzzing and bursts of fire came from the direction he pointed.

Jiang Chengzi froze, feeling the scene looked vaguely familiar... as if he had seen it somewhere before.

Tan Sheng quickly rushed forth, with the Jiang brothers following closely behind.

However, having rushed only about ten yards, Jiang Liuzi suddenly exclaimed in surprise and halted, calling out, "Senior Brother Tan, wait a moment!"

Tan Sheng impatiently stopped, "What is it?"

"The reading on this... Lu Yiye is in that direction," Jiang Liuzi stared at his compass, pointing in a certain direction.

The direction he pointed to was clearly different from where the firelight had come from.

"Didn't you say they headed over there?" Tan Sheng frowned, looking at Jiang Chengzi.

Jiang Chengzi replied, "That's right, I saw it with my own eyes."

"Could there be something wrong with this device?" Jiang Liuzi was also puzzled. He did believe his brother's words, but the guidance from the compass in his hand pointed to a different direction, which was quite odd.

"Let's go and see," Tan Sheng quickly decided. Regardless of the compass's readings, the source of the firelight was only a few miles away, so checking it out wouldn't take much effort.

Having made a decision, the Jiang brothers naturally had no objections, and soon, the three arrived at a chaotic cave.

Jiang Chengzi gazed at the cave, growing more convinced that the scene seemed strangely familiar...

Two hundred miles away, atop another teleportation array, Lu Ye, who had escaped through teleportation, felt heavy-hearted. He was being targeted, and among them was a Level 9 cultivator!

He was still unclear about the role of the compass in Jiang Liuzi's hands, and why he felt a strange connection with it.

As though aware of Lu Ye's thoughts, Li Baxian spoke, "Junior Brother, that is a tracking disc!"

"A tracking disc?" Lu Ye frowned. Just from the name, he could vaguely guess its function.

"A rare treasure that serves to locate and track, extremely rare. The user has to write down the target's name in fresh blood on it, and then the tracking disc can provide precise guidance. I've only heard about this, never seen one before," explained Li Baxian.

"Such a rare treasure actually being used on me... interesting," Lu Ye mused.

Given the current situation, the tracking disc must be Jiang Liuzi's, otherwise it wouldn't make sense for him to be holding it. He had been exposed earlier and had attempted to seize the tracking disc from the opponent, but unfortunately, he hadn't succeeded, which he found quite regrettable. If he had managed to take it earlier, the crisis would have been averted.

"Does this mean they can find me anytime with that tracking disc?"

Li Baxian's voice was solemn, "Yes."

"What grudge, what grievances..."

He actually didn't have much of a personal grudge with the brothers Jiang Liuzi, only having clashed over the ownership of a spirit ground previously. Yet, those two cling to their resentment and even found a Level 9 cultivator to help them, clearly determined to kill him.

From their perspective, Lu Ye could understand; after all, his life was linked to a substantial bounty that had burdened him since he was in the Spirit Stream Level 5 realm.

He understood, yet he still felt some resentment.

"That Level 9 is Tan Sheng, from New Moon Sect; he's quite profound."

"That's Tan Sheng?" Lu Ye was surprised.

On the Kills Ranking, they were each other's closest competitors, holding the first and second positions. He had never met Tan Sheng nor known what he looked like, yet here he was, the helper the Jiang brothers had found.

It seemed this man not only wanted the bounty but also aimed for the top position on the Kills Ranking. If he could kill him, all the benefits would be his.

It was not surprising that Li Baxian could recognize the man, having been in the Spirit Stream battlefield for so many years and seen off numerous Spirit Stream Realm cultivators.

To be praised by him as profound surely meant he had once reached the top of the Spirit Stream Ranking.

"Junior Brother, it's not safe to stay here long. They'll soon find us with that tracking disc. We need to leave quickly."

Two hundred miles was truly nothing for someone of the Cloud River Level 9, who could arrive swiftly if they exerted their full power.

Lu Ye nodded and softly called out, "Fourth Brother, Senior Sister Feng."

Both Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan looked over at him.

Boom...

The Boulder Mountain Saber was drawn, its fiery red light flashing, cutting a crescent-shaped arc.

Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan instinctively leaped backward, but immediately afterward, Li Baxian's expression changed as he yelled, "Junior Brother!"

The teleportation array lit up, and by the time everything had settled, Lu Ye's figure had disappeared.

Li Baxian hurriedly rushed to the teleportation array, trying to activate it with his spirit force.

However, it was useless; the formation under his feet remained unresponsive.

This formation had been set up by Lu Ye, who naturally left some contingencies to ensure that only he could activate it—others could not, even if they stood on the teleportation array and poured in their spirit force.

Under his boy mask, Li Baxian's expression grew heavy.

Feng Yuechan also realized Lu Ye's intentions, "He doesn't want to drag us down with him?"

As long as the tracking disc remained undestroyed, Lu Ye could not escape the pursuit. Even with the teleportation array at his disposal, his chances were slim unless he had enough teleportation arrays to play the enemy on his palm.

Once caught by Tan Sheng, the huge disparity in cultivation meant that he would have no power to fight back, even with Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan's help.

That's why he pushed Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan away and stepped into the teleportation array alone, sensing the immense danger ahead.

If possible, he wouldn't even want to involve Amber.

But ever since the Life Origin Method was established, his life had become inseparably linked to Amber's. If he perished, Amber would not survive either, and Yiyi would also meet her end.

Thus, bringing Amber was essential. Aside from that, in desperate times, Amber might help by entering the beast transformation state, known for doing well in monitoring and alerting.

"How reckless!" Li Baxian was infuriated, unwilling as a senior brother to see Lu Ye face peril alone, but Lu Ye's decisive blow had forced him and Feng Yuechan back without giving them a moment to think.

It could only be said that their junior brother was too decisive, making firm decisions the moment he realized his dire situation.

Battlefield markings brought incoming messages, and Li Baxian quickly checked them. As expected, it was a message from Lu Ye.

"What did he say?" Feng Yuechan asked.

Li Baxian said irritably, "He said we're too slow, holding back his escape!"

Feng Yuechan was at a loss for words, knowing full well this wasn't Lu Ye's real intention; he was merely trying to alleviate their guilt with such remarks.

"Junior Brother has his own plans..." Li Baxian relayed what Lu Ye had communicated.

After listening, Feng Yuechan nodded, "That means, Junior Brother Lu didn't act impulsively. He made his decision after thorough consideration. If things go smoothly, he might be able to escape this hunt."

The key to escaping this hunt is the hunt ground closing!

But who could know when the hunt ground would close?