In the darkness-filled cave, laughter echoed, making Lu Ye's eardrums tremble.


The darkness surrounding them receded like a tide with the laughter, and gradually, dim light seeped in, slowly restoring Lu Ye's vision.


He finally saw what was blocking his Pianshan sword, it was the other person's two fingers, just so lightly pinching the blade, he couldn't even pull it out.


He stared, trying to make out what his foot had just kicked... It was the old man's face!


At this moment, as darkness faded, he remained frozen in a pose of drawing his sword and striking down, with one foot kicked out.


He wasn't sure what the other person was laughing at, all he knew was if they wanted to kill him, he would have died a hundred times over already. The big foot blocked his view of the other person's face, but this blurry outline gave him a strange sense of familiarity.


A slight recoil came from the blade, and Lu Ye instinctively sheathed his sword, taking two steps back.


<<>>


Lu Ye's expression became surprised, because he recognized the other party. It wasn't that he really knew the other party, but he had seen him from afar.




Less than three months ago, he and Park were fishing on Fishing Island when a powerful being wreaked havoc on the Myriad Visions Sea. He killed a Sunlighter from the Myriad Star Sequence on the spot and fled through Fishing Island. Lu Ye had caught a glimpse of him from afar and saw his appearance.

Let me know if you have other text you'd like translated! ?
No wonder I had a sense of familiarity earlier, because the elder before me is the one who escaped from the Wanxiang Sea!


After the incident that day, things quickly calmed down on the side of Wanxiang Hai, and there was no further movement. Although Lu Ye knew that Wanxiang Xing wouldn't just let this go so easily, the matter of the sunlit layers was something the stars couldn't investigate after all. He could only speculate that the killer had probably fled, otherwise Wanxiang Xing wouldn't have remained silent.


<<< But I didn't expect them to be hiding here! <<<


It can certainly be said that the powerful figures of the Wanxiang Galaxy are definitely searching for this person's whereabouts. I'm afraid the entire galaxy's airspace has been turned upside down. As for how this elder evaded their pursuit...that obviously depends on his own abilities.


At this moment, perhaps all the powerful beings in the entire Wanxiang Galaxy think that this old man has escaped from this star system. His staying here is a rather clever move, hidden in plain sight.


What confused Lü Ye was that this person was hiding so well, why would he have Zhu Yuan bring himself over?


By this time, he also slowly began to figure things out.


Four people came together, including Zhu Yuan. Three of them were killed, but Lu Ye, who had the lowest cultivation level, survived. If the old man didn't have ulterior motives towards him, Lu Ye wouldn't believe it no matter what.


Why would I be myself?


Could it be just because of a fleeting glance on Qixingtan Island?




At that time, he didn't notice any signs that the other party was paying attention to him. But the other party's cultivation was extremely high. It was normal for him to be noticed while watching the other party.




He shouldn't be trying to take his own life; if he wanted to die, there would be easier ways. He wouldn't risk exposing himself by staying here.


It's even less likely that Lü Ye saw his appearance, because this old man acts...


Since his features weren't hidden, many people must have seen him.


What's the reason for this?


For a moment, Lu Ye's thoughts drifted aimlessly. He thought about many things, but couldn't come up with any ideas.




It was the old man's single sentence that made him instantly furious.




"Hmm, even after all these years, the cultivators of the Nine Regions still have such strong bones!" The elder chuckled, looking at him with the gaze of an elder surveying a junior, laced with a hint of admiration.


<<>>


"You're not from the Nine Regions, are you?" The old man's expression was unchanged, inscrutable. But even with his sharp eyes, he couldn't tell if Lu Ye's expression showed any unnatural changes.


"I come from the continent of Wushuang!"


That he was from the Nine Regions, even Tang Jun didn't know. How could a person who had only seen him once know? But Lu Ye knew in his heart that since the other party dared to ask this way, they must have seen something. What flaw could there be on his body that allowed others to see through it?


This is not a small matter.


<>


That's why Lü Ye wanted to understand, how could this old man in front of him tell that he was from the Kyushu region.




<<>>


Oh, it's the Heavenly Machine Disk.


Every cultivator in the Nine Regions, even those who are unaffiliated with any sect, bears the mark of the battlefield. This is because only with the mark of the battlefield can one enter the Lingxi Battlefield and the Yunhe Battlefield, to explore and acquire military merit and achievements, and to communicate conveniently with others. For cultivators of the Nine Regions, this mark of the battlefield is indispensable.


The battlefield markings were bestowed by Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu is the embodiment of both the Heavenly Machine Disk's spirit and the essence of the Nine States. As cultivators from the Nine States possess battlefield markings, they naturally carry the aura of the Heavenly Machine Disk.


According to the intelligence obtained from Lu Ye, during the period of the former Nine States, when they were besieged by numerous powerful enemies, the Heaven-Calculating Disk had not yet been born. It was only when the powerful individuals of the Nine States realized that the situation was beyond saving that they pooled their strength together and forged the Heaven-Calculating Disk. By leveraging the power of the Heaven-Calculating Disk, they shifted the Nine States from their original location, escaping the impending disaster. For millennia, it has remained hidden in a remote corner of the Jade Snail Star system, never connecting with the celestial tapestry.


In other words, those enemies who attacked Kyushu probably didn't know about the existence of the Celestial Mechanism Disk. Only local cultivators from Kyushu would be aware of this divine artifact.


<<
The old man's expression turned serious: "This old man is Ma Bin from the Tianzhou Human Emperor Sect!" >>>


??? Tianzhou...


The Great Emperor's Sect...


When these once-familiar words reverberated in Lu Ye's eardrums, all his doubts were suddenly cleared up.


He never expected that he would one day meet a powerful figure from the former Kyushu era!


According to the information Little Nine provided him at first and the battlefield situation shown, on that day's battle, all cultivators who were eligible to participate in the former Kyushu era charged into space combat. In other words, as long as one's cultivation reached the Starry Realm, they rushed into the battlefield.




What the outcome of that battle was, Lu Ye and Xiao Jiu were both unaware. When the final battle commenced, the power of the Celestial Disk surged, causing the Nine Provinces to shift locations. However, the situation was clearly not optimistic. With an alternate realm as a retreat during the previous era, cultivators from the old Nine Provinces could withdraw, recover, and regroup. But without such a refuge, they were left with no choice but to fight to the death!


It's not impossible for the entire army to be wiped out.


<<< Lu Ye had always thought that the strongmen from the former Kyushu era were all dead, whether in battle or simply of old age after so many years.

>>


According to the existing cultivation systems, Star Lords can live for up to two thousand years, Moon Yaos for four thousand, and Sun Rays for eight thousand. Long-lived individuals might be able to live a few more years, but surviving for ten thousand years is still very difficult.


Of course, this number is theoretical. In fact, cultivators often fight and get injured during their growth and survival process. Being injured is commonplace, and even if they recover, it will affect their lifespan. That's why Tang Jun's lifespan is nearing its limit.


How could Ma Bin survive until now, it's unbelievable. What methods did he use? What sacrifices did he make?


Of course, it's also possible that the other party is lying. But Lu Ye felt that this was completely unnecessary. With such a big Sunspot, if they really wanted to inquire about something from him, there were plenty of means at their disposal. There was no need to claim to be someone from Kyushu in the past.


The most important point, Ma Bin mentioned the Tianji Pan.


This should be a secret known only to cultivators from the former Nine Regions. In the current era of the Nine Regions, only Lu Ye knows about it.


Just to be safe, Lu Ye still asked, "What is the Heavenly Machine Disk?"


"Don't put on airs. Old man, I participated in the crafting and refining of the Heavenly Machine Disk back then. Its aura is too familiar to me! It's just that after thousands of years, I haven't felt it. Recently, I sensed it and thought I was mistaken."


"There's no need to probe any further. Letting out a breath, Lu Ye straightened his face, sheathed the Pianshan Saber, and with a respectful bow towards the old man before him, said: “Bingzhou, Lu Ye of the Bixue Sect pays respects to his senior!”


"From Bingzhou? Excellent! Bingzhou used to have the Zhengqi Sect, and everyone there was just like you, a tough nut to crack!"


"Nowadays, there are righteous Qi Gates in Bingzhou but no Righteous Qi Sects." Lu Ye said.


"Perhaps it's something passed down from the past. After thousands of years, many things have changed." Ma Bin sighed wistfully, gesturing with his hand: "Have a seat!"


"Lu Ye sat honestly before him, pondered for a moment, and said: 'Senior, you discovered me that day?' "




Of course, what he asked about was what happened on the island of Tuidi before three months ago.




Ma Bin nodded. “It was precisely because I sensed the aura of the Heavenly Mechanism Disk on you that this old man took notice of you, had you investigated further, and found a way to bring you here.”


Thus, Zhu Yuan is indeed Ma Bin's person and acts under his orders.


Lu Ye frowned and said, "If that's the case, Zhu Yuan isn't from the Tianduanxing lineage. This whole mission of transporting supplies is completely fabricated."


Ma Bin said: "That's right! But Zhu Yuan is very meticulous in his work. He was afraid you would be suspicious, so he specially recruited two more people to help."


"So, the information about entering Cloud Shang through borrowing a path from the Heavenly Derivation Star System can reach Yu Luo..."


"Fake, he spread it. But the part about using Tianyan's passage to enter Yunshang is true. The cultivators from Yunshang Xingjie did indeed use this method to reach Wanxiang Xingjie."

(Editor in charge：young adult fantasy novels)