Sage of Humanity

Chapter 2088: Chapter 2086: Thunderbolt Battle Fortress

Three hundred years may not be long, but it’s not short either. The invasion of the Star Abyss has already caused some impact on the Yiyuan stellar space. One aspect is that the cultivation breakthroughs of cultivators have become more difficult than before. Even the nurturing of spirit jade has decreased compared to three hundred years ago.

Another impact is the birth of a large number of Insect Paths!

The number of Insect Paths now existing in the stellar space is several times more than that of three hundred years ago, and this number continues to increase.

It seems that due to the Star Abyss invasion, the entire stellar space has become scarred. Areas that were originally spatially stable have become prone to shattering, which is the root cause of the birth of Insect Paths.

Having more Insect Paths, on the other hand, is advantageous as it makes traveling for cultivators more convenient.

The nearest frontline battlefield is a few star systems away. Using the star map given by Leopard Five, Lu Ye and Jiu Yan found a nearby Insect Path. By utilizing the Insect Path, they crossed a vast distance.

Several days later, a massive floating fortress emerged into their view. From afar, Lu Ye was shaken. The artifact refining techniques of this stellar space are indeed much more advanced than those from where he originated. Such a massive fortress is practically a super battleship, and crafting it isn’t easy.

According to the markings on the star map, this Thunderbolt Battle Fortress is one of the front-line battlefield strongholds, and there are hundreds of such strongholds scattered throughout the stellar space, forming a circular perimeter surrounding the entire battlefield.

The scale of the battlefield also differed from Lu Ye’s original imagination. This front-line battlefield surprisingly encompasses the vast stellar region of several star systems.

Some intelligence gathered from Leopard Five made Lu Ye realize that if the Star Abyss Insect Path was not contained at its initial stage, it would cause tremendous trouble for the stellar space.

It was precisely this understanding that left him feeling deeply relieved.

After the Star Abyss Insect Path on the All Phenomena Ocean was opened, it seemed to have alerted the Constellation Palace. This supreme treasure suddenly exerted power to seal it, averting further trouble. Otherwise, the All Phenomena Ocean would be in utter chaos now, and over time, this chaos would constantly spread outward until it became uncontrollable.

Their arrival clearly drew attention from the Thunderbolt Battle Fortress side, given that they were two mysterious God Realm experts, especially Jiu Yan, who had almost reached the pinnacle of the God Realm.

In such sensitive times, the appearance of any unfamiliar God Realm presence would not be overlooked by the Thunderbolt Battle Fortress.

Thus, before the two reached the Thunderbolt Battle Fortress, a battleship had already set out from there. Powerful auras emerged from the battleship, locking onto the pair from afar. These auras were not from cultivators but from many assault magic arrays and magic treasures on the battleship. Should the two dare to act recklessly, a storm-like onslaught would ensue.

A figure stood on the deck of the battleship, vigilant and observing in their direction.

Lu Ye and Jiu Yan approached calmly and without fear, stopping a dozen miles from the battleship.

A clear perception revealed that the God Realm expert on the opposing side was scrutinizing them. She wore a beautifully designed humanoid cover armor and seemed to be a woman. The cover armor was about twice the height of a person. Holding a round ball in her hand, she waved it toward Lu Ye and Jiu Yan before looking down to examine it.

Upon seeing this, Lu Ye immediately recalled Leopard Five’s previous reminders and understood that this God Realm expert was investigating the origins of himself and Jiu Yan.

Because from time to time, some Star Abyss outsiders would infiltrate various places in the stellar space to cause chaos. As such, all the strong figures in the Yiyuan stellar space were registered and recorded. This way, even if one didn’t know each other, they could trace each other’s origins through some means.

The round ball should be a tool of this kind.

But Lu Ye and Jiu Yan, being newcomers, had no records. Naturally, the other party would find nothing. However, upon sensing them, neither Lu Ye nor Jiu Yan had any Star Abyss aura, which puzzled her.

Star Abyss outsiders are actually easy to distinguish. The aura of the Star Abyss cannot be concealed, especially in front of God Realm experts.

Perplexed, she asked in a gentle voice, "Where are you two from?"

Following the predetermined explanation, Lu Ye stepped forward, clasping his hands from afar, "Hermit cultivators, haven’t ventured out for hundreds of years, and upon hearing the calamity of the stellar space, came specifically to lend aid."

"Hermit..." the woman was taken aback. During the first hundred years of the Star Abyss invasion, indeed some hermits were forced to emerge, each possessing formidable strength. But three hundred years have passed, how could there still be hermits uninvolved in worldly matters?

After a brief contemplation, she waved her hand, "Come over and speak, you two."

Lu Ye nodded, and together with Jiu Yan, they approached and soon boarded the battleship. The woman did not remove her cover armor, and many auras on the battleship remained firmly locked on Lu Ye and Jiu Yan, clearly not fully believing Lu Ye’s explanation.

This was expected. Even though she didn’t sense the Star Abyss aura from Lu Ye and Jiu Yan, it didn’t mean these two suddenly emerging God Realm strangers were problem-free.

"Where were you two in seclusion previously?" she asked.

Lu Ye casually mentioned the name of a star system, "Inside an unnamed desolate planet there, never left for hundreds of years, until recently felt some disturbances, hence came out to investigate, only to discover the stellar space was already in peril."

Inside the cover armor, the woman frowned slightly. What Lu Ye said couldn’t be specifically verified by her. After pondering a bit, she said, "Fine, accompany me into the fortress."

If these two indeed had any issues, entering the Thunderbolt Battle Fortress would surely expose them. Even if they were indeed Star Abyss outsiders, they couldn’t stir up much trouble within the Thunderbolt Battle Fortress. In the past, Star Abyss outsiders had attempted to infiltrate but all met tragic ends, regardless of their strength.

The battleship soon returned to the Thunderbolt Battle Fortress, landing in a plaza.

Lu Ye looked around and found that not many cultivators were visible within the fortress. Those few cultivators didn’t seem to be very strong, leaving him bemused.

The woman wearing cover armor greeted, "Follow me, I will take you..." She paused, listening as if receiving instructions, then continued, "The fort master summons you both, follow me."

She was slightly surprised, logically, she should take Lu Ye and Jiu Yan to a special place to thoroughly verify they are not Star Abyss outsiders, if there are no issues, then register them.

Unexpectedly, the fort master had just directly transmitted audio...

Since the fort master had given orders, she must execute them unconditionally.

One incense stick’s time later, the three arrived at a small courtyard, with a beautiful environment including rockeries, flowing water, and a pond, by which a sphere of flesh was seated.

The woman approached the sphere, cupping her fist respectfully, "Fort master, I’ve brought them."

The fort master nodded slightly, "Go about your business."

"Yes!" The woman in cover armor responded, then couldn’t help but glance at Lu Ye and Jiu Yan before retreating.

"Hermit Lu Ye, and Senior Sister Jiu Yan, greet the fort master!" Lu Ye stepped forward to salute, feeling puzzled what kind of Cultivation Technique this fort master practices, to be so plump, a literal sphere of flesh with a round head upon a body, with no neck visible.

The fort master was fishing, though no fish were biting. He turned to glance at Lu Ye and Jiu Yan and kindly gestured, "Sit, no need to be reserved."

Lu Ye said solemnly, "Dare not be insolent before the fort master!"

There wasn’t a place to sit, better to stand.

Beyond that, the immensely plump fort master gave him a unique feeling, within his perception, he couldn’t gauge the fort master’s depth. He glanced at Jiu Yan who also had a solemn expression, slowly shaking her head.

This was a strong one, extremely strong!

Otherwise Jiu Yan wouldn’t show such an expression.

Lu Ye’s heart stirred, thinking this fort master might have established their Dao foundation!

"Where do you come from?" The fort master asked with a friendly smile, as if making casual conversation.

Lu Ye was about to reiterate their previous story when the fort master said, "I mean, which stellar space are you from?"

Lu Ye blinked in surprise, "Fort master, what do you mean by this?"

"Hehe..." The fort master turned to earnestly observe Lu Ye and Jiu Yan. "Had I not seen it myself, I’d find it hard to believe! You don’t bear the marks of this Yiyuan stellar space, you actually came from another stellar space? How did you arrive? Has your stellar space too been invaded by Star Abyss?"

He seemed full of curiosity, eager for answers.

Lu Ye’s heart surged with turmoil, shocked that his and Jiu Yan’s backgrounds had been seen through instantly.

Can whether they bear marks of a stellar space really be discerned?

"Do not fear," the fort master reassured perceptively, "If I harbored ill will, I wouldn’t have invited you over, I’m merely... meeting cultivators from another stellar space for the first time, hence asking many questions."

Lu Ye calmed himself, finally asking, "How did the fort master discern this?"

Since their cover was blown, feigning ignorance was pointless and might insult the fort master. Better to honestly admit it, and he sensed the fort master held no malice toward him and Jiu Yan.

The fort master said, "It wasn’t me who discerned it, but I was told by someone else."

Who told him? Being the fort master implies he’s the strongest here; if he couldn’t discern it, who could see these hidden truths?

"As for who told me, it’s inconvenient to reveal," the fort master winked at Lu Ye, his eyes already small, disappearing as he did.

"Now could you share your stories?" the fort master asked.

Lu Ye pondered and realized there was no harm in sharing, with hidden secrets out, he felt relieved and began, "Indeed, we come from another Yiyuan stellar space, where the Star Abyss invasion hasn’t officially begun, just showing signs..."

He then recounted their experiences.

The fort master listened attentively.

A moment later, he revealed an enlightened look, "Spectral Sedan Chair, huh? I hadn’t heard of it... So the reason you reached here was due to the Spectral Sedan Chair?"

"Indeed, though after transporting us ten people here, the Spectral Sedan Chair vanished completely, leaving us unaware of how to return."