Feeling that familiar aura—
Looking at the weathered expression on Daoist Shouren’s face, Lu Ye couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
In his past life, Daoist Shouren had once discussed with him the profound mysteries of the Dao of Protection.
The two had hit it off almost instantly, as if meeting a kindred spirit.
There was no helping it.
Among the Nine Heavens, only the two of them cultivated the Dao of Protection.
Only these two!
Lu Ye looked at the deep concern for the world in Daoist Shouren’s eyes, and his heart stirred with a complicated mix of emotions.
A part of him felt relieved to have escaped that sea of suffering.
Because once you became entangled with this thing called the Dao of Protection—regardless of whether you were strong or weak—there would be no good outcome.
When Daoist Shouren died in the previous life, there had been only relief in his eyes.
For the heart and spirit that he had kept taut his entire life had finally been released in death.
But right now, even with his arrival, Daoist Shouren was of no use.
The grand formation continued its operation without pause, endlessly grinding down the powerful cultivators.
Blood had dyed the formation’s glow a deep red.
Utterly terrifying.
Recover! Recover! Recover!
The Eternal Formation was nearing its limit. Lu Ye was preparing to move to the next location. He had already looted the entire Myriad Age Sect, and had even found Wind Soul Sand within it.
Now he only needed to wait until he broke through to the Divine Connection Realm to condense his sixth life.
Lu Ye’s figure transformed into a blood-red streak of light and vanished.
The Eternal Formation suddenly collapsed.
Blood poured out in torrents, yet there was little flesh remaining within it.
Many people charged in, continuing their pursuit of Lu Ye.
Daoist Shouren let out a hurried shout.
In that instant, all the powerful cultivators had their legs ensnared by halos. Daoist Shouren yanked fiercely, his arms bursting with sprays of blood mist.
“Stop chasing him! You can’t kill him! If you keep this up, you’ll all die!”
Lu Ye glanced back once.
See? That’s what the Dao of Protection is like.
He let out a soft sigh.
But for Daoist Shouren to block so many powerful figures on his own—it was nothing less than trying to stop a chariot with one’s bare arms.
Daoist Shouren began chanting a Daoist scripture.
A scripture to calm the spirit—he hoped to use it to help everyone regain their composure.
How pitiful...
Lu Ye listened to the faint sound of that scripture drifting in.
It could indeed calm some of them. But once they were calm, those at the front would be grateful, while those in the back would grow resentful.
Because those in the back would think—Lu Ye was nearly at his limit. If only those at the front had all died, by the time it was their turn, they might have been able to finish him off.
Some might even blame Daoist Shouren for making them waste all their prior efforts.
Yet the truth was—if Daoist Shouren hadn’t stopped them, they would all be dead!
Lu Ye wasn’t sure if Daoist Shouren could actually hold these people back. After all, he was also just at the Heaven and Earth Realm.
But Lu Ye was already prepared.
Come on, keep going!
Whoever chickens out is a damn coward!
Another formation activated.
Lu Ye continued recovering as he waited. He was really getting too tired to run any longer.
The Heaven and Earth Realm was truly terrifying.
Without using his Blood Escape technique, his speed was no match for theirs—those realms were simply too far apart.
But then... after a moment—
No one came.
Huh?
Daoist Shouren had actually held back all those powerful cultivators?
Well, damn—he hadn’t realized the old man was that strong.
Lu Ye felt a little regretful, but also a bit relieved. Regretful that he hadn’t managed to kill off the whole bunch—relieved that his Nine Lives As One plan could still be preserved for a while longer.
Doesn’t matter. First, recover!
Daoist Shouren was doing everything in his power, desperately trying to restrain so many powerful figures. He continued reciting the Daoist scripture, trying to bring clarity to this frenzied crowd.
He stood alone in front of everyone.
Many began attacking him—his fleshly body was battered to the point of collapse.
While retreating, he blocked, and while blocking, he chanted.
Too difficult!
Perhaps it was because the deaths just moments ago had been so tragic—it had left a deep impression on this group of Heaven and Earth giants. Gradually, a look of struggle began to appear on their faces.
Their bloodshot eyes began to show signs of clarity.
“Huff...”
Someone let out a long breath.
Their consciousness fully returned, drenched in cold sweat.
So close—so close to dying. That Eternal Formation had been utterly unstoppable, sweeping down like the heavens themselves.
Even giants had felt helpless within it.
Compared to that kind of formation, human power was far too weak.
“Many thanks, Daoist Shouren!”
The awakened giant quickly expressed gratitude to him.
“No need to thank me. Help me hold back the others,” Daoist Shouren called out loudly.
With the giants helping to intercept, many cultivators were forcibly stopped right there.
More and more began to regain clarity.
Watching this unfold, Daoist Shouren couldn’t help but smile. Finally—finally, he had stopped them...
“What’s going on? Why did we stop? Lu Ye is clearly at the end of his rope—his face was pale as a ghost. That blood-burning escape technique can’t last much longer.”
“Keep pursuing him! We’ve come this far—there’s no turning back. It’s kill or be killed between us and Lu Ye now. If he’s allowed to grow, he’ll definitely take revenge on all of us!”
“Daoist Shouren, what’s the meaning of this? You’re letting a tiger back into the mountains!”
“Shut up. You weren’t the one charging in first, were you? How many powerful cultivators has Lu Ye already killed using the formation? Can you be sure he’s truly on the verge of collapse?”
“But he clearly was nearly there. Just a little more, just a little... It’s all because—”
One of the giants gave the speaker a cold glance, and the man fell silent in fright. Still, his expression remained filled with indignation.
That speaker was only at the Samsara Realm.
Yet he dared to complain about the decisions of giants from the Heaven and Earth Realm.
Daoist Shouren let out a sigh.
“Everyone, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Lu Ye is far from simple. When he looked back at me, there was killing intent in his eyes, but also utter calm. That’s not what someone at the end of their rope looks like. Even if you keep chasing him, you won’t kill him,” Daoist Shouren explained.
“Daoist Shouren, you needn’t explain. We understand your good intentions. Thank you for this,” said one of the giants.
“Thank you, Daoist!”
With a Heaven and Earth Realm cultivator taking the lead, a portion of the crowd clasped their hands to Daoist Shouren in respect.
Only a portion.
Daoist Shouren knew it was impossible to please everyone. Still, he smiled.
“There’s no need for this. This is simply something I chose to do.”
“What will you all do about Lu Ye next?” he asked.
“What else can we do? Naturally, we must find a way—quickly—to either capture or kill him. We must not give him time to cultivate, or disaster will come to all of us!”
“Indeed. Lu Ye holds grudges to the death. He is a demon among demons. Someone like that—must die, no matter what.”
“But we can’t kill him. Just that strange escape technique of his, combined with that bizarre fragrance... Even with the best plans, everything falls apart the moment we get near him!”
Many frowned deeply.
At that moment, Daoist Shouren spoke up.
“How about... we negotiate peace?”
