Sage of Humanity

The Blue Water Governor's Residence was actually just a bamboo loft, without any guards or anything like that.

Lu Ye asked for directions along the way as he flew over; he had no other business, he simply wanted to bid Zi Ying farewell.

This Lord Governor had helped him a lot before; since he was leaving, he naturally had to inform her.

In front of the bamboo loft, Zi Ying was tending some flowers and plants. When Lu Ye arrived and saw this scene, he couldn't help being stunned for a moment. This Lord Governor's bearing was sharp and heroic, yet he hadn't expected her to have such refined tastes.

"You're getting ready to leave?" Zi Ying didn't even turn her head, clearly having Insight into Lu Ye's intentions.

Lu Ye cupped his fists and said, "Your Excellency sees clearly. I want to obtain more Dao Bones for cultivation and advance to Dao Fusion as soon as possible. Blue Water shouldn't see any battles in the short term, so I'd like to go take a look at other war zones."

"You hold no post, so of course you're free to come and go."

Alliance guards were divided into two kinds. One kind had an actual post, such as the stewards at Zi Ying's side and the garrison troops of the Blue Water Battle Planet itself. These were battle strength fixed in Blue Water; whether in wartime or peacetime, they received battle merit every month.

The other kind was idle like Lu Ye. Wherever they went, in name they had to obey the orders of that war zone's governor; of course, if there were no orders, they could act freely.

The majority of alliance guards were the latter type, able to roam the various war zones according to their own wishes.

Zi Ying straightened up and turned to look at Lu Ye. "But if you're planning to hunt Dao Bones, wait a few days before you go."

Lu Ye was puzzled. "Your Excellency's meaning is…?"

Zi Ying turned her head to gaze toward the depths of stellar space, her expression indifferent. "It's discourteous not to return a visit. They come to hit us, so of course we're going to hit back!"

Lu Ye's heart trembled. These days Blue Water had been as peaceful as still water, with not the slightest stir of trouble. He hadn't realized that Zi Ying had plans brewing in secret.

If that was the case, then indeed there was no rush to leave.

The Insect and Blood Races on the other side probably wouldn't anticipate something like this. Zi Ying's decision could be called very wise, perhaps enough to catch them completely off guard.

Of course, once the army began mobilizing, it definitely couldn't be kept from the Insect Matriarch's spies, and by then the enemy would certainly have precautions in place.

After a brief pause for thought, Lu Ye spoke. "Your Excellency, if you leave, who will take over as governor of Blue Water?"

Zi Ying said coolly, "We don't hold it. When we assault their planet, not a single person will remain in Blue Water. Whoever wants it can come take it!"

Lu Ye was speechless, moved by this woman's boldness, yet he also knew that if Blue Water was truly lost, the human race battle alliance's defensive line in this region would have a gap, and then the home planet would definitely demand accountability.

This was going to be a swift battle fought to a quick decision! Lu Ye realized that as long as their speed was fast enough, once the objective was achieved, Zi Ying should still make it back in time to defend Blue Water.

Looked at this way, this assault on the enemy's planet wasn't really meant to seize their Blood Cloud Battle Planet permanently.

"Has the Yan family's Dao artifact been delivered?" Zi Ying asked again.

"It has." Lu Ye took out the short hammer and casually swung it a few times.

"How well does it fit you? How many Dao of enhancement does it give you?" Zi Ying asked.

Although this Dao artifact was currently the best quality they could refine, the power it could display differed in different hands. The minimum was an amplification of three Paths of Power, the maximum was five.

Lu Ye of course reported five.

Zi Ying nodded. "The Yan family has put in some effort, at least." Suddenly she barked, "Lu Ye!"

Lu Ye was startled for a moment, then hurriedly cupped his fists. "Here!"

"I intend to have you temporarily command a camp of elites and serve as the vanguard in the coming great battle. Are you willing?"

Lu Ye's expression grew solemn. The vanguard was undoubtedly very dangerous, and he had always acted alone. If he was suddenly put in command of a camp of troops, he would definitely feel somewhat unaccustomed at first.

But thinking back on the previous great battle, fighting the enemy in single combat truly hadn't been ideal. If he didn't worry about exposing his true strength, it wouldn't matter, but on the surface he currently could only display the power of the 14th Dao. Commanding a camp of men might allow him to exert himself better.

Moreover, in his earlier discussion with the Yan family about the giant ant matter, Zi Ying had lent considerable help. Now that Zi Ying was speaking personally, it wouldn't sit right for him to refuse.

After a brief moment of thought, Lu Ye cupped his fists and said, "I am willing to follow Your Excellency's orders."

"Very good. I didn't misjudge you; you really were born to be restless." Zi Ying smiled and patted Lu Ye's shoulder.

Lu Ye's mouth twitched slightly; he didn't know how she saw that in him.

"Three hundred li to the northeast there's a valley. The troops are all over there. Just go on your own. Three days from now, when we assault their planet, you'll depart with me!"

"Yes." Lu Ye accepted the order and shot up into the sky.

Three hundred li was a trifling distance; he arrived in short order.

It was a valley filled with birdsong and fragrant blooms. Nearly a hundred people were scattered about; some were seated in meditation cultivating, some drinking and making merry in groups of three to five, and others gathered together chatting idly.

Lu Ye knew that Zi Ying had sent him ahead for two reasons: first, so that everyone could get familiar with one another; second, probably so that he could begin to consolidate this elite force.

After all, they were going to be the vanguard camp. When they later charged into the enemy formation, everyone had to pull together like a single rope, and as the one in command, he would inevitably have to become the banner of this vanguard camp. Wherever his orders pointed, that would be where the entire vanguard camp moved.

So there was only one thing he had to do.

With a booming crash he dropped down, drawing shocked looks from everyone around.

But that was all.

Lu Ye swept his gaze around and gave a low shout: "Form up!"

The hundred-odd cultivators scattered around were stunned for a moment. Aside from a few who ran over at his words, the rest kept doing their own thing, not sparing Lu Ye a glance.

It was hard to blame them. This camp had been assembled by picking elites out of all of Blue Water's guard forces. Most were 9th Dao, a smaller portion 8th Dao, and there were even a few who had their own Dao artifacts. On normal days their eyes were higher than the sky. Now a stranger suddenly shows up and tells them to form up—who would care?

Lu Ye strode forward in big steps, walking straight to a few cultivators nearby. These men were drinking, and who knew where they'd hunted a small beast from; it was set over the fire, sizzling as the fat dripped out.

One of the cultivators was holding a brush, calmly brushing oil over the roasting meat, looking utterly at ease.

The aroma spread. Looking down at them from above, Lu Ye reasserted in a flat tone: "Form up!"

The few exchanged a glance. The one brushing oil snorted: "Who the hell are you?"

Lu Ye said, "By order of the Lord Governor, from this moment on I'm taking command of this camp. I must ask all of you to act according to my orders!"

"Oh…" The cultivator dragged out the sound, "So you're the new Lord Commander. My apologies, my apologies. Lord Commander, care to sit and have a drink with us?"

"I said form up!" Lu Ye stared at him.

"Hold on a bit, Lord Commander. Once we finish this jar of wine and eat this meat, we'll head over. If you can't wait, you can have the others form up first."

Lu Ye stepped forward, lifted his leg, and kicked the beast meat flying, then lashed out again and sent the wine jar tumbling.

"Brat, you're courting death!" The cultivator who'd spoken was caught off guard. Sparks from the fire sprayed across his face, leaving him ash-faced and filthy in an instant. Enraged, he yanked the longsword from his waist and slashed viciously at Lu Ye, shouting, "When we were following the Lord Governor into battle, you were still somewhere playing in the mud. And now, so young, you dare wave a chicken feather like it's an arrow of command!"

Lu Ye raised his hand and brought a hammer down on him.

The cultivator screamed on the spot. However fast he'd charged in, that was how fast he was sent flying back.

Cries of alarm broke out all around.

Everyone knew exactly how strong that cultivator was. With his own 9th Dao cultivation, plus the Dao artifact in his hand, he could unleash 12th Dao strength, making him the strongest in this camp. Yet he hadn't even managed to take a single hammer blow from this new commander.

"A top-grade Dao artifact!" The cultivator stared at the short hammer in Lu Ye's hand, his expression torn between shock and suspicion. He knew that anyone the Lord Governor appointed as commander had to be formidable, but to actually have a top-grade Dao artifact—that was going too far.

"Leaning on the power of a Dao artifact—what kind of skill is that? If you've got guts, fight without it!" he shouted harshly, and took the initiative to toss aside his longsword.

Lu Ye rolled his neck and showed a feral grin. "As you wish!" He likewise flung the short hammer to the side.

The next instant, the other man moved, his figure flashing as he lunged in to kill. Lu Ye reached out and grabbed, seizing one of his arms at the very last instant.

The man was ruthless as well. Sensing that something was wrong, he instantly launched a punch. Lu Ye blocked it with his forearm, then drove his knee forward, slamming into the man's other arm instead.

In the span of an eye-blink, the two figures collided over and over, trading blows at speed, fast against fast.

With a thunderous bang, Lu Ye remained rooted where he stood while the cultivator staggered back, his face flushing red. He held it in for a long moment before finally cupping his fist. "I've learned my lesson!"

Dao against Dao—9th Dao versus 9th Dao—and he was still no match. What he lacked wasn't control over Dao force, but raw strength and speed.

There was a clatter as every cultivator around, without exception, rose to their feet and quickly formed ranks, no matter what they'd been doing before.

Lu Ye stretched out his hand, grabbed up the short hammer, and then strode to the front of the formation.

His gaze swept over them. This camp had not too few, not too many—counting himself, exactly one hundred.

"My name is Lu Ye. From this moment, I am the commander of this camp."

"Lu Ye?" The cultivator who had fought Lu Ye earlier still had a faintly unconvinced look, but at these words he froze. "May I ask… are you the Lu Ye of those recent rumors, the one who cut down a Dao Fusion cultivator with Enter the Path…?"

"That's me," Lu Ye nodded.

The cultivator's face changed in an instant to fawning obsequiousness. "So Lord Commander is Fellow Daoist Lu! You should have said so earlier, this whole fuss…"

The others were all equally astonished.

Enter the Path and cut down a Dao Fusion—that feat had already spread throughout all of Blue Water. Yes, he'd relied on the power of a giant ant, but with or without that, it was still a tremendous achievement.

The name Lu Ye had long since echoed across Blue Water—who didn't hold him in reverence? But very few actually knew him by sight.

To think that this man had actually been assigned to be their commander, and now stood right in front of them.

For a moment, their gazes burned hot.

"Wang Xun pays his respects to Commander Lu. From this day forward, we will look to Lord Commander's horse's head!"

"Greetings, Commander Lu!" everyone shouted.

Lu Ye glanced at Wang Xun. Their gazes met faintly, and he gave a small nod.

"You've all been drawn out and assigned here, so I trust you know what we're going to do. This commander has only one demand: when battle comes, everyone stays tight on my heels. No one is allowed to act on their own!"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!