Chapter 2872: 司圣

"Daoist, the Soul Suppressing Bell's power has grown stronger!" Jin Yao's voice, tinged with surprise, echoed within the sea of souls.

As the provisional artifact spirit of the Soul Suppressing Bell, she felt its changes with profound clarity. Yet, even with her extensive knowledge and experience, she struggled to comprehend the situation.

While the power of a supreme treasure could indeed increase, it typically demanded accumulation over vast stretches of time. Such a significant change in a short period was unfathomable.

However, recalling the Talent Tree's many inexplicable phenomena, she felt a sense of calm.

"It will only get stronger from now on, Daoist, there's no need to worry," Lu Ye replied. He pondered whether to have the Primordial Parasol Tree contact the Ghost Sedan again to inquire about the whereabouts of other supreme treasures.

Yet, even if more existed, they would undoubtedly have been completely corrupted and lost their sentience long ago. Should he attempt to refine them, he would need to remain vigilant against a repeat of today's unforeseen events.

As his thoughts shifted, void patterns formed beneath his feet, spatial ripples undulated around him, and his figure gradually faded.

Moments later, Lu Ye reappeared at the Phoenix Nest.

He had left a mark here when the Primordial Parasol Tree previously sent him away, allowing him to return using it now.

"Is the matter resolved?" the Primordial Parasol Tree asked, manifesting before him.

"A close call, but no harm done," Lu Ye nodded.

"That's good," the Primordial Parasol Tree responded, not pressing for details. It understood that anything urgent enough to send Lu Ye off in such a hurry was certainly not trivial.

"Elder Tree," Lu Ye began, explaining his previous thought of asking the Ghost Sedan to provide information on other supreme treasures.

The Primordial Parasol Tree replied, "I will inform the Ghost Sedan. However, it may not know the whereabouts of other supreme treasures, and even if it does, it might not be willing to share."

"Why not?"

The Primordial Parasol Tree sighed, "All supreme treasures, despite their varied forms, are ultimately kin. To the Ghost Sedan, even those treasures whose sentience has been extinguished are still considered family. Had it not been for its gratitude for your assistance, it wouldn't have left that clue."

Lu Ye found this perspective novel and quite peculiar.

Yet, upon reflection, as a mortal being of flesh and blood, he naturally wouldn't perceive things from the standpoint of a supreme treasure. It was difficult to grasp the thoughts of sentient artifacts like the Ghost Sedan.

"Elder Tree, just relay the message. As for whether it succeeds... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

It was merely an attempt; success would be fortunate, but failure would incur no loss.

The Primordial Parasol Tree nodded. How it would contact the Ghost Sedan was not Lu Ye's concern; these supreme treasures likely possessed unique methods of communication.

Just as he was about to resume cultivation, Lu Ye's expression shifted. He delved into his consciousness to examine the Dragon Scroll imprint within his sea of souls.

A message had arrived via the Dragon Scroll.

The Dragon Sovereign and Phoenix Master had entered seclusion, entrusting Dragon City and Phoenix Nest to his care. A Dragon Clan member was now contacting him through the Dragon Scroll, which most likely indicated an issue in Dragon City.

A moment later, Lu Ye's expression grew solemn. He rose abruptly and said, "Elder Tree, I must ask you to send me somewhere else."

He secretly felt fortunate. Having spent these past days assisting the Primordial Parasol Tree in incinerating the corrosive forces, he could now utilize its teleportation ability at will. Otherwise, reaching his destination would have taken an unknown amount of time.

"Where to?" the Primordial Parasol Tree inquired.

Even as Lu Ye answered, a portal began to manifest before him.

The moment Lu Ye stepped through the portal and his vision spun, he found himself in a particular part of the Star Abyss.

This was none other than the vicinity where Fu Guang had ascended to True Saint, the very region where the Source World was destined to merge and return.

Gazing out, the Source World remained a shimmering mirage, veiled by a thick, hazy fog that obscured any clear view.

Yet, its aura was now distinctly palpable.

Over three months had passed since Fu Guang's ascension to True Saint, and the Source World's integration had made notable progress.

The moment Lu Ye appeared, a profound and upright aura swiftly drew near, clearly belonging to a formidable individual.

In the next instant, the aura's owner, a middle-aged man appearing to be in his late thirties or early forties, materialized before Lu Ye.

"Lu Ye," the newcomer greeted.

"You are..." Lu Ye recognized the man, though vaguely, as someone he had seen before. However, lacking any close acquaintance, he didn't know his name.

"I am Yang Zhao!" the man declared.

With the surname Yang and a distinct, pure Dragon Qi emanating from him, he was undeniably a member of the Dragon Clan!

After Fu Guang's ascension to True Saint triggered the signs of the Source World's return and integration, the Dragon Sovereign had stationed a powerful Dragon Clan member nearby to continuously monitor its changes.

Lu Ye was aware of this arrangement, as the Dragon Sovereign had already informed him. It was Yang Zhao who had just used the Dragon Scroll to contact him, reporting some anomalies and prompting Lu Ye's hasty arrival to investigate.

"What's the situation now?" Lu Ye pressed.

"Just moments ago, someone burst out from the Source World and headed in that direction."

Lu Ye's eyes narrowed at the revelation: "Someone emerged from the Source World?"

Before his arrival, he only knew of an anomaly, assuming it was a change in the Source World's integration itself. He had not anticipated something like this.

How could anyone burst out of the Source World at this moment?

"Are you certain?" he pressed further.

Yang Zhao shook his head. "I've been stationed here the entire time; there's no way I could be mistaken. He indeed emerged from the Source World."

"Did you get a clear look at him?"

Yang Zhao shook his head. "He was incredibly fast; I couldn't get a good look."

As a Dragon Clan member entrusted with such a crucial duty by the Dragon Sovereign, Yang Zhao's strength was undoubtedly exceptional, very likely that of a Universe-level City Lord.

The fact that even he couldn't get a clear glimpse of the individual who burst forth from the Source World attested to their immense power.

A Half-Saint!

It had to be a Half-Saint.

"However... the person appeared to be human and severely wounded. He must have sensed my presence, as he glanced in my direction before departing."

Human... Si Shengya?

If it truly was a Half-Saint, then among humanity, only Si Shengya fit the description.

"Does he wield a blade as his Dao artifact, and possess white eyebrows?"

Yang Zhao mused, "I can't confirm the white eyebrows, but his Dao artifact was indeed a blade."

It was undoubtedly Si Shengya!

"Which direction did he go?" Lu Ye asked, urgent.

Yang Zhao pointed, but before he could speak, Lu Ye had already transformed into a streak of light, darting off in that direction. His voice reached Yang Zhao's ears simultaneously: "Continue to monitor here. Contact me immediately if anything unusual occurs."

In the void, Lu Ye pushed his speed to the absolute limit, frequently utilizing spatial shifts.

From Yang Zhao's description, the individual who burst forth from the Source World was very likely the human Half-Saint Si Shengya. What puzzled Lu Ye was how Si Shengya could emerge when the Source World had not yet fully merged.

Furthermore, why was he injured?

Si Shengya was a Half-Saint who had ascended from the Inner Realm to the Source World many years prior. He had known his own era of glory. After entering the Source World, he had remained in seclusion, not out of fear, but because his very existence served as a deterrent to other races.

As he himself had once stated, "Though the old house may be dilapidated, it still offers shelter from wind and rain."

He was the sole pillar of support for all humanity within the Source World.

Therefore, he would never have left the Source World unless absolutely compelled.

Now, however, he had left, wounded. What exactly had transpired within the Source World?

And... was that truly him?

Lu Ye urgently needed to confirm this.

He pursued for most of the day with no success until Lu Ye subtly detected a faint trace and altered his direction.

An hour later, Lu Ye landed on a desolate, ruined star.

This star, a remnant of some collapsed ancient stellar expanse, must once have harbored a thriving civilization. Now, however, it was utterly lifeless, with only crumbling ruins testifying to the tragic passage of time.

Lu Ye made no attempt to conceal his aura. Regardless of whether the Half-Saint who emerged from the Source World was Si Shengya, his conspicuous arrival would undoubtedly be immediately detected.

As expected, almost the instant Lu Ye landed on the barren star, he heard the faint ringing of a blade.

He sharply looked up in that direction, and with his will guiding his body, he arrived at the location moments later.

His gaze sharpened, and his eyes narrowed.

There, a figure sat cross-legged: a man with snowy eyebrows, an imposing demeanor, and an ordinary face. Across his knees lay a blood-red long blade.

It was none other than Si Shengya!

Their eyes met, and Lu Ye quickly approached. "Saint Si..."

Si Shengya offered a wry smile. "I didn't expect us to meet again so soon!"

When Lu Ye had left the Source World that day, Si Shengya had believed they would never meet again in this lifetime. Yet, so little time had passed, and now here he was, having burst out of the Source World, looking utterly disheveled.

"What happened to you?" Lu Ye asked, moving to Si Shengya's side and reaching out to examine his condition.

Lu Ye's brows immediately furrowed. Si Shengya's condition was far worse than it appeared; several powerful, chaotic Dao intentions clashed violently within his body, and his outer form seemed utterly ravaged.

These were clearly severe injuries, and they weren't inflicted by a single assailant.

Si Shengya had undoubtedly been besieged by other Half-Saints within the Source World.

Si Shengya sighed. "Someone ascended to True Saint and entered the Source World, and the Abyssal Consciousness has begun to awaken!"

"I know," Lu Ye nodded. Simultaneously, he activated the Talent Tree's power, sending it into Si Shengya's body to help him incinerate the conflicting Dao intentions.

Si Shengya noticed something, surprise flickering in his eyes before he quickly added, "He intends to annihilate humanity!"

"What?" Lu Ye gasped, but quickly grasped the meaning.

When the universe was first born, the Dragon and Phoenix ancestors left numerous hidden contingencies. Though the Abyss lacked consciousness at that time, it must have instinctively sensed something.

Consequently, throughout this Star Abyss—be it the Outer, Inner, or Source World—humanity's plight had always been dire.

This was because the Abyssal Consciousness harbored a deep hatred for humanity.

The only reason humanity in the Source World survived, imprisoned within the Cage Sea, was because the major races required sacrifices, thus keeping humans confined there.

Now, however, with the Abyssal Consciousness awakening, its hatred for humanity could no longer be suppressed. Once its will was conveyed, other races would naturally execute it.

This was why Si Shengya had faced a siege in the Source World.