Sage of Humanity

The Ghost Cultivator died too quickly, so quickly that his two companions didn't have time to assist. This doesn't mean the Ghost Cultivator's strength was really that easy to overthrow; which cultivator taking part in this grand event would be weak?

It was just that Lu Ye seized the moment with such exquisite precision, counterattacking almost at the instant the Ghost Cultivator struck with full force.

To achieve a one-hit kill effect, all Ghost Cultivators would unleash all their power at the very moment they acted, and this is also when their defense is the weakest.

The opportunity flashed by like lightning, yet Lu Ye grasped it with unfailing accuracy. The Ghost Cultivator, almost devoid of any protection, had no chance of survival under the slash of the Boulder Mountain Saber.

Such reactions are not something everyone possesses; they need to go through countless life-and-death combat experiences to accumulate such proficiency in facing enemies.

He looked calmly at the female cultivator, his eyes filled with silence, as if looking at a dead person.

The female cultivator felt her skin tingling with unease, a sign of imminent crisis that's a natural reaction when the sense of danger reaches its peak. She was also a battle-hardened person, so how could she not know what this signifies?

Without waiting for Lu Ye to move again, she decisively retreated and shouted: "Zhoo Kou, I'm not getting involved in your mess anymore!"

These words seemed directed at her companions but were actually meant for Lu Ye, to clarify her stance. Even after saying this, she dared not relax her vigilance, fearing Lu Ye would pursue her with his saber. To her relief, the combat cultivator just gazed at her indifferently, showing no intention to chase.

Not until she retreated to a relatively safe distance did the female cultivator quickly turn and flee.

Their group was initially a loosely bound alliance, working together briefly when there was profit to be had, but falling apart instantly when trouble arose.

The female cultivator could retreat, but Zhoo Kou couldn't. He remembered Lu Ye, and how could Lu Ye forget him? Since he chose to act here, there was no chance of a peaceful resolution.

Before setting out, his elder had already instructed him: if there's an opportunity, be sure to deal with this combat cultivator, to vent their grudge properly.

Thus, almost the moment the female cultivator retreated, Zhoo Kou fiercely rushed at Lu Ye. Even though Lu Ye's earlier one-slash kill of the Ghost Cultivator displayed his formidable strength, Zhoo Kou was undeterred because dealing with combat cultivators was precisely what he excelled at.

As he charged, three pitch-black spheres suddenly emerged around him, spinning rapidly around his body.

In a blink, he was close. Even before making a move, the three black spheres flew towards Lu Ye amid their spinning motion.

Though Lu Ye didn't know exactly what these sinister objects were, he knew not to touch them recklessly. The Boulder Mountain Saber slashed down through the gaps between the rotating spheres.

The slash could have landed on Zhoo Kou, but the originally neatly rotating black spheres suddenly became chaotic, with one stopping eerily, intercepting the slash of the Boulder Mountain Saber.

It was too late for Lu Ye to retract his strike. The long saber hit the black sphere, yet it neither shattered nor gave any significant feedback; instead, it quickly disintegrated into a mass of black light clinging to the Boulder Mountain Saber, rendering it unbearably heavy. This wasn't all—the other two masses of black light joined in, further increasing the saber's weight to an astonishing degree.

For the first time since his cultivation, Lu Ye felt unable to lift his weapon, and the saber's horrendous weight even caused his body to slightly sink.

He finally realized what these three masses of black light were about—they could attach to a combat cultivator's weapon, augmenting it with a weight akin to a mountain effortlessly.

A combat cultivator without a weapon is like a tiger without teeth. How much of their strength can they truly display?

This was Zhoo Kou's perfect method to deal with combat cultivators. Relying on this unique secret technique, two combat cultivators had previously fallen by his hand. He believed this one in front of him would be no exception.

So, with a loud laugh, he swung his fist down: "Die!"

This punch was as powerful as a thunderbolt, with immense momentum that even distorted the surrounding Void space.

He expected at least to give this combat cultivator a good beating, but to his surprise, the opponent reacted swiftly, counterpunching immediately.

The instant their fists met, the smile on Zhoo Kou's face froze because from the opponent's fist he felt an overwhelming force that was impossible to resist—so great that even he felt it was beyond reach.

Is this truly a combat cultivator? Zhoo Kou suddenly doubted whether his eyes had deceived him.

While he was distracted, Lu Ye had already kicked out—a rapid, instinctive, and nigh-irresolvable response—striking Zhoo Kou in the stomach and sending him flying like a ragged sack.

Seizing the chance, Lu Ye looked down at his Boulder Mountain Saber, attempting a swing. The motion was incredibly sluggish because it had become extraordinarily heavy. He tried to channel spirit force to dispel the black light clinging to the blade, but to no avail. The black light wasn't a mere appearance—it was actually innumerable tiny, peculiar grains of black sand, each possessing substantial weight.

This must be something Zhoo Kou specifically refined to target male cultivators' treasures, whether it was the weapons of combat cultivators or the flying swords of sword cultivators—once stained, they could never be wielded effortlessly again.

In this light, any cultivator needing a spirit treasure to fully exert their strength would find no advantage when facing Zhoo Kou.

The stellar space is vast and full of wonders. Lu Ye had previously encountered cultivators from various races, each time broadening his horizons. He thought he was knowledgeable, but now realized he was still ignorant.

Undeniably, this black sand was a peculiar thing; the specifics of which Lu Ye did not understand.

Without delving deeper, he lifted his gaze towards Zhoo Kou, who was struggling to stabilize his stance not far away. Lu Ye loosened his grip, letting the Boulder Mountain Saber fall straight down.

Zhoo Kou was a little dumbfounded.

In the past, he used his unique method to deal with combat cultivators, often catching them in disarray. No combat cultivator would easily abandon their weapon, and without a weapon, what kind of combat cultivator would they be? Especially since a combat cultivator's weapon typically accompanies them for many years, it is an extension of a combat cultivator's body, something not easily discarded.

He could exploit this point, trapping combat cultivators in a bind, controlling the fight's rhythm, and deciding their life or death.

But what he saw before him was evidently abnormal. This combat cultivator actually discarded his long saber so effortlessly?

"When the saber is with you, you're alive; when the saber is lost, you're dead. Where is your combat cultivator's pride and persistence?"

Boom...

A thunderous sound echoed as the Boulder Mountain Saber fell like a meteorite into the valley below. The massive impact split the earth, winds roared, and trees swayed.

Zhoo Kou's body swayed along with them.

For no other reason than that Lu Ye had already rushed to him, wielding a short mace in each hand, which were the two spirit treasures from the formidable Insect Race member, Loathesome Aphid.

Without the Boulder Mountain Saber, he couldn't unleash his full strength, but if only dealing with a physique cultivator... it seemed irrelevant whether he had the Boulder Mountain Saber or not.

After all, it was just a close quarters fight, brute force triumphs over a hundred skills.

The two short maces formed afterimages, raining down mercilessly on Zhoo Kou. Without refining these two spirit treasures, he couldn't activate the restrictions within, only his own force augmented them.

Zhoo Kou raised his arms to block, swinging a fist in counterattack, spirit force and blood Qi surging around him.

Initially, he managed a counterattack or two, but quickly sensed things were amiss. Compared to him, a proper physique cultivator, the combat cultivator opposite him was both faster and stronger.

This forced him to go all out on defense.

The clangs resounded constantly in the valley. Undeniably, a physique cultivator's body was truly tough. Even under Lu Ye's frenzied assault, he repelled every strike, each impact yielding a feedback akin to hitting an iron wall.

When a cultivator's cultivation is low, a physique cultivator's body is indeed stronger than other schools, but the advantage isn't too obvious. As cultivation increases, the benefits of a strong physique become increasingly prominent. At the level of the Divine Sea Realm, their physical bodies are their most relied upon spirit treasure.

Hence, cultivators at this level rarely employ protective treasures, as those treasures' defenses may not surpass their physique. Using treasures requires effort, which is a waste during a fight.

But this doesn't mean physique cultivators lack protective spirit treasures. They always have at least one or two for emergencies.

Zhoo Kou also had a protective spirit treasure. Seeing the tide of battle turning, he immediately summoned it, forming a protective shield around himself. In an instant, he radiated brilliantly, as if enveloped in a golden glow.

However, this golden glow lasted less than ten breaths before it shattered under the relentless assault, no matter how firm the defense, it couldn't withstand such continuous, brutal force.

When the golden light shattered, despair crossed Zhoo Kou's eyes. He knew this time, he was likely doomed.

Every time he restrained a combat cultivator's weapon, he prevailed, but this time he failed spectacularly.

Indeed, as the saying goes, often walking by the river, how can your shoes not get wet?

A cracking sound emerged as Zhoo Kou's arms broke, pain etched on his face. With that strike, his condensed blood Qi defense also violently oscillated.

Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, his original resistance and defense utterly collapsed at that moment.

With a ruthless expression, instead of retreating, he advanced, spreading his broken arms as if to embrace Lu Ye, indicating that even if he were to die, he must take a bite out of Lu Ye.

How could Lu Ye let him have his way? His body gracefully drifted back while the two short maces in his hands swung more fiercely, aiming directly at Zhoo Kou's head.

When the final mace struck down, Zhoo Kou's head suddenly burst, blood rain splattering everywhere, like a blooming blood rose.