Chapter 2355 - 2353: No Day to Meet Again

The speed of the Four Great Families was very fast, and they were undoubtedly eager about this matter.

So, in just three days, a hundred and fifty Dao Fusion practitioners had gathered in front of Lu Ye, most of them from the Four Great Families, with a few from other medium and smaller families.

No matter who they were, it was clear they had already received some news, and upon arriving, they all looked at Lu Ye with fiery eyes.

In those three days, Lu Ye had also made his preparations.

He crafted many jade slips, inscribing the star chart he had recorded earlier, and at this moment, he was distributing these jade slips while speaking, "Seeing the expressions of everyone, I assume you all know what this is about. This matter is critically important, and it can be said it is not just a personal affair of mine, it also involves the future of Banlan. I urge everyone to work together with determination, carefully investigate the stellar phenomena along the way, and report immediately if anything is found!"

"We obey Fellow Daoist Lu's command!" many Dao Fusion practitioners responded together.

It was obvious they had been given prior instructions from the Four Great Family Patriarchs. Even though all of these Dao Fusion practitioners were older and more advanced in cultivation than Lu Ye, they showed great compliance at the moment.

After distributing the jade slips, Lu Ye looked at Veterans Chen and Ho: "Why did the two of you go through the trouble of coming all this way?"

The two veterans were also among the members participating in the exploration, and it was their proactive request. Lu Ye tried to persuade them but to no avail, as the two veterans were very persistent.

Chen Gushan chuckled, "Nothing much to do, just wanted to go out for a walk."

Mainly, they no longer needed to stay at Edgeless City, and after the secret of Banlan was exposed, Edgeless City was handed over to the Four Great Families.

Ho Linglong added, "Yes, staying in one place all the time, one tends to get rusty; going out to see the sights is good. Don't worry about us, kid; though we're old, our strength is not weak."

Lu Ye certainly knew that their strength was not weak, but they were already short-lived, and how could they handle clashes with others? If they truly encountered combat situations outside, their already limited lifespan would be greatly shortened.

"Then please be extra careful, the two of you."

A group of Dao Fusion practitioners set off from Edgeless City, heading towards the nearest entrance to the ruins. Such a scene of numerous Dao Fusion practitioners moving together was rare in the entirety of Banlan.

They quickly arrived at the entrance, where Lu Ye opened the restriction, and numerous Dao Fusions filed in one after another.

Entering the ruins, everyone curiously looked around. Although they were not unfamiliar with the inside of the ruins, it was all hearsay; for many, it was the first time coming inside.

Lu Ye led them along, through the first hall, reaching the second hall, and headed straight towards the direction of the portal to leave.

When the opened portal appeared in everyone's view, each Dao Fusion was captivated.

The goal pursued bitterly by countless generations of Banlan cultivators was now right before their eyes. Many couldn't help but feel an unreal sensation.

"Let's go." Lu Ye beckoned, taking the lead and stepping into the portal.

The Four Great Family Patriarchs saw this and gestured for the crowd to follow, and one by one, the figures vanished behind Lu Ye, until the last of the Four Great Family Patriarchs finally departed.

Leaving Banlan, they immediately saw the Dao Fusion practitioners gathered nearby, not far away there was the continuously drifting Banlan.

Despite having heard the descriptions of Banlan from the mouths of external cultivators, seeing it so close with one's own eyes, no matter who it was, they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of amazement.

Unless one had lived inside for years, anyone who saw Banlan for the first time would not know its vastness inside.

"Everyone understands the task, right? If not, I'll repeat it: choose a direction, compare the star chart in your hands along the way, if there's a discovery, report immediately. The maximum limit for exploration in each direction is half a year's journey; whether or not you find anything, return immediately in six months. If you encounter danger on the road, try to preserve yourselves, and continue the task if possible, but if the situation is complex, decide yourselves whether to return!" Huang Chen's voice echoed in everyone's ears.

"Understood!" many Dao Fusion practitioners nodded.

"Then go!" With a wave of Huang Chen's hand, many Dao Fusion practitioners dispersed, each choosing different directions. Even Chen Gushan and Ho Linglong were no exceptions; however, unlike other Dao Fusion practitioners who acted alone, these two left as companions.

Lu Ye watched the direction they left, sighing softly.

Huang Chen walked over to him, also with a somewhat sad expression: "The two veterans probably won't be coming back."

"I see it."

When Veterans Chen and Ho insisted on leaving Banlan to explore together, Lu Ye had seen their intention.

But some things cannot be stopped, nor can they be prevented.

Actually, after breaking Edgeless City, Veterans Chen and Ho didn't want to return to Banlan, because to them, Banlan was a prison that confined them for their entire lives, a cage.

Their lifespan was not long, and even if they were to die, they would rather die in the unrestrained Star Abyss than return to that cage to linger on.

But Edgeless City needed their presence, so they followed Lu Ye back.

Now that Edgeless City no longer needed them, it was time for them to pursue freedom.

With this parting, there would be no more days of reunion.

Lu Ye bowed deeply toward the direction Veterans Chen and Ho departed, whether it was during the battle against Edgeless City or the subsequent arrangement of Edgeless City, the two veterans supported him greatly.

It's a pity that Lu Ye cannot help them with anything.

"We are leaving as well, Fellow Daoist Lu will remain here as the Central Hub. If there are any discoveries, we will report back promptly," Yan Yao said.

"Thank you, everyone." Lu Ye clasped his hands in respect.

The Four Great Family Patriarchs also departed in four directions.

After they left, Lu Ye summoned his Talent Tree Avatar, sending it out in a direction that no one else was exploring.

As for his true self, he flashed to the top of Banlan, raised his hand gently, and activated Dao force, gradually slowing the drifting of Banlan.

He intended to temporarily stop Banlan because if it continued drifting, the cultivators exploring might not find Banlan upon return. Staying here to wait for them would resolve this issue.

Moreover, Lu Ye was unsure if this operation would yield results, and subsequent actions might be required. He planned to let Banlan continue drifting for half a year before commencing further exploration.

This was akin to a carpet search, where in this exploration mode, the area Banlan passes through is thoroughly explored within a half-year journey of the Harmonization Practitioners.

As long as the initial direction isn't very off, Lu Ye believed there would definitely be discoveries.

What he needed to do was wait and spend some time.

Initially, when Lu Ye was at Beginner cultivation, stopping Banlan cost him a lot of effort, including subsequently making Banlan drift in reverse, but now that he's advanced to Dao Fusion, although still not easy, it's much easier compared to before.

The consumption of Dao force has noticeably decreased as well.

During the wait, the only thing Lu Ye could do was rigorous cultivation.

Becoming the Star Abyss Heir has undoubtedly greatly enhanced his affinity with the Power of the Path drifting in the Void.

In current rigorous cultivation, Lu Ye could effortlessly achieve the level of cultivation he previously needed the Talent Tree for, and if he used the Talent Tree to create a small spirit energy gathering funnel, his efficiency would further vastly improve.

Yet even so, the Dao force he obtained through a day of rigorous cultivation only amounted to seven or eight Dao at most.

For him, seven or eight Dao force is better than nothing, but if other cultivators had such rigorous cultivation efficiency, they'd probably wake up laughing from their dreams.

Because seven to eight Dao force a day amounts to at least two to three hundred in a month, which is a highly considerable figure even for those at Dao Fusion.

At this level of strength, with prolonged life, the enhancement of power is often measured in hundreds or thousands of years. With such cultivation efficiency, how much Dao force can be accumulated over hundreds or thousands of years? How much can a cultivator's strength be enhanced?

However, even if given a hundred years, the Dao force Lu Ye gains through rigorous cultivation might only be sufficient for one Dao Fusion Dao Runes construction.

Lu Ye's current strength and vast potential future are basically built upon a massive accumulation of Dao force, the amount he consumes in cultivation is unimaginable for other cultivators.

Suddenly, a blade flash burst out, and a Dao Fusion star beast attracted by Banlan succumbed under Lu Ye's long knife.

The cultivation of this star beast was indeed quite decent, roughly resembling the 6th Order Dao Fusion, but such cultivation was something Lu Ye could easily dispatch even when he was at Beginner cultivation, let alone now at Dao Fusion.

After the star beast died, Lu Ye silently waited for a moment, his breath slightly sighing.

Such matters indeed occurred!

Since becoming the Star Abyss Heir, he no longer receives the Star Abyss Blessing from defeating enemies beyond his rank, although he gains Star Abyss coins each time, which is equivalent because spending them can exchange for a treasure juice that grants the Star Abyss Blessing's effects upon consumption.

Since years ago, every time he defeated a Harmonization Practitioner, he received extra gains.

Today, however, there were none!

No Star Abyss Blessing, no Star Abyss coins.

He actually had a premonition about this earlier on.

Because he's already at Dao Fusion now, even if the star beast's cultivation is higher, he only defeats enemies across a small realm rather than, like before, defeating across a large realm.

The likelihood of receiving Star Abyss Blessing and now receiving Star Abyss coins, with his current Star Abyss Heir identity, is nonexistent.

Though this probability shouldn't be too low, Lu Ye believes that if he defeats several enemies stronger than himself from Dao Fusion, he's likely to experience gains.

In comparison, defeating enemies beyond rank is not a difficult task for him.

Time flashed by, three months later.

His Dao Bone has recuperated over these days and can almost commence Dao Runes inscription again.

His own Dao force reserves are sufficient, so Lu Ye did not hesitate, flashed into Banlan again.

He didn't dare to break through himself within Banlan, the bone-piercing agonizing pain of Dao Runes inscription remains vivid in his memory, during such moments if a star beast suddenly emerged, disturbing him would undoubtedly cause his breakthrough efforts to fail.

Hence it's ultimately necessary to return to Banlan, enter the remains for safety and assurance.