Sage of Humanity

A thrilling pursuit lasted until the afternoon before it finally ended.

The cultivators returned to Fengtai Stronghold to clean the battlefield, gather the spoils, and rebuild defenses. Although the invasion of the enemy army was repelled, even resulting in the death of one Dao Fusion cultivator, this peace wouldn't last long. In such major war zones like Huang Quan's battle zone, both sides would deploy a large number of troops. Seeing the unfavorable battle situation, the Insect Matriarch would surely make some adjustments and redeploy.

The Crane Wings Camp became renowned after the battle.

Although Crane Wings Camp shone once in the star assault in the Blue Water War Zone, its performance this time was far more awe-inspiring.

This time, they directly confronted Dao Fusion without being on the losing side. If it weren't for Crane Wings Camp, the stronghold would surely have fallen by now.

As everyone busied themselves with rest and recovery, Lu Ye sat cross-legged on the ground, pale-faced, while Wang Xun and others guarded him with tension and care.

Others only saw the might of Crane Wings Camp, but they knew Lu Ye paid a huge price this time. It's hard to imagine the terrifying pressure one must endure when all power is concentrated on a single person, and facing Dao Fusion with only a beginner physique requires immense courage.

Even though they knew their commander had previously accomplished a feat of defeating Dao Fusion with a beginner physique, that Dao Fusion cannot compare to this one. This one had driven Du Feng away, undoubtedly much stronger.

Lu Ye's current appearance clearly showed signs of severe injury, naturally worrying everyone, but they dared not disturb him.

Actually, Lu Ye wasn't hurt at all; even his appearance of vomiting blood during the clash with the Insect Race Dao Fusion was just an act. There was no choice. To seem less shocking to the world, he had to act this way.

Silently contemplating, Lu Ye thought that his countermeasures this time should have left no flaws. So even if the Dao Fusion died, the Insect Matriarch viewing his last scene would only attribute the success to Crane Wings Array.

In the end, the strength wasn't enough. If it were, there would be no need for such painstaking disguise, nor would he need to rely on Crane Wings Array to cover up.

While numerous cultivators inside the stronghold were healing and repairing, a one-armed cultivator quietly returned from the nearby stellar space, his cautious demeanor resembling a thief.

This person was Du Feng, the Dao Fusion Governor of Fengtai Stronghold, who was previously driven away by the Insect Race.

As the governor of this stronghold, he naturally had several confidants. However, during his escape, he couldn't concern himself with them. He expected the stronghold to fall after his departure, with all cultivators trapped inside dying in battle.

Du Feng had even mentally prepared for Huang Quan's questioning afterward.

Unexpectedly, the Insect Race Dao Fusion pursuing him suddenly retreated. Not long afterward, one of his confidants messaged him, saying that Fengtai Stronghold held its ground. Not only that, but the Insect Race Dao Fusion that injured him was killed, and the enemy forces decisively defeated, with numerous casualties!

How could he believe such an absurdity? He assumed that this confidant had been captured and coerced by the enemy to lure him back to his death!

But subsequently, his other confidants messaged him with the same news.

This left Du Feng somewhat doubtful; one confidant saying so was hard to believe, but if all living confidants said the same, it became intriguing. They couldn't all be deceiving him, so he questioned them further for the whole story's facts.

Yet, he still dared not completely believe. While it was certainly good news if the stronghold was preserved, it could easily be a trap.

Thus, he quietly returned, intending to investigate personally. His approach to life was based on the principle of not believing hearsay, but trusting what he saw.

Currently, observing from several thousand miles away from the stronghold, he was in a safe position. If something seemed amiss, he could easily escape.

As he looked, he noticed no ongoing battles near the stronghold, nor any sight of the Insect and Blood Races army that had previously surrounded the place.

Inside the stronghold, battle alliance cultivators were busily repairing defensive structures.

It truly held out? Du Feng's face was filled with disbelief.

According to his confidants, after his escape, Crane Wings Camp appeared here, a hundred strong, forming a Crane Wings Array that protected the surviving cultivators and, with the array's might, blocked the assault of the Insect Race Dao Fusion.

Seizing the moment of the Insect Race Dao Fusion clashing with Crane Wings Camp, others attacked together, luckily killing the enemy's Dao Fusion!

The one who succeeded amidst the chaos was merely a 7th Dao cultivator, even fortunate enough to receive a Star Abyss Blessing!

Crane Wings Camp... He knew of it, as it was transferred from Huang Quan's battle planet to support him after his messaging. However, when Crane Wings Camp arrived, he was locked in intense combat with his adversary and hadn't noticed them at all. Later, he was solely focused on fleeing and paid no attention to Crane Wings Camp or Tiger Wings Camp.

Who would've thought such a group could execute this massive impact!

Having not seen it firsthand, only hearing descriptions from his confidants, Du Feng knew that the killing of the Insect Race Dao Fusion was largely due to Crane Wings Camp's contributions. If not for this group holding off the enemy, that lucky 7th Dao cultivator couldn't have succeeded.

In this sense... That guy was already at the end of his strength, wasn't he? If not, no matter how formidable the Crane Wings Camp's array, how could they have possibly held off a Dao Fusion cultivator stronger than him?

A strong opponent who injured him surely couldn't die at the hands of a mere 7th Dao cultivator!

With this thought, Du Feng's expression collapsed...

Knowing this earlier, he wouldn't have fled. Had he persisted slightly longer, he might have killed the guy; no, he definitely could have killed the guy. It's a pity his caution led him to flee when he was disadvantaged and had lost an arm, with no desire left for battle.

Dying while fiercely fighting, killing the enemy's Dao Fusion, and protecting the stronghold should have been his achievements! With such merits, those annoying folks on the home planet wouldn't dare speak against him in the future.

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind as Du Feng swiftly moved and flew towards the stronghold.

Since the stronghold was now safe, there was no need for him to flee back to Huang Quan.

"The Lord Governor has returned!"

Inside the stronghold, someone suddenly shouted.

Everyone looked up and saw a middle-aged man with a severed arm descending from the sky. Perhaps due to his injuries, the man's face was somewhat pale, giving him an air of frail elegance.

"Greetings, Lord Governor!"

"My Lord!"

The many surviving cultivators quickly saluted.

Du Feng glanced over everyone, nodded slightly, and coughed lightly: "Well done. You all did well to defend the stronghold. Once I take a moment to recuperate, I will draft a battle report to honor you all!"

Someone expressed concern, "My Lord, you are injured. Please take some rest."

Du Feng nodded slightly and turned to leave.

Among the crowd, many cultivators looked at his back with disdain.

As a Dao Fusion Governor watching over the stronghold, it was understandable that his forces could suffer defeat. In battles against the Insect and Blood Races, no one could claim to be invincible. However, the fact that Du Feng fled without concern for the lives of the cultivators trapped in the stronghold left them feeling bitter.

Yet, he remained a Dao Fusion cultivator and a member of the Du family. The Beginners, despite having their thoughts, had no way to express them.

As Du Feng departed, several close aides followed closely. All were cultivators from the Du family, naturally sharing in Du Feng's honor and disgrace. Even though Du Feng had abandoned them before, their loyalty remained unshaken.

However, after a short while, these aides returned, moving through the crowd, engaging in conversations with various cultivators, busy with unknown matters.

Some cultivators approached by them appeared indifferent, while others looked displeased.

Lu Ye did not notice these affairs at all; he was pretending to heal his wounds while secretly refining the Dao Bone.

After the previous battle, the Crane Wings Camp had gained much. As before, he received half of all seized spoils, leaving the remainder to be distributed among the others.

Wang Xun was responsible for collecting and tallying the spoils. Even though Lu Ye took half, the remainder was sufficient for everyone else to share.

No one objected to this; the Crane Wings Camp could form an array thanks to Lu Ye, and this time they managed to repel that Insect Race Dao Fusion thanks to him too. No one else could withstand the pressure of the entire array's support; one could say he was the soul of the Crane Wings Camp.

Lu Ye accepted without refusal.

He had a significant need for Dao Bones, and maintaining the As-Close-As-Siblings Dao Runes required considerable Dao force, so half of the spoils were rightfully his.

"Why?" A shout came from not far away.

It was Wang Xun's voice.

Lu Ye frowned slightly and looked over to see Wang Xun's angry face, not only him, but several nearby Crane Wings Camp cultivators also looked displeased.

In front of Wang Xun stood a young man with an arrogant demeanor. In response to Wang Xun's questioning, he merely said calmly, "Because that's the rule!"

Wang Xun laughed in anger: "What rule? I've been to battles before and never heard of such a rule."

"It's a rule set by the Lord Governor." The young man looked at Wang Xun seriously, "Are you sure you won't abide by it?"

Wang Xun's expression changed, momentarily unsure of how to respond. Although he disapproved of Du Feng, the man was still a Dao Fusion cultivator, and this stronghold was under his authority. He could argue with the young man but didn't want to involve the Dao Fusion Governor.

"What's going on?" A somewhat weak voice came.

Wang Xun turned his head, meeting Lu Ye's gaze, and quickly said, "Sir, it's nothing serious. Please continue to rest."

He quietly blamed himself for speaking too loudly, disturbing the Commander's peace.

Lu Ye looked up at the young man: "I am the Commander of the Crane Wings Camp. If there's any issue, come and discuss it with me."

The young man had been trapped in the stronghold as well and was saved by the Crane Wings Camp. Having witnessed Lu Ye's striking prowess, he dared not be neglectful, and quickly stepped forward: "Du Quan greets Commander Lu and thanks you for your previous life-saving grace."

"Du Quan..." Lu Ye's eyes glimmered slightly, "What's your relation to Governor Du Feng...?"

Sharing the same surname, it might be a coincidence, or it might not.

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