Chapter 408: Erasing Enmity

The battlefield was cleared.

Countless human experts gathered before Lu Ye, their gazes fixed on him as some couldn't help but praise him.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, with your strength alone, you slaughtered endless demons—truly inspiring! All humans of the Fifth Heaven should be grateful for your contributions!"

"At the Cosmic Realm, you annihilated countless demon powerhouses, even slaying those of the Immortal Realm too many to count. Throughout history, you might be the only one to achieve such a feat. Truly awe-inspiring!"

"Fellow Daoist Lu Ye, you're... damn impressive!"

Listening to their flattery, Lu Ye chuckled.

Regardless of anything else, their assistance this time had indeed saved him a heap of trouble and dealt another blow to the Dark Origin.

Lu Ye's opinion of them softened a bit.

Especially the Eternal Sect!

He had originally planned to settle things with the Eternal Sect after resolving the Demon Tide.

Yet now, the Eternal Sect had actually helped him slaughter demons.

This...

This situation put Lu Ye in a tough spot!

The Eternal Sect had truly disappointed him. In his previous life, they had dug in their heels against him from the Third Heaven all the way to the Ninth Heaven.

Now, they had acted early, targeting him from the First Heaven.

But by the Fifth Heaven, they had finally come around. To be honest, Lu Ye found it somewhat hard to wrap his head around.

"Fellow Daoist, why are you looking at me like that?" Mediocre Daoist, noticing Lu Ye's tongue-tied look, couldn't help but ask curiously.

Lu Ye sighed.

"We'll let slide the Eternal Sect sending assassins to capture me at the Ascension Pool."

With those words, Mediocre Daoist's expression froze, and a cold sweat broke out down his spine.

Holy shit!

How did he know the assassins were sent by the Eternal Sect?

How'd he figure that out?

At this moment, massive relief flooded Mediocre Daoist’s mind.

Fucking hell, Celestial Lord!

Thankfully, he had reconsidered and decided to reconcile with Lu Ye, the reborn Celestial Lord, after witnessing his insane power spike!

That was why he had joined this rescue op.

If he hadn’t participated, what would've been in store for the Eternal Sect?

It was plain as day—the Eternal Sect getting wiped out in the Fifth Heaven!

Because Lu Ye knew the assassins were sent by the Eternal Sect, yet he had kept it to himself.

Once he decided to make his stance known, given Lu Ye's personality, it wouldn’t be so easy for the Eternal Sect to explain or seek reconciliation.

"Your discernment is unmatched, fellow Daoist! Our Eternal Sect sincerely acknowledges our mistakes. We are eternally grateful for your mercy and understanding!" The Mediocre Daoist’s voice quivered, unable to hide his excitement.

This time, the Eternal Sect was finally safe.

Finally safe!

So close—just a hair’s breadth!

"And the Canghai Heavenly Sect, consider it water under the bridge as well."

Lu Ye turned to the members of the Canghai Heavenly Sect and spoke.

The Canghai Heavenly Sect...

What choice did they have?

"We deeply appreciate your leniency, fellow Daoist!"

Lu Ye nodded and then listed nine more sects in quick succession.

As long as they had come to assist this time, Lu Ye decided to overlook their past transgressions—since he was feeling particularly generous today.

A demon!

A demon capable of unleashing the Demon Tide in his past life had been nearly wiped out this time, and An Li had been tricked like a complete idiot.

Absolutely satisfying!

Well, since he intended to spread the Celestial Silkworm Nine Transformations anyway, and so many cultivators had gathered here, he figured he’d preach a sermon.

When Lu Ye announced his decision, it instantly set off a wave of cheers.

A Celestial Lord's sermon!

The crowd erupted in excitement.

Lu Ye didn’t even choose a spot.

The towering Dao Enlightenment Tree expanded with the wind, its branches stretching to blot out the heavens. Endless emerald light dyed the void a faint green, and a gentle radiance bathed all who were there.

Wherever the green light passed, every cultivator was filled with an unshakable sense of safety.

It was as if an immensely powerful presence was shielding them all.

Lu Ye’s voice rang out.

The very void shook as the Great Dao took form.

Lu Ye preached freely, without restraint; he spoke whatever crossed his mind, touching upon various laws of the Great Dao.

Then, thunder roared.

A cultivator in the Immortal Realm snapped his eyes open, excitement flashing within them.

He had attained perfection!

The confusion in his heart had fully cleared thanks to Lu Ye’s words.

He has achieved perfection and is ready to face the heavenly tribulation!

Moreover, he is certain that attempting the tribulation now would yield an astonishingly high success rate.

Unable to contain his excitement, he tilted his head back and roared with laughter.

"Hahaha, I've made it!"

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Lu Ye! This profound kindness will forever be etched in my heart! Should you ever need my assistance in the future, I will go through fire and water for you!"

"Fellow Daoists, I shall take my leave first. We’ll meet again in the Sixth Heaven!"

"Hahaha..."

This was only the beginning.

Soon, a second Immortal Realm began their tribulation.

Then a third Immortal Realm started theirs...

By the end of the sermon, a total of eighty-one Immortal Realm cultivators had invoked their tribulations, with a success rate of ninety percent!

Well, it couldn’t be helped—some individuals simply had too shaky a foundation. Even after listening to Lu Ye's sermon, they still failed to overcome their tribulations. Such was their destiny.

Lu Ye did not intervene to shoulder their tribulations for them.

This is no exaggeration.

In his previous life, when Lu Ye still cultivated the Path of Protection and fought alone against the Demon Tide, if anyone had come to his aid, he would have appeared above them the moment they faltered in their tribulation, taking the heavenly strikes for them.

When someone is starved of kindness, even the slightest kindness from another makes them willing to offer their heart and soul in return.

But now, Lu Ye merely observed dispassionately.

Success or failure in the tribulation was fate’s decree—he had no reason to interfere.

As the sermon concluded, Lu Ye slipped away unnoticed.

Because two hapless individuals had truly cracked under pressure and sent desperate pleas for his help.

Lu Ye couldn’t possibly assist them in front of others—that would be a laughingstock.

Arriving at a secluded spot,

the Human Emperor Banner and the stone sword appeared in unison.

"Can't... hold... Master... can't... glug glug glug..."

The Human Emperor Banner was overwhelmed.

Lu Ye placed his hand upon the banner, entering the space within it.

Souls—countless souls, a sea of souls.

Three enormous figures, originally of ethereal beauty, were now bloated beyond recognition, their forms swollen into mountainous masses of flesh.

Their faces twisted in agony as they continued to gorge on souls ceaselessly.

There was no stopping—pause even for a moment, and the ominous Soul Banner might explode.

Seeing this, Lu Ye ignited the Vermilion Bird True Flame, materializing a flood of materials around him.

His brow furrowed as he stared at the Vermilion Bird True Flame.

The normally steady Vermilion Bird True Flame suddenly surged violently, as if something was fueling its power.

It was the Vermilion Bird!

But first, he had to deal with these two worthless trash!