Sage of Humanity

Fellow Daoist Zhou referred to is named Xie Yunhan, a middle-aged man who appeared to be about forty years old, not very tall, with a thin frame, and possessed Level 7 Cloud River Realm cultivation.

Such cultivation and age clearly indicated one thing: Xie Yunhan's talent for cultivation was not high, it could even be said to be quite poor.

On the Spirit Stream battlefield, there was a special group of people known as old Level 9 cultivators. Limited by their aptitude, after opening 180 orifices, their cultivation would find it very difficult to progress further. To advance to Cloud River Realm, a cultivator had to open at least 240 orifices and convert to cultivating a Heaven Rank technique. For this reason, these old Level 9 cultivators were never able to ascend to the Cloud River Realm and could only waste away at this level of cultivation.

Lu Ye had encountered some white-haired elders, who were also cultivators unable to open more spiritual orifice due to insufficient talent.

On the Spirit Stream battlefield, it was rare to see older cultivators because Cloud River Realm cultivators could use items like spirit fortune sticks to quickly enhance their cultivation. As long as a cultivator wasn't extremely unlucky or too lazy, their cultivation would always be able to improve bit by bit.

However, rarity didn't mean nonexistence. Individual aptitudes varied, and naturally, so did the speed of cultivation.

Overall, although it was unlikely to find cultivators with stagnant cultivation like the old Level 9 cultivators on the Spirit Stream battlefield, one could still see some middle-aged faces, albeit in small numbers.

Xie Yunhan was undoubtedly one of them; amongst all the people in Fox Fairy Valley, he was the oldest, but not the one with the highest cultivation.

Under Zhou Yuntian's lead, Lu Ye met Xie Yunhan, and after getting to know each other and learning that Lu Ye practiced Array Path, Xie Yunhan was undoubtedly very happy to arrange Lu Ye to assist him. In Fox Fairy Valley, he was the only array cultivator; having to set up and maintain all formations by himself, he was incredibly busy every day, truly exhausted. If it hadn't been for this, his cultivation wouldn't have stagnated at Level 7 in the Cloud River Realm, mainly due to the lack of time for cultivation on regular days.

"Fellow Daoist Xie, Fellow Daoist Lu is now in your care. He is new here, and there is much he doesn't understand, you should look after him," Zhou Yuntian said.

Xie Yunhan replied, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

After Zhou Yuntian left, Xie Yunhan sized up Lu Ye, his eyes brimming with barely concealed delight. He clearly welcomed Lu Ye's arrival, saying, "Fellow Daoist Lu, I would like to test your proficiency in the Array Path. You wouldn't mind, right?"

Lu Ye nodded: "Of course."

Xie Yunhan gestured, "Follow me." Saying so, he led the way.

Within a short time, they arrived at a corner of Fox Fairy Valley. Xie Yunhan pointed ahead, "Here is a trap array, although it's been set up for some time now, I plan to move it. Fellow Daoist Lu, I'll trouble you to dismantle this trap array."

"Alright!" Lu Ye nodded and stepped forward, his eyes enhanced by Insight Spirit Runes as he examined the formation before him.

Breaking formations was all too familiar to him, simpler even than setting them up.

A few breaths later, he had a plan.

The setup of this trap array was not sophisticated, and the overall strength of the formation was not high. Even if he accidentally became trapped inside, he could break out with brute force within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

With his current proficiency in the Array Path, dissolving this particular formation would be a piece of cake.

After a brief contemplation, he wondered whether he should display his true capabilities or continue to play dumb.

If he showed his true abilities, that might easily incite resentment and jealousy from Xie Yunhan; after all, he was the only array cultivator in Fox Fairy Valley and greatly valued by the Fox Demon. Once he demonstrated a higher proficiency in the Array Path than Xie Yunhan, the latter's treatment was sure to decline.

However, by doing so, Lu Ye could take advantage of the situation and become more highly regarded by the Fox Demon, who might entrust him with more important tasks, thus facilitating his actions in the future.

When he met the Fox Fairy yesterday, she was clearly most interested in Li Baxian, whose formidable reputation and great potential stood out. Next was Xia Liang, due to his superior strength.

As a mere Cloud River Level 4 cultivator, had he not possessed some special abilities, the Fox Fairy might not have given him a second glance.

To kill the Fox Fairy, he first needed to gain her favor and trust! Compared to that, possibly provoking the jealousy of Xie Yunhan was trivial.

Having made up his mind, Lu Ye immediately got to work.

In just a short twenty breaths, the trap array was perfectly resolved, and the array banners were retrieved.

Xie Yunhan watched in astonishment, his surprise palpable: "Fellow Daoist Lu, your proficiency in the Array Path seems to be very high?"

Although he had set the formation himself, to be frank, even if he had undertaken the task, he might not have been as efficient as Lu Ye.

By this small glimpse, Xie Yunhan had a vague realization that Lu Ye's proficiency in the Array Path was rather extraordinary. However, dissolving just one formation didn't reveal too much, and so Xie Yunhan began to lead Lu Ye around various places within the Fox Fairy Valley.

Some formations needed to be dismantled, some required reinforcement and maintenance, and in some places, new formations needed to be set up.

Under Xie Yunhan's guidance, Lu Ye completed each task meticulously and with extreme swiftness.

The work scheduled for a day was finished by midday.

The astonishment in Xie Yunhan's eyes grew more intense. Initially, when Lu Ye was assigned to assist him, he had only thought his own tasks would become a bit easier. Now he realized that Lu Ye's proficiency in the Array Path far exceeded his own.

It was not merely a relief; it was like finding a treasure.

Unlike what Lu Ye expected, Xie Yunhan showed no jealousy or dislike, but instead he was happy, grabbing Lu Ye's arm and saying, "Stealing half a day of leisure, Fellow Daoist Lu, come, join me for a drink."

Lu Ye would not refuse such a proposal, especially as it was an excellent opportunity to improve their relationship and learn more about Fox Fairy Valley from Xie Yunhan.

Following Xie Yunhan to his loft, Xie Yunhan cooked a few small dishes himself and dug out a jar of buried wine from the open space behind the loft.

On the second floor of the loft, Xie Yunhan and Lu Ye sat opposite each other, drinking and chatting merrily.

Because of Second Senior Sister, Lu Ye seldom drank, but with his cultivation at this level, as long as he didn't drink too much, it would have no effect on him.

Not in a hurry to probe about Fox Fairy Valley, he casually chatted with Xie Yunhan.

As the wine flowed, three rounds in, the atmosphere grew much warmer, and Xie Yunhan's address for Lu Ye changed from Fellow Daoist Lu to Brother Lu. Although it was their first encounter, because of the secret technique planted by the Fox Demon, Xie Yunhan did not harbour much caution against Lu Ye.

Essentially, just as Zhou Yuntian had said earlier, once one joins the Fox Fairy Valley, they become one big family.

The jar of fine wine was quickly emptied, and Xie Yunhan stood up, "Brother Lu, wait a moment, I'll go fetch another jar."

Lu Ye hurriedly said, "Brother Xie, I have some here, there's no need to trouble yourself."

As he spoke, he took out several jars of different fine wines from his storage space.

He himself did not drink, but having killed so many Ten Thousand Demons Ridge cultivators, many of whom were fond of wine, their storage sacks always contained some from the different reaches of the Nine Provinces, which had become his spoils of war.

Most of them had been gifted to Li Baxian, and only a very small portion was kept for himself since he had little use for them.

He unsealed a jar and poured some for Xie Yunhan, filling his bowl, and poured a half bowl for himself.

Xie Yunhan held the bowl to his nose and took a sniff, showing an intoxicated look, then he drank it down and closed his eyes to savor it for a while before shaking his head and saying, "The wine from Yunzhou, the Qionghua Brew, is still so lingering and endless."

"If Brother Xie enjoys it, drink more," Lu Ye said, filling up his bowl again, and casually asked, "Is Brother Xie from Yunzhou?"

"Yes, I am indeed from Yunzhou," Xie Yunhan said, his eyes revealing a nostalgic expression, "Back in the day, what I loved the most was this Qionghua Brew. Is Brother Lu also from Yunzhou?"

Lu Ye replied, "I am from Bingzhou."

Xie Yunhan laughed, "No matter Bingzhou or Yunzhou, once we are here, we are all one family."

"Indeed, I toast to Brother Xie."

Another large bowl was emptied.

As Lu Ye poured the wine, he casually said, "Brother Xie, as I am new here, there are many matters about the valley I am not familiar with. It seems like Brother Xie has been here for quite some time. If I make any mistakes in the future, I hope Brother Xie will give me guidance."

Xie Yunhan picked up a chopstick full of food, eating while proudly saying, "Brother, rest assured, since we work together and our temperaments match, I will certainly take care of you in the future. I wouldn't dare to claim much else, but as for the taboos and formalities of Fox Fairy Valley, no one understands them better than I do, after all, I have been here for twelve years."

Twelve years... Lu Ye's eyes twitched.

He really wanted to ask what he had been busy with all these years to have only reached Cloud River Level 7 cultivation.

Xie Yunhan seemed to remember something and couldn't help but sigh, "Twelve years have passed, seeing people come and go in the valley, one generation replacing the previous, alas!"

"In this valley, is there anyone who has been here longer than Brother Xie?" Lu Ye asked.

Xie Yunhan snorted and shook his head, "Where would they be? Most people who come here stay at most for a year or two..." As he spoke, he suddenly sobered up significantly, stopped talking, lowered his voice and said, "Regardless, as array cultivators, you and I are indispensable talents under the Venerable One's command, so there is security. In addition, Brother Lu, do not advance your cultivation too fast, remember this well!"

"Why is that?" Lu Ye faintly felt that he might have touched upon some secret, it seemed from Xie Yunhan's words that advancing one's cultivation too rapidly might lead to danger.

Xie Yunhan didn't explain, but just said, "Listen to me, over the years, many geniuses have come to the valley, their cultivation advancing incredibly fast, but so what? They are all now turned to a handful of yellow soil. Unlike Xie, who has lived until today."

Hearing him say so, Lu Ye did not press any further to avoid arousing suspicion, and immediately raised his large bowl, "Brother Xie, I toast to you again."

Xie Yunhan said, "You are too polite, Brother. Let's drink together, drink together!"

The drinking session lasted from noon until evening, and although Lu Ye didn't discover much from Xie Yunhan, what he did find out confirmed his previous speculations that there were invisible crises hidden within the seemingly peaceful Fox Fairy Valley. These crises seemed to cause those with higher cultivation to die more quickly.