Sage of Humanity

Recalling many years ago, when Zi Ying was still a little girl, she would always talk nonsense with a straight face, and at that time, Chen Gushan was still in his prime.

As he looks back suddenly, past events are like smoke, leaving one sighing with regret.

"Time really flies by." Chen Gushan sighed, waiting for Zi Ying to smile brightly as before, shouting "The old guy is so dumb, I tricked you again" and so on...

But Zi Ying just looked at him seriously and then began to speak slowly.

A fish was biting the hook, it must be a fat, delicious one, the fishing rod had been dragged to the center of the lake, but Chen Gushan was oblivious, and his expression kept changing as he listened to Zi Ying's narration.

Only after Zi Ying finished speaking did Chen Gushan come to his senses suddenly.

"So... there really is a way to leave Banlan? You're not joking with an old man like me?"

"Veteran Chen, I might joke with you about anything, but definitely not about this!"

Chen Gushan said nothing, but he already believed Zi Ying; such a big matter, Zi Ying indeed wouldn't lie to him.

Moreover, rumors have long been circulating on the home planet that Lu Ye has cracked the secrets in the ruins and perhaps made some astounding discovery, but unfortunately, there's no way to inquire.

Today, after listening to Zi Ying, he finally understood that Lu Ye really made a discovery, and the old rumors about finding a way to leave Banlan in the ruins were not false.

This has been the lifelong pursuit of countless generations of Banlan cultivators, yet it was unexpectedly achieved by a young junior, unbelievable.

"What does it look like outside of Banlan?" Chen Gushan suddenly asked with keen interest. While there are occasionally cultivators from outside who fall into Banlan, and through their descriptions, people have some understanding of the situation in Star Abyss, it is ultimately hearsay.

"Outside of Banlan..." Zi Ying thought for a moment, then playfully winked at him: "Veteran Chen, don't you want to see it for yourself?"

Chen Gushan was stunned: "You mean, that young man named Lu Ye is willing to..."

Zi Ying said seriously: "Veteran Chen, the reason I've come this time is to ask you to come out of seclusion, we encountered some trouble outside after leaving Banlan, and we're short on manpower."

She then informed Chen Gushan of all developments regarding Edgeless City, without hiding any details about Dark Butterfly either.

Chen Gushan listened intently.

"The Insect Matriarch Dark Butterfly you mentioned, it wouldn't be the one from Huang Quan's big battle zone, would it?"

"Exactly, it seems like Veteran Chen knows her too." Zi Ying nodded.

Chen Gushan had a peculiar expression: "Know, of course I know, so that's how it is..."

Seeing his strange expression, Zi Ying was puzzled: "Did Veteran Chen have a confrontation with this Insect Matriarch, or is there some grudge?"

Chen Gushan shook his head and said: "I have no grudge with her, it's just that, don't you know about the upheaval over at Huang Quan's big battle zone?"

"What upheaval?" Zi Ying's expression tightened, previously, under Lu Ye's suggestion, she requested the battle alliance to deploy a Dao Fusion replacement to oversee the outpost, and then she left Banlan with Lu Ye.

When she left, there was no upheaval in Huang Quan's big battle zone.

"Over at Huang Quan's big battle zone, seven out of eight strongholds of the Insect and Blood Races were annihilated, all Insect and Blood Race cultivators were slaughtered, even the insect hives were massacred with rivers of blood, and six corpses of Dao Fusion cultivators were found inside."

Because of this upheaval, the Insect and Blood Races had no foothold left in Huang Quan's big battle zone, and the entire battle zone fell under the control of the human race. The news spread, invigorating everyone across the battle alliance, marking the first comprehensive victory in a major battle zone in history, worthy of being recorded in the annals.

But there were too many unanswered questions.

Only now did Chen Gushan, hearing Zi Ying's words, realize that the upheaval over there was definitely orchestrated by Lu Ye colluding with Dark Butterfly.

It seems the Insect and Blood Races' Dao Fusion cultivators never expected that an Insect Matriarch like Dark Butterfly would betray them, dying bewildered and confused.

And the reason Dark Butterfly was willing to cooperate with Lu Ye in such a manner was undoubtedly due to her own desire to leave Banlan. As it turns out now, she got what she wanted, and the ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness of this Insect Matriarch cannot be underestimated.

After calming his thoughts, Chen Gushan said: "So outside Banlan, there's a force called Edgeless City, with considerable depth, and they are raising an entire domain of humans for bone growing, you all want to deal with this Edgeless City?"

Zi Ying nodded: "Yes, that Edgeless City is too close to Banlan, since coexistence isn't possible, it's best to strike first! So this time I've come back to ask Veteran Chen to join me."

"No problem." Chen Gushan nodded, "To be able to leave Banlan is something I desire."

Then he burst into laughter: "After waiting so many years, who would've thought such an opportunity would suddenly present itself now, when I meet that young man Lu, I must thank him properly."

Zi Ying said: "Lu Ye means that if there are suitable and trustworthy candidates on Veteran Chen's side, they can come along."

Chen Gushan pondered for a moment, naturally understanding why Lu Ye would make such a suggestion.

The temptation to leave Banlan is enormous, if the news leaks, it will undoubtedly cause turmoil, and with the intense battles between humans and the Insect and Blood Races across the various battle zones, even if some are suitable and trustworthy, they can't easily leave Banlan.

"In that case, I do have two candidates in mind, two old and undead ones, lass, you wait here, and I'll bring them over to listen to their thoughts."

Zi Ying had no objections.

Only half a day later, two figures arrived here one after another.

Zi Ying took one look and recognized the identities of the two individuals.

Though one was aged and elderly, his form was robust, with the posture of a dragon and the stride of a tiger; he was Yan Zhixing.

The other was a woman dressed in a pale yellow palace gown, her smooth long hair was elegantly pinned up revealing a slender white neck, carrying an air of grace—she was Ho Linglong.

Yan Zhixing was from one of the Four Preeminent Noble Families of the home planet, the current eldest ancestor of the Yan family.

As for Ho Linglong, she was not a native cultivator of Banlan; she shared a similar fate with Lu Ye, having fallen into Banlan midway.

In those days, she was pursued by a powerful adversary in the Star Abyss and was left with no way out until she encounterd Banlan drifting by and had no choice but to take refuge there.

When she entered Banlan, her cultivation was already in Dao Fusion, and afterward she cultivated step by step to the Peak Dao Fusion.

Zi Ying could recognize them naturally because of Chen Gushan, whose friendship with these three was quite remarkable back then, with each having once commanded major battle zones, gaining great renown.

However, as the years went by, and with time passing, these three top-tier powerhouses gradually retreated from the bustling stage.

Yan Zhixing appeared free-spirited and carefree, holding a wine gourd in hand, taking a swig every few steps and with a rosy face, greeted from afar: "Old thing, still alive?"

Chen Gushan replied with a chuckle: "If you aren't dead, of course, I have to be alive."

Yan Zhixing smirked, then turned to look at Ho Linglong walking over, chuckling: "Linglong still looks young, just like a little girl."

Ho Linglong softly smiled, stepping before Yan Zhixing and Chen Gushan, and gracefully saluted: "Greetings to the two seniors, it has been many years since we last met."

She always had a gentle disposition; it was like this when she was young, and hasn't changed over all these years.

"Greetings to the two seniors." Zi Ying, on the side, respectfully bowed.

Yan Zhixing glanced her way and grinned: "Little Zi Ying, I heard you've done quite well these past years, reminiscent of the old me."

Zi Ying modestly replied: "You're too kind, senior."

After a few words of small talk, each took a seat.

Though these three top-tier powerhouses, half-buried in the ground, hadn't seen each other for many years, there was no unfamiliarity upon reuniting.

Zi Ying remained on the side, preparing tea, while Chen Gushan and Yan Zhixing exchanged words, reminiscing about the glorious days of the past, warming up the atmosphere.

Ho Linglong occasionally chimed in with a remark, mostly just smiling quietly and listening intently.

Between idle chatter, countless tales of past adventures and thrilling moments unfolded before them as if it were yesterday.

However, Zi Ying could sense that beneath this warmth, there was a faint melancholy; once full of youthful vigor, now old and decrepit, the past is no longer, powerless to conquer destiny.

"So tell me, when are you dying, and I'll come and see you off with Linglong?" Yan Zhixing picked up his wine gourd and took another swig, smiling as he looked at Chen Gushan.

Ho Linglong's smile gradually faded, looking somewhat sorrowfully at Chen Gushan.

They clearly misunderstood, thinking that Chen Gushan's time was near, and thus he gathered old friends for one last meeting. With their cultivation and powers at this level, they all had some sense of their limits, becoming clearer the closer it got.

Old friends are few to begin with, each meeting means one less.

Chen Gushan pointed at him with a finger: "You old bastard, just hoping I'll die before you, right?"

Yan Zhixing chuckled: "If you die before me, I can give you a grand funeral; if you die after me, you'll be lonely then, and probably only little Zi Ying will see you off."

Chen Gushan slowly shook his head: "Indeed, my time isn't far off, but I'm not at death's door just yet. I called you both here today because there's an important matter to discuss."

"An important matter? What is it?" Yan Zhixing exclaimed in surprise, and even Ho Linglong had a puzzled expression; having already retired here, they were detached from the outside world, what important matter could there be?

Chen Gushan didn't answer but merely raised his hands to push forward two jade slips he had prepared in advance in front of them.

Yan Zhixing and Ho Linglong exchanged glances, having no idea what plot Chen Gushan had.

They could only pick up the jade slips to investigate.

"This is..." In the next instant, Yan Zhixing's eyes widened, his already rosy complexion turning even redder, staring at Chen Gushan in shock.

Beside him, Ho Linglong was equally unable to hide her astonishment.

Chen Gushan remained smiling in silence.

Moments later, Yan Zhixing and Ho Linglong each placed down their jade slips, the former's expression complicated: "The method of promotion to Dao Harmony!" Then with a look of resentment turned to Chen Gushan: "Old bastard, you're truly disgusting, I don't even ask where you got this information from, but telling us these things now, are you playing with our moods?" He turned to Zi Ying, complaining: "Zi Ying, look at this guy, back in the day he was like this, if he was feeling bad, he just had to have everyone join in his misery."

Zi Ying softly smiled: "Veteran Yan, Veteran Chen doesn't mean it like that."

"Then what does he mean?" Yan Zhixing turned again to Chen Gushan: "In our current state, even with the method of promotion, what can we do with it? Are you still planning to advance to Dao Harmony in Banlan?"

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