Sage of Humanity

In his flight, Lu Ye examined the ten-part map.

Such a massive Insect Plague must not be led to densely populated areas, especially places like cities, otherwise countless casualties will surely occur.

In those cities, there are quite a few ordinary people living.

Soon, Lu Ye targeted a plain, where the view was wide and open, with few people around, making it a perfect place to encircle the Insect Race.

He quickly sent a message to Feng Yuechan, asking him to inform the Loyal Heart Sect about the situation.

At this moment, the Loyal Heart Sect's Sect Protection Array opened up a gap, and numerous cultivators turned into flowing lights, sweeping out from the mountain gate. From a distance, those streaks of flowing light pursued like shooting stars across the sky, forming a spectacular scene.

The Loyal Heart Sect, a 2nd grade sect with profound foundation, and numerous disciples, acted swiftly upon receiving Feng Yuechan's report about the outbreak of an Insect Plague within their territory.

They also issued orders to the subordinate sects and families, commanding them to cooperate.

Meanwhile, the news of the sudden Insect Plague outbreak at Mount Mi spread rapidly through various channels. Initially, some people couldn't believe it, as this event was too abrupt, leaving everyone uncertain about its authenticity.

But as time passed and confirmed by multiple channels, those cultivators who were doubtful finally realized that an Insect Plague had indeed occurred.

For a while, within a radius of a thousand miles, numerous cultivators began to take action.

At the rear mountain of the Loyal Heart Sect, a figure stood silently. If there were sect disciples present, they would recognize this person as their own Vice Sect Leader, Yooi Guanjia.

The Loyal Heart Sect, a 2nd grade sect, naturally did not have a weak cultivation level for someone like Yooi Guanjia as Vice Sect Leader.

Yet, strangely, his expression seemed a bit apprehensive, and from his look, it was evident he was waiting for someone.

The person who could make a strong individual like him wait nervously would surely not be ordinary.

The mountain wind whistled as a reminiscing look appeared in Yooi Guanjia's eyes, and he suddenly sighed.

Others might not know why the Insect Plague erupted beneath Mount Mi but the moment he received the news, he understood that some matters... had begun!

The appearance of the Insect Plague was merely to attract the attention of the Loyal Heart Sect. At present, in Loyal Heart Sect, aside from Yooi Guanjia, only the always closed-off Sect Leader and three other elders remained, as all other Divine Sea Realm cultivators had departed to eliminate the Insect Plague.

It could be said that this was the moment when the Loyal Heart Sect's defenses were most vulnerable.

Sooner than he anticipated.

Therefore, after arranging some trivial matters, he immediately came here to wait quietly.

Suddenly, a ripple spread across his front. With its expansion, a silhouette appeared spectrally before Yooi Guanjia.

Even though Yooi Guanjia was prepared, he was slightly taken aback, secretly admiring how this person's strength had grown, as he hadn't noticed the presence until the person revealed themselves.

The intruder's face was unclear, covered by a mask, marked by a distinct duality of black and white, each color occupying half. Yet, where the colors intersected, it gave an odd impression of blending water and milk — an indescribable peculiarity.

"Venerable Lord!" Yooi Guanjia's heart tightened, bowing respectfully.

If others witnessed this scene, they would be profoundly shocked. Yooi Guanjia, despite being the Vice Sect Leader of a 2nd grade sect, almost managed the entire Loyal Heart Sect in the absence of the secluded Sect Leader. His status and authority were formidable, surpassed by only a few Sect Masters in Nine Provinces from 1st grade sects.

Yet at this moment, he respectfully greeted another person, with utmost reverence, even addressing them as Venerable Lord.

"Not seen for many years, your cultivation has improved again," the Venerable Lord said lightly.

"Thank you for your concern, Venerable Lord."

The Venerable Lord glanced towards a certain direction: "Is that one still in closed-off cultivation?"

He was asking about the Loyal Heart Sect's Sect Leader.

Yooi Guanjia replied: "Eight years already, still not emerged."

The Venerable Lord chuckled lightly: "To break the Divine Sea shackles by oneself, the old fellow is indeed muddled. The time has not come; breaking the Divine Sea shackles is not such an easy task."

Yooi Guanjia's expression stirred.

At their level of cultivation, the greatest concern was naturally the Divine Sea shackles. Every cultivator at the Divine Sea Realm could sense there was a path beyond yet no one had found where it leads. Many, like that one, had secluded themselves to ponder but had gained nothing.

Yooi Guanjia had attempted such pondering as well but similarly, had no results.

However, from the Venerable Lord's words, he seemed to know something?

Daring not to ask, Venerable Lord noticed his thoughts and casually said: "No need to overthink, you will understand when the time comes."

"Yes."

"Is she still here?" The Venerable Lord asked again.

"By Venerable Lord's order, she won't be involved in today's actions, which she threw a fit over. But I forcibly ordered her as the Vice Sect Leader."

The Venerable Lord chuckled softly: "Her daughter is out there facing the brunt; naturally, she is concerned."

"Feng Yuechan?" Yooi Guanjia's heart moved, realizing the Venerable Lord truly possessed vast divine skills, uncovering nothing from him.

"I will meet her; some things ought to be retrieved," as the Venerable Lord spoke, he started moving in a particular direction.

Yooi Guanjia quickly cupped his fists: "I respectfully ask Venerable Lord not to harm her!"

The Venerable Lord continued walking without pause, his voice carrying a faint chuckle, "You really are deeply in love. So many years have passed, her daughter is already at the True Lake level, and you still can't let go."

Yooi Guanjia's expression was bitter, yet he remained silent. Some things are not so easily let go of.

"Rest assured, I am only here to retrieve something and then I'll leave. I won't harm a single hair on her head."

Hearing the Venerable Lord say this, Yooi Guanjia finally let out a long breath.

The Venerable Lord walked neither too fast nor too slow. At this time, seventy percent of the Loyal Heart Sect's personnel had been dispatched, making the originally bustling sect seem desolate. Along his entire route, not a single person noticed his presence.

After walking for more than two hours, he finally reached the mountaintop of a spirit peak.

Gazing at the familiar scenery before him, a nostalgic look appeared on the Venerable Lord's face.

Years ago, he often came here, though back then he did not come alone but accompanied by another person.

At that time, he was the most trusted subordinate of the man whose name echoed throughout the Nine Provinces.

Decades passed in the blink of an eye, times have changed, yet he never expected to return here once more, and in such a manner, it made him sigh with emotion.

On the spirit peak, there was a small courtyard, serene and elegant. Outside the courtyard, an enclosure of fences surrounded the yard, and clusters of purple flowers climbed up the fences, draping a purple coat over them.

He instantly noticed the silhouette of a woman sitting in the courtyard, her face solemn, seemingly communicating with someone.

Is she perhaps messaging that girl Yuechan?

He did not hide his presence, instead walking straight forward.

The woman in the courtyard immediately looked up vigilantly.

Such an inexplicable appearance of a person within the sect naturally aroused alertness. However, soon her expression turned to one of surprise and incredulity as she scrutinized the newcomer.

Although he wore a mask that obscured his features, she instantly recognized his figure.

Amazement filled her eyes, turning into disbelief.

The Venerable Lord entered the courtyard, gazing at her silently. Though masked, hiding his facial expression, his eyes appeared to hold a trace of a smile.

"Mount Tai?" The woman's voice was somewhat trembling.

The Venerable Lord raised his hand, removed his mask, revealing an unremarkable face, and smiled at the woman, "Senior Sister Qiu, long time no see!"

In the entire Loyal Heart Sect, there were not many women with the surname Qiu, and among those who could reside here and possess Divine Sea Realm cultivation, there was only one.

Elder Qiu Min!

This generation of cultivators rarely heard her name, as she had been reclusive for decades, never leaving the Loyal Heart Sect. Even within the sect, her presence was very faint, to the point that some disciples did not realize there was such an elder in their own sect.

However, to the older generation of cultivators, her name was quite familiar.

Not because she had accomplished any world-shaking deeds, but because she married an incredible man and bore him a daughter.

The man's name was Feng Wujiang!

Qiu Min was Feng Wujiang's widow and the biological mother of Feng Yuechan.

After decades, suddenly seeing Mount Tai again, Qiu Min could hardly believe her eyes. She stared dazedly at the familiar face before her. While decades had passed, the other party seemed unchanged in appearance, only their demeanor had shifted, becoming more reserved and enveloped in an impenetrable mystery.

She recalled the many brothers around Feng Wujiang, among whom Mount Tai was the most lively and the one who admired Feng Wujiang the most.

Only after a moment did she speak, "But... weren't you already..."

"Dead, you mean?" Mount Tai smiled slightly, "Senior Sister never saw my body; how can you be sure I'm already dead?"

"Your branding mark clearly vanished." Qiu Min frowned.

Determining a person's life or death is quite simple. If the branding mark is still there, the person is alive; if it has vanished, then the person is dead.

Qiu Min naturally had Mount Tai's branding mark, given their familiarity decades ago.

But that mark had disappeared after the battle decades ago, which is why she concluded that Mount Tai was dead.

Yet at this moment, Mount Tai, who should have been dead for decades, appeared vividly before her, causing a tremendous psychological shock.

In an instant of realization, Qiu Min understood, "You erased your battlefield marking?"

When a branding mark vanishes, apart from death, the only other possibility is that the battlefield marking was erased. Such a feat is extremely difficult to achieve. Even if a cultivator committed a crime and was expelled from the sect, they would only lose their identity as a sect disciple; the battlefield marking would remain, as it is bestowed by Heaven's Augury.

Yet difficult does not mean impossible, especially given that Mount Tai followed Feng Wujiang for many years, who had displayed many extraordinary methods in front of them seldom seen by ordinary people.

"Senior Sister is still so perceptive and clever." Mount Tai smiled slightly, which was an admission, "Will Senior Sister not invite me to sit?"

Qiu Min finally came back to her senses and hastily invited him in.

"Everything is still the same here, unchanged from before." Mount Tai looked around while speaking, then meeting Qiu Min's anxious gaze, he slowly shook his head, "Big Brother Wujiang has indeed fallen in battle, I personally buried his remains."

The hope in Qiu Min's eyes was instantly extinguished...