Chapter 265: Providence Arrives (Fifth Watch)

Lu Ye pondered.

"Allow me a moment to think."

"I'm in no hurry," Lin Chuyue said with a smile.

Lu Ye had already begun conversing with the system in his mind.

"What benefits do I gain from joining this faction?"

Lu Ye was a rather pragmatic person now. In his previous life, his relationship with the Celestial Gate had been adversarial—not because one side was good or evil, but simply due to differing stances.

For instance, he had never met Lin Chuyue in his past life, meaning she might have perished in the aftermath of his battles.

He needed to understand the significance of the system urging him to join the Celestial Gate.

*Ding! If you join, I might solidify my position as the top authority. Right now, this system is still pitifully stuck as the second-in-command.*

Lu Ye had never asked before about the dynamic between the system and Providence. Now, hearing the system's explanation, he roughly understood.

The system had used the power of Providence to help Lu Ye reincarnate, which indeed required tremendous effort.

As a result, its authority had been downgraded below that of Providence.

"Then why do you usually act so domineering? I thought Providence had become your subordinate."

*Ding! This system is peerless in wisdom. Though that petty Providence holds the highest authority, its intelligence is lacking. Right now, it’s already been fooled by me—*

*Ding! Anyway, if you join, the two of us will unite as one. Who else in the Nine Heavens and beyond would dare defy us?*

Lu Ye understood.

If he joined the Celestial Gate, he would become the system’s inside agent within Providence, helping elevate the system’s authority.

He and the system had always been one.

The system growing stronger meant he grew stronger as well.

"Fine, I’ll join the Celestial Gate," Lu Ye declared.

Lin Chuyue was pleasantly surprised.

"Truly?"

"Of course, truly!"

"Wonderful! Then I’ll bestow upon you the Mark of Providence. With this mark, you’ll gain the faint ability to perceive Providence’s will, and Providence may also grant you its power through the mark."

"Good."

Lin Chuyue began weaving hand seals, and an overwhelming fluctuation of power gathered between her palms. Lu Ye was very familiar with this aura.

In his past life, he had even clashed with this very force.

It was the power of Providence.

Finally, the imprint condensed into an intricate sigil and flew toward Lu Ye.

The Celestial Gate also had its own hierarchy.

Among them, the one-mark rank is the lowest, with the least authority, while the nine-mark rank is the highest.

The higher the rank, the closer the connection to Providence.

"Ding, Host!"

A childish voice appeared in Lu Ye's mind as the nine-mark imprint landed on his forehead.

Lu Ye???

"Ding, why did you run out? Weren’t you supposed to stay home?" Shen Xitong was furious.

"Ding, Sister."

"Ding, are you disobeying me again?"

"Ding, Host."

"Ding, this is my host, not yours. Stop copying me!"

"Ding, Sister."

Lu Ye...

Oh no, Providence has come over too.

Wait, why are you all crowding into my head? Is there something delicious in here or what?

Lu Ye's lips twitched.

"What's wrong?" Lin Chuyue was drawn by his strange expression and asked curiously.

"Nothing, it’s just the first time I’ve felt so close to Providence. It’s a bit unsettling."

"You’ll get used to it soon. By the way, I actually have a question I’m very curious about—it might be a bit presumptuous..."

"If you already think it’s presumptuous, then don’t ask."

Lin Chuyue was left speechless.

Lu Ye looked at the light in Lin Chuyue’s eyes, and in his memory, they overlapped with another pair of eyes.

Holy crap, the gossip queen?

That gaze was unmistakably the kind that thirsted for juicy drama!

"Alright, I won’t ask for now..."

"Now that I’ve joined Providence’s Gate, shouldn’t you tell me more about it? Like, how many members are there in the Fourth Heaven, and what tasks must be completed to earn Providence’s rewards?" Lu Ye asked.

"Of course I’ll explain."

"Providence’s Gate is a massive organization, spanning from the Fourth Heaven all the way to the Ninth Heaven, with our people everywhere."

"As for the Fourth Heaven, including you, there are only three of us now. Don’t underestimate the small number—we’re all elites. The Sect Leader is invincible, I’m second to none, and now that you’ve joined, you’re probably third."

Lu Ye...

Go on, keep talking!

"Normally, we don’t have much to do, since the heavens are all under the rule of Providence. It’s very rare for anything harmful to Providence to emerge."

"However, sometimes issues do arise."

"For example, right now, in the Southern Barbarian Lands, a Dark Cult has appeared. Their darkness is not the conventional Dark Path, which is one of the great paths of Providence, but rather a corruptive darkness that can taint pure paths. It’s extremely troublesome. The sect master has already gone to deal with it, and we can go assist."

Lu Ye understood—this must be An Li’s doing.

"Can I go in my current state?" Lu Ye asked.

"Perfect timing. Due to the unique nature of my cultivation technique, I can temporarily resist the effects of Enlightenment Incense. But those unaffected by Enlightenment Incense are exceedingly rare—even the sect master has no solution. Originally, he wanted to come himself, but in the end, he sent me instead."

"Later, you lure the enemies, and we’ll eliminate them. The sooner we cleanse this Dark Cult, the better."

Lu Ye hadn’t wandered freely in a long time, so this was a good opportunity to relax.

"In the Fourth Heaven, there are three places that affect Providence. The first is the Dark Cult, which is relatively easy to handle."

"The second is the Bitter Spirit Cave. Due to its unique environment and the fact that a powerful expert once perished inside, it has become a cave of extreme sorrow."

"This cave absorbs the sorrow of the Fourth Heaven, accumulating endlessly over time. But we don’t have a particularly good solution for it."

"The third place is the Sinking Star. It’s a peculiar celestial body where the great paths cannot extend, effectively escaping Providence’s control. It could potentially become a major threat."

"Once we deal with these three places, the sect master and I can ascend happily. Then, you’ll become the sect master of the Heavenly Gate and be promoted to Second Mark."

Lin Chuyue was a person full of curiosity and enthusiasm, continuously explaining things to Lu Ye.

To be honest, Lu Ye hadn’t heard someone talk this much in a long time.

It felt… quite interesting.

Lu Ye himself spoke very little.

"Um, can I ask—are you really the reincarnation of an Emperor?"

Out of nowhere, Lin Chuyue suddenly blurted out.

Lu Ye…

You already said asking this would be presumptuous, and I refused you. Yet you still asked?

Lin Chuyue’s face showed a hint of embarrassment.

But she was genuinely curious!

A reincarnated Emperor—how novel! When would she ever get the chance to meet a living Emperor?

Truthfully, she was a bit skeptical, but since everyone said so, she couldn’t help herself.