Sage of Humanity

The new As-Close-As-Siblings Spirit Runes have traces of the patterns inside the giant ant, which shouldn't be a bad thing. After all, the ant's power largely depends on the wondrous patterns within its internal space.

That should be a truly remarkable spirit rune.

With the new spirit rune formed, Lu Ye didn't call upon others, but directly constructed using Dao force.

Easily constructed it successfully, he stimulated the Dao force, and the spirit rune remained as solid as a fortress, unlike two days ago when it collapsed slightly upon the impact of Dao force.

Usable!

Lu Ye was delighted. The expenditure of two thousand Dao force was fruitful.

The issue with the spirit runes was solved, so now the choice of array remained.

The Black Tortoise Array, although nice, wasn't suitable for so many people at once, so a different array was needed.

Lu Ye had quite a few arrays in his mind, but none were really suitable for a hundred-person formation.

Helpless, he could only call upon Wang Xun.

Upon hearing, Wang Xun was utterly amazed by Lu Ye: "Commander wants to form a hundred-person big array?" What a shocking thought. Not even their temporarily assembled vanguard camp, nor the four preeminent noble families could form such a big array.

"However, speaking of a hundred-person array, I have indeed seen one."

Coincidentally, Wang Xun once studied the Array Path as a minor and was quite interested in arrays and formations. Although the hundred-person big array is rare, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

But forming such an array is as difficult as reaching the heavens.

"Tell me more."

"The array is called the Crane Wings!" Wang Xun began to narrate immediately.

Lu Ye listened intently, constantly nodding his head, and eventually decided: "It's decided. Hurry up and organize the essentials of this array, engrave jade slips, and distribute them. Half a day later, I want to form the array!"

Wang Xun was dumbfounded.

For some reason, he suddenly felt this Commander Lu was somewhat impatient, reacting quickly to each wind that blowed. Relying on them, the temporary hundred-person camp to form such a scale of array—it wouldn't be possible in half a day or even half a year.

He wanted to persuade a bit but eventually held back.

Once they fail to form the array, the commander would naturally realize the difficulty and retreat.

Wang Xun followed orders to organize the essence of the Crane Wings Array, distributing jade slips. A moment later, the whole valley was filled with astounded cultivators, not knowing what Lu Ye was intending to do.

Even those cultivators who previously joined forces with Lu Ye to form the Black Tortoise Array couldn't understand it. Previously, Lu Ye did something to easily connect their qi, which was surprising, but the so-called Black Tortoise Array proved utterly fragile.

But since it was an order from the commander, everyone could only obey.

Each person pondered and observed, finding nothing particularly obscure. The key to the array was the connection of qi, allowing everyone's strength to merge as one cohesive force. Resolving this issue made the rest seem irrelevant.

Half a day later, everyone gathered, with Lu Ye standing centrally, stimulating Dao force to base the spirit runes.

With his order, ethereal qi stretched from all directions, connecting to the spirit runes.

The expressions of those in the valley began to fluctuate.

A moment later, the array formed, with Lu Ye at the center and many cultivators distributed across, their power simulating a Divine Crane soaring through the valley.

Within the array, the faces of all cultivators became inexplicably excited, feeling clearly integrated into a vast whole, their strength supporting others' movements, and others' power circulating back, endlessly.

Each person felt a boost in strength by one or two Daos. Originally 8th Dao cultivators now wielded approximately 10th Dao power.

As for the 9th Dao, it could exert power beyond the 10th Dao...

One hour later, Lu Ye led the array to descend the valley, dispersing the maintained spirit runes.

The array dissipated, all enhancements suddenly vanished, leaving many cultivators wanting more.

Lu Ye's forehead was sweating, looking as if cooked, his skin reddish.

There was no other reason—maintaining the array meant bearing all pressure, luckily his true strength was now over 30 Daos, otherwise he wouldn't withstand it.

Even with his current foundation, such an array had limited duration, estimating at most two hours before he collapses.

Another issue was the drain of Dao force itself, requiring continuous maintenance of spirit runes, prompting constant consumption of Dao force.

The downside was still the distance problem.

Cultivators forming the array couldn't be too distant from him. If too far, they'd easily suffer from the combat's power impact, breaking the qi and spirit rune connection, ultimately exiting the array.

In large-scale battles, separation from the array would surely lead to danger.

This had always been the downside of As-Close-As-Siblings. Previously in All Phenomena Ocean, Lu Ye didn't craft array discs for Moon Jade, not due to incapability but to them not being useful. Moon Jade shuttled too widely in combat, making it hard to keep the array with just array discs, unless Moon Jade clustered tightly together, which wasted battle prowess and exposed them easily.

However, using his own body to construct spirit runes yields far better results than an array disc.

Conservatively estimated, as long as the cultivators of the vanguard camp stay within about 90 miles of him and don't encounter too intense impacts, there shouldn't be any major issues.

"Commander, how was it?" Wang Xun saw Lu Ye's unusual state and quickly inquired. Although he didn't know exactly what Lu Ye just did to form the Crane Wings Array, just seeing his current appearance, Wang Xun knew that this Lord Commander had endured immense pressure earlier.

Lu Ye waved his hand: "No problem."

Just as he was about to let everyone continue resting, Lu Ye suddenly became alert and immediately commanded: "Gather around."

With that said, he was the first to soar into the outside world.

Meanwhile, on the entire Blue Water Battle Planet, streaks of light shot out from different directions, converging at one location, an awe-inspiring sight from afar.

Before long, Lu Ye led his subordinates to a certain location.

Here stood a short-stay palace, with Zi Ying standing in front of the hall, hands behind her back.

Lu Ye stepped forward and cupped his fist: "Greetings, Lord Governor."

Zi Ying nodded: "Enter the hall!"

Lu Ye obeyed, leading everyone into the great hall. Though from the outside, the short-stay palace appeared modest, once inside, its vast interior revealed a massive hall.

Many cultivators had already gathered in the hall; not long since the last battle had concluded, the alliance guards of the entire battlefield were mostly concentrated on Blue Water for rest, making it easier for Zi Ying to gather them.

Lu Ye glanced around, finding most cultivators clustered together in groups of three or five, appearing somewhat lax—undoubtedly these cultivators were idle.

On the contrary, those groups that appeared cohesive were likely the stationed guard troops of Blue Water.

Looking for an empty spot, Lu Ye led his cultivators over there to sit and wait.

A group of over a hundred people, not showing much uneasy concern, instead each expressed excitement—they had just experienced the might of the Crane Wings Array, hence were highly anticipating the upcoming battle.

"Commander, shouldn't our camp have a name?" Wang Xun sidled up to Lu Ye and proposed.

"What name do you propose?" Lu Ye asked while regulating his breath.

Wang Xun grinned cheekily: "It's usually named after the commander. We could call it the Ye-character Camp; once we make a name, when people mention the Ye-character Camp, they'll think of us."

"Not bad, not bad," Yang Mingfang chimed in, "Ye-character Camp sounds good."

Lu Ye thought for a moment and said: "Let's call it the Crane Wings Camp. We form the Crane Wings Array, so let it be named as such."

"That works!" Wang Xun nodded.

"Make the most of your rest, the battle is imminent, ensure you're in the best condition," Lu Ye instructed, anticipating the performance of the Crane Wings Camp in the forthcoming battle.

This was the first time in a long while that he utilized the As-Close-As-Siblings Spirit Runes to form an array, carrying extraordinary significance. If they perform well this time, perhaps he could study crafting array discs later—though crafting one suitable for the Path wouldn't be easy.

More and more cultivators kept entering the short-stay palace.

Until two hours later, the palace doors closed with a booming sound. Suddenly, Lu Ye felt a shaking sensation as if the entire palace was rapidly advancing forward.

He knew Zi Ying was steering the short-stay palace toward the battlefield.

From his initial thoughts, Zi Ying sought a swift victory this time—whatever her intentions, she couldn't afford prolonged engagement, as Blue Water was currently undefended.

If they tarry too long at the Blood Cloud Battle Planet, the Insect and Blood Races would surely dispatch reinforcements.

Thus, the battle must conclude before enemy reinforcements arrive, ensuring a retreat path for themselves.

Time passed.

Lu Ye estimated only half a day's time had elapsed when the palace suddenly shook again, followed by the central area of the hall blazing with light from a gigantic array.

Someone shouted: "We've arrived, pass through the array and prepare to slay the enemy!"

The speaker radiated killing intent, leading a group of cultivators to first charge into the array, vanishing in an instant. Others followed suit.

The enormous array seemed like the maw of a voracious, invisible beast continuously swallowing and expelling the cultivators' silhouettes.

With Crane Wings Camp, Lu Ye and his followers passed through the array, and suddenly found themselves among the stellar space.

Surrounding them were their fellow cultivators—they'd just been in the short-stay palace nearby.

Lu Ye scanned the vicinity, instantly spotting the charmingly valiant figure standing beside the palace—Zi Ying's face was filled with a murderous aura, gazing forward at a blood-red star.

Though it was his first time here and first sight of this star, Lu Ye instantly recognized it as unmistakably the Blood Cloud Battle Planet.

Zi Ying's swift advance with the palace had only taken half a day, but along the way, it had evidently alerted the Insect Matriarch's scouts, so at this moment, a large enemy force had gathered before the Blood Cloud Battle Planet. Moreover, numerous blood clouds spanned the view.

The enemy clearly was ready for engagement.

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